If your mascara smudges, it might just be your eye make-up remover – not the mascara itself. Some formulations leave a film on the lashes so that anything that goes on top runs. Micellar waters, we find, are great for removing eye make-up without 'coating' lashes. Alternatively, sweep a cotton pad soaked in plain water over the lash area, after using your remover.
Looking at the new gold products for the face...? It bears repeating: save shimmer for highlighting: the brows, inner corner of the eyes, centre of the lids – and a touch on the centre of the bottom lip. Anything more and you risk looking like an Oscar statuette.
Run out of cleanser? Coconut oil works a treat - even on waterproof mascara. Simply massage into skin (and lashes) and remove with a hot washcloth. Coconut oil us one of the all-time great multi-taskers, actually – it can be used as a moisturiser, lip balm, hair mask and more.
Colour always follows cut, when it comes to a new hair look. If you're planning to change both, sort out your hairstyle first.
How long a semi-permanent haircolour lasts before fading depends entirely on how often you wash your hair. If you're a two-shower-a-week babe, the colour could disappear down the plughole in as little as a week. If you wash your hair a couple of times a week, expect to retain colour for at least a month.
Beer and cider vinegar are both fantastic for improving hair condition and shine. Simply mix one pint of bitter and 1/4 pint of cider vinegar and pour over your head after shampooing. (Keep the faith: you truly won't smell like an old pub once hair dries.)
Did you know there are seven different 'lash types'? To fatten up sparse lashes, skip mascaras with round, fat wands; a skinny brush with space between bristles latches on better to the hairs you do have – even the teeny ones near the inner corner of the eye – and coats each evenly.
Lessen lipstick clutter: slice the tops off your favourite lipsticks and smooth them into the slots of a one-week pillbox.
Lessen underarm irritation when shaving by using a star pattern – work diagonally up and down and also side to side, to shave. Hair grows in all directions, and this should help you de-stubble with fewer strokes.
Decléor's Fiona Brackenbury recommends incorporating this 60-second massage into your daily routine to banish under-eye puffiness. Use your ring fingers to gently press and roll under the inner corners of your eyes, moving along the bony ridge of the socket and out to your temples. (Roll outwards.) Do this for 50 seconds, then massage down the sides of your face and neck for 10 seconds, to shift fluid down to the lymph nodes where it can be drained away.
To turn your walk into a workout, try adding in short bursts of speed – up to 30 seconds or a minute of faster walking. According to Greg Whyte, Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moores University, you'll naturally get faster as you get aerobically fitter.
From celebrity make-up artist Nick Barose: 'One of the best tips I learned is to mix liquid foundation with waterproof sunblock to make it stay in the heat.' His melt-proof ratio is one part waterproof SPF with three parts foundation.
If you're trying to lose weight, avoid low-fat products. When manufacturers take the fat out of food, they tend to replace it with sugar. Fat is only a problem in diets when carbohydrate levels are high.
Wash off dirt and make-up with a mild cleanser before a sweaty workout. Any make-up or debris left on skin during exercise becomes a pore-clogging film, potentially leading to breakouts.
Reading this on holiday and having trouble sleeping in the Lucifer heat? In extreme heat, keep a damp flannel by your bed and mop your brow as you would for a child with a fever. Meanwhile Sammy Margo, author of The Good Sleep Guide, recommends that if you do have a fan, it's not pointing at you – this can lead to a crick in the neck.
Here's a new 'pulse-point' we've been trying recently: the palms of the hands. The warmth encourages fragrance to expand so you can enjoy fragrance everywhere you touch.
Nail polish needs a grease-free surface to cling to – but swiping nails with remover before varnishing can be drying. Instead, try using witch hazel.
Having trouble sleeping when the nights are hot? Try a silk or linen pillowcase as these tend to keep your head cooler.
To make your eyebrow arch look higher, highlight right above the arch, in addition to below.
With the boom in home visits by beauty professionals, it pays to be prepared. Hair should be freshly-cleaned and damp if you're expecting a hairstylist, while if you're having your make-up done, your face should be cleansed and moisturised.