We’re not trying to teach our grandmothers to suck eggs, here, when it comes to cleansing – but do you always massage your cleanser right down to your collarbone, before removing make-up? It’s incredibly how much dirt accumulates on our necks. (Though our mothers definitely knew that.)
Love this quote from Coco Chanel: ‘Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.’
We ignore the SPFs in make-up. They’re a little bonus, yes, but you shouldn’t rely on them. SPF protection in cosmetics can’t hurt, but one is not a substitute for the other. You don’t wear enough make-up to protect you, plus make-up migrates: a lot of it is wiped away by using the phone or touching your face. So from April to October, a daily sunscreen is also a must.
At a real pinch, you can remove nail polish with… nail polish! Applying a coat of polish over existing varnish and wiping it off immediately works in emergencies.
Feeling shaky? Have a comforting bath. Age-old remedy, of course, but there’s a fascinating reason why they’re so effective. ‘Being in warm water produces the bonding hormone oxytocin, which you get if you spend time with people you love,’ says Dr. Tara Swart. ‘To get the benefits, stay in the tub for at least 15-20 minutes.’
For a spotty back, treat skin with a blend of antiseptic aromatherapy oil: mix together two drops of camphor, lemon and lavender oils with 12 drops of evening primrose oil and apply morning and evening. (It might seem counterintuitive to apply oils to a spotty zone – but trust us, it works.)
Now that we’re starting to think about wearing actual shoes again rather than slippers, a tip from the top (a.k.a. Manolo Blahnik): ‘To make wide feet appear narrower, wear shoes with a long v-shaped front.’
If nails chip easily, it’s because they’re dry. When they dry out, they tend to feel harder and more inflexible (a problem that’s exacerbated as we age). Spending time outside has a dehydrating effect, too. So lubricate them night and morning with a specific nail oil – although frankly, at a pinch, anything oil will do. (We melt a little coconut oil into an old lip balm pot and keep it on the bedside.)
We know we’re ALL trying to save money right now, but reaching for last year’s sunscreen is a fast track to skin damage. Its efficacy deteriorates over the winter, so stock up on a new supply of SPF15 (or preferably higher), and use liberally.
We’ve rolled back on doing so many Zoom calls, but the best piece of advice we’ve learned is to avoid any kind of shiny make-up, which is just accentuated by the screen. Think matte, think powdered T-zone – and forget mineral make-up and light-reflective concealers, which just bounce back the light and make you look sweaty.
We’ve been checking out Trinny Woodall’s one-minute eyelid lift – and now we swear by it just as she does. ‘Take two fingers and place them on the middle of each eyebrow. Push your fingers up towards your forehead, applying hard pressure. Now try to close your eyes. Open and close them 30 times in quick succession.’
Love this, from fashion designer and fragrance mogul Narciso Rodriguez: ‘Everybody has a ritual with their fragrance; some people throw it on their clothes and run out of the door, but for me it’s more elaborate. I like to spray the shower with eucalyptus oil. One shot wakes you up in the morning, while a shot of lavender in an evening shower is deeply relaxing.’
Many of us are changing our clothes when we come in from outdoors, as part of protecting ourselves against Covid-19. But it’s also a good idea to clean your hairbrushes regularly, either with a daily spray cleanser or a brush shampoo (or your usually shampoo), which will not only remove debris and build-up but also microorganisms. You might want to keep brushes covered, when not in use – and don’t share with other household members.
If you have ridges on your nails, these are often the result of an injury to the cuticle or nail bed. To remove, use a buffer – but only lightly, being careful not to take off too much of the surface of the nail.
Brows getting you down? Don't be tempted to have a blitz. When tweezing at home, take out a few hairs and walk away. Talk on the phone or even mop the floor (we’re doing a lot of THAT!), then do a few more. Aim for a soft, fluid curve with no sharp angles.
We've heard reports of people buying secondhand make-up on eBay. Just one word of advice? Don’t do it. ‘Gently-used’ cosmetics (as they’re sometimes described are never a good idea – but even less so, now.
A less fattening alternative to the banana bread trend: make a ripe banana into a hair mask, instead. Mix with a tablespoon of honey and a teaspoon of sweet almond oil (at a pinch, pretty much any oil will do), then apply the mixture after hair is shampooed. Leave for 15-30 minutes, or even longer, than shampoo again and condition as usual.
Wisdom on hair health from Anabel Kingsley: ‘Juice fasting is awful for your hair. You can guarantee six to 12 weeks after a juice cleanse, you’ll experience hair loss.’ What we should all be doing is taking a vitamin D supplement, ‘to promote hair growth. Every hair follicle has a vitamin D receptor, which influences the hair-growth cycle. Low vitamin D is linked to alopecia, so taking a supplement is an easy way to help with hair loss.’
We’re not even considering a full make-up look each day, but a light touch makes us feel groomed and pulled-together. We’ve always liked the clutter-free advice from Trish McEvoy, which is ‘All of us one or two products that we can’t go without. For some it’s foundation, for others it’s eyeliners. You don’t need to have hundreds of eyeshadows or lipsticks; just the few products or shades that work for you.’
We agree wholeheartedly with Votary founder Arabella Preston’s philosophy about ageing. ‘I try not to obsess about physical changes. After all, as a make-up artist, I never looked at someone else’s flaws – I’m drawn to their individual beauty… If we could all see ourselves more objectively in the mirror, rather than listening to our inner critic, we’d probably feel better about ageing.’