According to dermatologist Dr. Stefanie Williams, you should apply thinner products first, in your skincare regime. ‘Typically this means working from your serum to your SPF. Bear in mind that you should use water-based products first and then move onto anything oil-based.’
It really can be very dangerous to fall asleep in the bath. If you get drowsy while bathing, get out immediately.
To quote make-up genius Tom Pecheux: ‘When it comes to make-up apply the tiniest amount and skim the skin rather than use a heavy-handed motion. Light layers of product will always look better than one thick coat.’
If you simply want shiny, natural-looking nails, use a top coat and lose the base coat. If you want to apply coloured varnish, use each for its intended purpose.
We love coconut oil for dry skin – but in a cold bathroom it goes rock solid. Fill a plastic basin with warm water and pop the jar in; in no time it’ll be lusciously liquid and perfect for massaging into skin. Alternatively, if your radiator has a flat top, a few minutes on a hot radiator does the same trick.
Don’t wipe your mascara wand on the neck of the tube to remove any excess. It’ll end up on the bristles in one big clump. Instead, press it between a tissue to wipe away any excess.
If the central heating’s making the air in your bedroom dry, invest in a humidifier – or try the D-I-Y alternative, by draping a damp towel over the radiator at night.
If you find plain water ‘boring’, try flavouring your own. (Most commercial flavoured waters have sweeteners and artificial ingredients.) Try adding lemon, lime, cucumber, mint, ginger, apple or pineapple to your water bottle. Shake regularly (and be sure to clean in a dishwasher or with a bottle brush each night).
From Sharon McGlinchey, founder of MV Organic Skincare, some sage advice on skincare. ‘Most women think skincare is just about what you see, but for me it’s about two more important things: what goes into your body and what you’ve been putting on your skin for many years Both of these factors determine your skin’s health. It’s very hard to wean yourself off using lots of skincare products, but they can leave you with congested skin. If your skin looks dull and lifeless, it can be because you’re putting too much on it.’
Be aware that whitening toothpastes can sometimes trigger dermatitis, so best to stop using it if small red spots appear around your mouth.
Many of us carry tension in our hands. If you constantly use yours typing, writing or sewing, for example, you’ll benefit from a regular hand massage. It’s most rewarding if someone else massages your hands; most ‘luxury’ manicures involve a massage which can help banish tension. At the very least, smooth in a rich cream, stroke from wrist to fingertip and then pull on the fingers to relax them.
If you’re trying to tackle sleep problems, aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, no matter what. It’s very difficult for the body to adjust to irregular sleep patterns, often caused by sleeping late at weekends. It’s better to ‘pay off your sleep debts’ with a nap on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon than to sleep late.
From Mary Greenwell: ‘I much prefer using fingers for make-up generally. I find foundation sponges and brushes dirty and wasteful.. The heat of your fingers helps smooth on the product with speed and little effort.’
Bobbi Brown is so right with this advice she once gave about lips. ‘Thin lips can’t look thick. Never line outside the natural lip line or on the corners of lips – you’ll look like The Joker, not Julia Roberts. Instead, chose light- or medium-toned colours (darker shades only minimise lip size) and apply a touch of gloss in the middle of your lower lip.’
When having a manicure, it’s best to have your nails filed rather than clipped, which can separate the layers and lead to flaking later. (And be specific about the length you want. No manicurist is psychic. Or no manicurist we’ve met, anyway.)
Be aware that hair removal creams can sometimes cause a reaction – a slight burning, possibly followed by a rash. If you ever feel uncomfortable, don’t tough it out: rinse the cream off immediately. (And when skin has calmed down, use a ‘lady’s’ razor instead.)
You can create your own leave-in conditioner by taking a regular conditioner and putting it into a spray bottle, one part conditioner to three parts water. It’s great for getting rid of tangles without weighing down hair.
Want to eat more healthily? Only shop at the edges of the supermarket; that’s where the unprocessed, natural foods are. The food that is going to optimise health is fresh, real and sold without a label. Once you head for the middle aisles, the products are more likely to be packaged and to be high in sugar and excessive salt.
The eternally radiant Cate Blanchett puts that down to being a sleeping beauty. ‘I love products I can apply at night; any process that can happen while I’m sleeping saves time. If I have to read something in bed, I’ll put a face mask on and put almond oil in my hair and wash it out in the morning.’
This might seem like a weird beauty tip, but if you want to feel good about how you look, book at table at Skye Gyngell’s Spring restaurant, in Somerset House. It has quite the prettiest lighting and paint on the walls – a beautiful sort of ballerina pink – and makes anyone look 10 years younger and about 10 times more radiant. How we feel about ourselves is still inextricably linked with what we see in the mirror, for many of us – so we believe in habitually looking at ourselves in flattering light. (You don’t have to spend a fortune to eat there; there’s a brilliant daily ‘Scratch Menu’ which also avoids food waste by using the parts of veg etc. that would normally be discarded. Creative – and utterly delicious. (But do make sure you visit the loo!)