Need to cover up a spot? Dip a cotton swab in concealer and dab it directly onto the spot until it disappears. The fine tip gives you more precise coverage than a finger, but is less fussy than using a brush. (Dabbing with a fingertip can sometimes also remove as much product as it applies.)
If you've splodged nail polish carelessly over your cuticles and fingertips, have a long bath. The polish will lift right off the skin without damaging your manicure.
We all yearn for longer, leaner legs but some exercises are better than others for sleeking. (Relying on cycling alone can give you Popeye-ish calves.) Happily, walking is the best (not to mention cheapest) exercise for all legs – use long, lengthening strides. Pls, when you exercise, the temperature in working muscles rises; this increased temperature stimulates blood flow, and as a result, improves both circulation and skin appearance. Flex your ankles whenever you remember, sitting at your desk – and as for swimming, the muscle-lengthening movement of breaststroke is better than crawl's speed-kicking.
Make-up artist Rumiko reveals: 'Your eyelashes are the same texture as your hair. People with fine hair usually have fine lashes, whereas those with thicker hair have naturally thick ones.' If you have thin eyelashes, go for a thickening or volumising formula, whereas if they are short you'll go for a lengthening version.
The new cushion foundations are fab. (We’re fans.) But be sure to wash the sponge weekly, or it can rapidly go ‘whiffy’, transferring bacteria to your skin.
Bored with your look? A makeover is fun – and fine – but we always liked the advice from veteran make-up artist Rex only to choose one new make-up shade each season.
Wear rubber gloves (we prefer latex surgeon’s gloves) when using cleaning products, as these can cause polish to peel faster.
To prolong your colour, ask your colourist about a clear glaze. It can extend the life of haircolour by at least two weeks, extending time between appointments.
Did you know that whitening toothpastes can trigger dermatitis? If you start to get small red spots around your mouth, try switching to a different toothpaste.
It's just fine to rub your body dry with a towel – it can help get rid of dead surface cells. But always pat rather than rub your face, where skin is more fragile.
Start building a collection of fab hair accessories to take you from desk to party in the coming season. You can transform a casual bun into a chic updo by adding an elegant headband or bejewelled pins – a great source is Accessorise, but our new favourite destination for dazzling hair accessories is Anthropologie.
To make polish look as bright and vivid as possible, use base coat and then add a single coat of white polish underneath your colour.
Looking for skin-loving ingredients to add into your diet? Facialist Abigail James recommends flaxseed, chia, açai, spirulina, matcha, chlorella, baobab and something called 'aduna super-cacao'. We love to whoosh them into a smoothie with fresh fruit and/or soya milk, and sip with our other supplements.
Falling asleep in the bath is really dangerous – especially if you've had a drink or two. If you've a tendency to nod off while bathing, set an alarm on your phone for – say - five, 10, 15 minutes, to wake you from your slumbers.
Love this, from the ever-beautiful Brooke Shields: 'When I drink too much alcohol, only have a few hours of sleep, don't eat well and don't sweat, I look five to 10 years older. But putting yourself in the position where you're not chasing youth is the best way to stay young.'
If you're booked in for an anti-cellulite massage – for instance, lymphatic drainage – don't worry if the masseur's only using the lightest of movements. As Kate Shapland of Legology explains: 'The worst thing you can do is to have it slapped, poked and pushed about by a heavy-handed masseur. Anti-cellulite massage should be so gentle that you barely feel it.'
It's best to harden lip or eye pencils before sharpening them. 10 minutes in the fridge will do the trick. If you want to use the pencil straight away, roll it between your fingertips to soften it again. (Obviously you'll need to remove any marks with a wipe or cotton pad soaked in remover.)
If a round brush makes your fringe too curly, try switching to an oval brush (like a Mason Pearson).
It's hard to keep up your motivation to keep fit during the winter months. Try to fit in some exercise in the daytime; if you normally exercise after work, swap to a few early morning sessions. According to fitness guru Matt Roberts, 'Exercising first thing increases the production of "feel-good" chemicals that help counteract the winter blues.'
If you're considering having treatment for broken veins, have a small patch tested – and monitor results. If the problem simply shifts elsewhere (with a new crop of veins), best give up and resort to one of the many, excellent concealers around. Vein specialist John Scurr once described broken veins to us as 'like weeds in the garden...'