Wisdom from the eternally beautiful Inès de la Fressange, designer, model and author: ‘In the summer, I like to walk around the house barefoot, wearing a bathing suit, listening to music and pretending I’m on holiday. People put too much in their schedules – we’re so afraid of “losing time”, but it’s essential for balance. I’m not afraid to be lazy.’

Cook your veggies in a stainless steel pan. Research has shown that when vegetables are cooked in stainless steel, they retain vitamins than those which are cooked in glass or aluminium.

Not been away for a while and wondering if you can get away with using suncare from your last holiday back in... 2019? Alas, not. Sunscreens that are beyond their use-by period or have expired will no longer hold their SPF strength and sun protection. Rinse them out, recycle the bottles – and start over.

We’re slightly revising our thoughts about nail polish remover, after reading this advice from a New York dermatologist, Francesca Fusco. Turns out: the bottle without this solvent may not be gentler after all. Acetone is highly effective at dissolving polish fast, whereas acetone-free polishes work more slowly, require more rubbing and may actually leave nails drier. Look for a remover featuring aloe vera to counteract acetone’s drying effects – and always try to find time to rub in a few drops of oil, allowing them to sink in for a few hours before re-varnishing.

Having trouble sleeping because of background noise? If you can’t shut it out, try a consistent noise such as a fan, or a pink noise app. Unlike white noise, pink noise has reduced higher frequencies, which research has shown can aid sleep.

Are you unconvinced by your colourist telling you to buy specific products for coloured hair? You wouldn't use a face cream for oily skin if you had dry skin, would you...? The same goes for hair: targeted haircare, whether that's for coloured hair or a specific hair type, is crucial – and if you want to keep your hair colour intact and looking as vibrant as the day you left the salon, colour-safe products are a must. (Do check out our Beauty Bible Awards for this year's winning shampoo and conditioner duos for coloured hair, as well as specifically for blondes.)

Make-up for older skin, crystallised by our make-up artist friend Mary Greenwell, who isn't an advocate of darkening eyebrows or curling eyelashes, as we age. 'Wear a bold colour on lips or eyes, but merely enhance skin, eyelashes and brows – that's the trick.' (Note: lips OR eyes...!)

You really can use the power of your own breath to calm and soothe anxiety. If it's hard to read instructions, check out @thebreathguy on Instagram or breathe along with him on the Flourish app; Richie Bostock has trained leaders from TedX, Harvey Nichols, Deloitte and the Cabinet Office in breath work.

Afro hair is the most fragile of all, so masks are a must. In particular, look for cocooning ingredients such as shea butter and coconut oil, to nurture and nourish. And leave on for as long as possible, before rinsing.

Many of us are still working from home, and it can take its toll on our 'incidental' activity – it now has to be deliberate, rather than just walking to, from and around the office. Break up the endless sitting with three minutes of walking every 30 minutes, which has been found to leave people feeling less sluggish and more energised at the end of the day, in a trial by Australian and Swedish researchers that was published in the British Medical Journal. When the weather is inclement, Jo does what she calls 'cage-pacing', like those poor caged animals in the zoo, literally walking from one corner of the floor she's on to the opposite, going in and out of rooms. Definitely helps to beat a slump!

Eat before you exercise to energise your body and again afterwards, to refuel. A small serving of carbohydrates – like an orange or a banana – will raise blood sugar levels and increase energy for a short workout, while for a length workout, carbohydrates (think wholegrain bread or cereal) will keep blood sugar high for a longer period. But a small snack can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to digest, so be aware that cramps and indigestion are your body's way of telling you that you haven't left enough time to let it work through your system.

Wise advice from make-up artist Lisa Eldridge to bride-to-be beauty editor Sarah Jossel, which we want to share as the wedding season approaches: 'I need you to make a very strong green tea the night before the wedding. Really let the teabag brew, and once it's cooled down, pour it in an ice tray and leave it in the freezer. On the day, we'll wrap the ice cubes in muslin cloth and glide them over the puffy areas, focusing on the eyes. The caffeine and the cold combined work wonders.' You don't, of course, have to be getting married to follow her advice, which is good before any big event.

Love this quote from dynamic Dermalogica founder Jane Warwand (and agree 100% with her): 'When I am asked, "How do you balance your work and your personal life", I know that person sees them as competing. My answer is plain: "It's not about balance. It's about resilience."'

It always bears repeating never buy a fragrance because you like it on yourself. It is your own special body chemistry which determines how a fragrance will smell – and what's great on your best friend may not be nearly so wonderful on you. And vice versa, of course.

Feeling stressed? (Who isn't?) Try this touch meditation from Natalie Read, meditation expert and author of Being Human. 'Find an object from the natural world such as a pine cone, leaf or feather that grabs your attention. When in a meditative state, bring all of your awareness to your object. How does it feel in your hand – is it heavy or light, warm or cold? Trace your fingers over the object and notice everything about it – every contour and every texture. Is it smooth or rough, curved or straight? Slow your breathing as you do so and try to focus full on your sense of touch.'

Tooth-whitening can definitely help turn back the clock. But here's some wisdom worth noting from cosmetic dentist Dr. Rhona Eskander. 'Smile rejuvenation treatments are similar to the Botox/filler debate; you don't want to do anything too early, or you'll end up looking older, not younger. A 22-year-old with white veneers can look like she's got dentures, whereas for a woman in her 50s it can make her look 10 years younger.'

Time to think 'sun-kissed'. If you don't typically wear bronzer, benefit from its complexion=warming effects by sweeping a powder lightly in a '3' shape on either side of the face, hitting the temple, the top of the cheekbone and the jaw-line. Use a product just one shade deeper than your skin tone, and team with liquid blush on the cheeks.

It's never too late to start lifting weights. According to Dr. Lucy Pollock, the author of The Book about Getting Older (For People Who Don't Want to Talk About It), 'Just by punching while holding a tin can into the air 10 times with each hand, you're improving your muscle – but you're also improving heart, brain and immune system. Just do a little that makes you puffed out. And the next day a little more. You'll sleep better, as well.'

Trying to distract yourself from food? Sit at your desk and take stock of your senses. Start with your nose and identify a smell around you. Then engage sight, sound and touch – everything but taste. It diverts your brain from thinking about food.

If you don't have a dedicated nail oil, squeeze the oil from a vitamin E capsule or a borage (starflower) capsule onto your fingertips and massage into cuticles. Do it daily and you'll soon see the improvement...