Practical Matters

Beauty is more than skin deep
This issue we're looking at the handy ways you can save time and money with your beauty routine - and give your face and body a lift by raiding your kitchen cupboard!

Rona Berg is a former American beauty editor who has compiled a new must-have advice book, full of words of wisdom about surviving the menopause with your skin intact, and packing your wash bag to maximum effect for a short-break or holiday. Her beauty pearls include...

Soften dry lips by applying a dab of honey mixed with a bit of sugar - tastes good too!

Speed dry your nail polish by dipping your wet nails in a bowl of ice water and keep them there for a minute.

Olive oil is an excellent moisturiser and gentle enough for sensitive skin. Mix with the juice of a lemon and massage on to the face for a one-step cleansing, toning and moisturising treatment.

If your hair is dull and coarse, mix a tablespoon of baking soda and a squirt of shampoo in your palm. Shampoo (using this mixture), then condition.

If you love to garden but hate the inevitable dirt-clogged fingernails, run your nails along a cake of soap before you hit the garden. Your nails will clog up with soap, not dirt, and they will be easier to clean when you're done.

You love the look of mascara, but the tips of your lashes sometimes touch the lenses of your glasses and leave little paw prints? After you apply mascara, touch the ends of your lashes lightly with a tiny pat of powder.

For temporary tightening of the face, when you want to play Cinderella for a night, try one of these:

Apply tomato juice, preferably squeezed from a fresh tomato, to clean skin for 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Mix one egg white with two tablespoons of honey. Apply to the face and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm, then cool, water.

Fast Beauty: 1,000 Quick Fixes by Rona Berg, will be published on January 9th 2006 by Workman, priced £8.99.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH
I would be very grateful if you could let me know if there are any quick tips for removing static from clothes caused by tights/stockings and office carpets? Yours sincerely, Maggie Maule (Sent in via email

Don't be a Christmas Turkey!
Christmas should be a happy time for all, but all too often simple accidents occur in the home that could be prevented. Gill Webster from The St John Ambulance offers some seasonal advice to avoid those health hazards…

• Don't place decorations near lights or over open fires.
• Make sure Christmas tree lights are properly wired, fused and with the correct size of bulb. If in doubt, ask a qualified electrician. Bulbs should not touch anything else and must have a free flow of air around them to ensure they don't overheat.
• If you are putting lights on the outside of the house, make sure the lights are appropriate and wires are not trailing dangerously.
• Be careful with knives, which can cause deep cuts. (Blunt knives often require more force to cut but can do more damage if they slip).
• There may be more hot dishes and pots and pans on the cooker than are usual so take extra care.
• Hot fat and other liquids spilt on the kitchen floor should be wiped up immediately and properly.
• Alcohol can impair the senses, leading to bad judgement and subsequent accidents.
• Candles should be properly extinguished. Never leave a lighted candle in an unoccupied room.
• Unfamiliar practices in unfamiliar surroundings can lead to accidents, so be careful if you are staying with friends and family, and likewise look after your guests.
• At all times it is advisable to have at least one smoke alarm fitted, and make sure it works.

To have a happy and accident-free Christmas, take extra care and don't take risks.

For information on First Aid training contact St John Ambulance on 01603 431639.