Got facial beauty products that didn't work out? Scrubs, masks, serums, creams? Just relegate to your body, and give it some well-deserved extra TLC. You can afford to be super-generous since otherwise these products would be headed for the bin...
Did you know that alcohol can affect how good your self-tanner looks? It dries out skin, which can result in a more uneven finish.
To lengthen and lift lashes, try the ‘Push and Pull’ trick from Pat McGrath: ‘Swipe the wand from the base of the lash, zigzagging the formula back and forth through the lashes.’
It’s bronzer season! Hurrah! But using brown make-up tones alone can look flat and muddy. Adding a little peachy pink to the centre of the cheeks is the prettiest complement to sepia tones.
Most of us now carry around a small size of hand sanitiser in our handbags/totes. But to counteract the drying effect, do also carry a small, portable tube of hand cream – many are now available in 30ml sizes (sometimes smaller), and are teeny enough not to weigh you down. (We’re big fans of both Cath Kidston and Heathcote & Ivory small-scale hand creams.)
Headed back to the office…? (FINALLY!) You may notice that hair’s picking up static, since many hard-wearing carpets are made from nylon. Switch to a moisture-boosting haircare duo (many of the ingredients found in these are anti-static), try a frizz-proofing spray – and in an emergency, add a tiny dab of hand cream to palms and skim over flyaways.
Nose stuffy from hay fever? Take a eucalyptus-scented bath: eucalyptus and warm water have decongestant properties that help open the sinus pathways.’ (This resinous essential oil also has antibacterial and antiviral properties.)
Wisdom worth repeating, from Natural Health magazine: ‘It’s time to connect to your bigger purpose and your true identity. A 2010 study published in Applied Psychology found that individuals who felt they had a sense of purpose lived longer than those who didn’t. If you want to be someone who values your health, that means moving more. If you’d like to be known for your kindness, then think how you can develop and practise altruistic behaviours.’
We thought Zoom calls would be ancient history now, but nooooo… But the best piece of advice we’ve learned is still 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.
Beauty wisdom from Cheryl Tweedy: ‘I read cosmetics labels. I take a long time over that, because the instructions are there for a reason and help you get the best out of whatever product you’re using. A lot of my friends just whack on whatever, without looking at it – but I don’t think that’s productive.’
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.’
As we age, one of the reasons skin loses its plumpness is because some of the subcutaneous fat is lost, causing sagging. Add plenty of good fats into your diet to recoup that youthful glow: chop avocados into your salad, sprinkle seeds on top for skin-boosting goodness – and don’t see good fats as ‘the enemy’, ever.
Painting nails before bedtime will lead to dullness and smudges. If you must, apply only one coat of polish and wait at least 45 minutes before dozing off.
Smudged your mascara? Slightly ‘ewwww’, but your best bet is either a cotton bud dipped in foundation, which you can use to ‘roll’ away the specks – or wet the cotton bud with your tongue. It’s not as runny as water, so won’t take off foundation underneath and leave a mark.
Love this quote from Oscar-winning actor and L’Oréal ambassador Viola Davis. ‘My life is my beauty. My skin tone, my kinky, curly hair, my deep voice is my beauty. I just had to realise that I had it all along…’
Home waxing right now? Some waxes are pulled off with muslin strips, but if your kit contains large strips, cut them into Band Aid-sized piece, since it’s easier to wax one small area at a time. Test the temperature on the inside of your wrist, meanwhile; if the wax is too hot wait just a minute or so because if you wait too long, it will congeal.
Having trouble waking up in the mornings? So many of us are still afflicted by poor sleep that it’s a widespread issue. So: step out into the garden or sit by a window first thing, to help you overcome any early morning grogginess.
Suffering from dry, flaky lips? Us, too. Dampen lips when you’re having a bath or shower and gently buff away with a flannel. Pat dry immediately you’ve finished washing and slick on a rich balm immediately.
We love finding space for little ‘psychological lifts’ during each day. A splash of Cologne, a reapplication of blusher in the afternoon, a swipe of lipstick at the end of the working day. Fact: if you feel pretty, you look pretty.
This quiet time of year is a perfect moment to follow some advice from US make-up pr Glenn Marziali. 'Take a Sunday afternoon to find out what makes you feel pretty. Go through magazines, cut out pictures of eyes, lips, cheeks that look like yours – or shades of make-up that you love – and see what the make-up artist did to the models. Then try it on yourself.' (You could also use a Pinterest board for this, of course.)