Do you have 'tech neck'? Facialist Alexandra Soveral observes that constantly looking down – at a phone or a laptop – leads to an older-looking neck. 'It means your neck is stabilised in the same position,' she says. 'Your glands are behind your ears and if the neck muscles are tense, the lymph that comes down from the facial tissues won't be able to drain properly.' So look up, whenever you can. (And take up yoga, is our advice. Brilliant for neck-stretching.)
Always run top coat along the free edge of your nails after applying nail varnish. This will create a bond on the tip to prevent chipping.
If you suffer from dandruff or scalp psoriasis, try eliminating dairy products and reducing salt intake.
Feeling overwhelmed by the media onslaught? We like the advice that to successfully interact with popular culture, it helps to develop a wider perspective about what is truly important in life. 'We tend to personalise things that happen in the world without pausing to realise that we have a choice about how these things will affect us,' says Warren Berland, author of a book called Out of the Box for Life. 'To choose to be less emotionally involved in every horrible thing we read or see on TV is the first step in getting out of the box we trap ourselves in when we identify with negativity and superficiality in the world.'
We couldn't be more pleased that heels are increasingly being switched for flats by women everywhere. One-inch heels increase the pressure on the front of your feet by around 22%; three inches by about 76%. Give yourself – and your soles – a rest, by wearing well-padded flats whenever you can.
Sharon McGlinchey of MV Organic Skincare recommends this steaming at-home facial. 'When you're cleansing with a muslin cloth, day and night, hold the steaming cloth on your face for a slow count of five. Don't rush it or start rubbing your face. The steam activates your superficial circulation and softens surface skin cells. I you repeat this three or four times it's as though you've had a mini-facial every day; it's very kind and very nurturing. Then pop on a little bit of moisturiser or facial oil, and your skincare's done.
Under-eye puffiness? Our beauty guru friend Kate Shapland advises drinking water – no less than a litre a day - because it flushes out the system, helping to flush the lymph that builds up under the eyes.
Best way to clean hairbrushes? The genius trichologist Philip Kingsley always advised ust o soak in a basin of water with a few drops of TCP and a teaspoon of washing soda (a.k.a. sodium carbonate).
The secret of having nice hands is simple: pay as much attention to them as you do to your face. Start tonight with a three-minute scrub, using your favourite facial scrub, then follow with lashings of hand cream – and then another lashing. Quite miraculously transformative, we promise.
Has your lipstick gone to make-up heaven? Your first step is to contact the brand's customer service helpline and ask if they can source any remaining stock. Beyond that, we've had joy with eBay – although we prefer to buy boxed, unused products of course, for fear of contamination.
Take B complex vitamins (which are great for energy) in the morning with food when the body is at its peak levels of absorption. According to Paul Chamberlain, Nutrition Director at Solgar, ‘vitamin B can keep you awake so you don't need these energy boosters when you go to sleep.’
Do you pass ‘The Blusher Test’? If you notice it when you’re five paces away from a mirror, you need to blend it more or switch to a more natural shade. It’s meant to enhance your natural colouring, not to announce ‘I’m wearing make-up’.
Suffering from split ends? Switch to a silk pillowcase. According to LA superstylist Jon Atkin, ‘On a physical level, cotton tends to scratch and tug one’s hair and face, whereas silk creates a smooth surface, reducing friction. Your hair slips around as you toss and turn, minimizing split end breakage.’
The skin on hands and feet is similarly dry and with a tendency to roughness – so products could be thought to be interchangeable. However, while it’s OK to use hand creams on feet, we advise against using foot creams on hands – they often have a minty scent, may deliver a tingly feeling, and can hurt your eyes if you rub them. Meanwhile, if you do use hand cream on your feet, you won’t get any deodorising effect the foot cream may offer.
Did you know that drinking just two to three more glasses of water a day can help curb food cravings? Some experts believe you can help cut down on as many as 200 calories a day this way.
Savvy women get their clothes ready the night before, to save stressing over what to wear in the morning. Savvy gym bunnies pack their bag the night before, too – having your gym bag to hand means you’re more likely to work out next day.
According to hairdresser Adam Reed of Percy & Reed, we should all turn down the temperature dial when washing hair. Hot water serves to exacerbate dryness, dandruff and shedding, he says.
Loos have lids for a reason. Close before flushing to prevent contaminated droplets landing on taps, cosmetics or even your toothbrush – they can travel for almost two metres.
Love this quote from our make-up artist friend Laura Mercier. (And couldn’t agree more.) ‘I loathe rules. When a magazine says, “This season X is dead and it’s all about Y” it’s against my nature to comply, as I have a far too bohemian spirit. I tend to be inspired by what is happening in the world around me.’
The days are getting longer, the sun is getting stronger and we’ve reached the point where we believe it’s wise to apply a daily SPF. Many make-up products now claim an SPF on the packaging, but don’t rely on this – you’d have to apply so thickly that make-up would be mask-like to take advantage of the full SPF rating. Think of it as a useful little extra bonus, nothing more.