Small Changes In Difficult Times

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Nobody reaches adulthood without discovering that life is a rollercoaster. Sometimes we’re up – elated, overjoyed, beaming ear to ear. But unavoidably, we all face challenging times, facing sadness, grief, frustration, depression or simply fear. (Certainly, pick up any newspaper right now and the world can definitely feel quite scary.)

We’ve long believed that small changes can make big differences to how we feel – and that’s definitely true when facing life’s challenges. So when you’re on the low of that rollercoaster, here’s what we know works – on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. Read More…

The Neck’s Best Thing

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Fact: as with hands, your neck can give your age away faster than a glance at your passport. Even smooth-skinned British beauties tend to ignore what happens below the chin-line – in fact, for many women, a cursory swipe with a flannel constitutes neck care. The result? Sagginess. Wrinkles. Tell-tale crêpiness. In short, a neck that looks older than the rest of you.

Yet on the Continent, it’s a different story. There, the neck is an erogenous zone, on which TLC is regularly lavished. The result? Necks that stay firmer, smoother and more swan-like for longer. As Paris-based facialist Jickie Leray explains, ‘French women regard their neck and décolletage as an extension of their faces. So everything they do for their face – cleansing, protecting, ritually moisturising – is extended right down to the bust-line.’ And if your new beauty resolution is to take more care of your neck, that’s a pretty good blueprint. (Starting with tonight…) Read More…

Fast Fixes For Winter Skin

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This is a time of year when skin can look a tad washed out and you feel all ‘blah’. So we thought this month we would share with you some of our top tips for instant sparkle – and beyond that, some of our favourite quick-fix products.

  • Start by breathing – it’s the foundation of everything. It calms you down, peps you up – oh, and keeps you living. So if you want to be more alive, practice this simple, quick technique at least twice a day for five cycles – more is better. Unfold your arms and legs, sit, lie or stand loosely and close your eyes (if possible). With your tongue just behind your top teeth, inhale to a count of four down to your belly, hold for seven (without letting your shoulders rise), exhale through rounded lips for eight. Brilliant for stress control (and one of the basics of Tantric sex, you might also like to know!)
  • If you can, go for a 20-minute walk in the fresh air. If you’re stuck indoors, march on the spot, arms swinging, knees coming up, then speed up and downstairs. Try jumping up and down – or even some star jumps…

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Beauty Bible Loves: The Autumn VH Edit

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As regular readers of our website know, there’s lots, lots, lots that Beauty Bible Loves at Victoria Health. That’s because our product sleuth friend Gill often introduces us to fab new brands to be found on VH’s shelves. (Sometimes, if we’re really lucky, when we’re all wearing tiaras and having a cuppa. Yes, honesty.) Other times, we’ve been known to point Gill herself – who we’ve in the past (accurately) described as the Indiana Jones of the beauty world – in the direction of ranges which have crossed Beauty Bible’s paths which we think she’d be rather taken with. We share the belief that products need to smell and feel fab, be made with integrity – and always, deliver on their promises. Read More…

How Your Phone Can Make You Healthy

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It suddenly dawned on me the other day that my phone is keeping me fit. And healthy. And less stressed. And I’m a) surprised and b) rather pleased about it.

Yes, I know that phones are also the curse of modern life. According to a study by Nottingham Trent University, we check them an average of 85 times a day. We could be reading a book – and half an hour’s gone on Instagram. We could be chatting to a friend – and instead, we’re looking at videos of fluffy kittens they’ve posted on Facebook… And I’m sure I’m not the only person who has found herself sitting in bed beside their partner, Instagramming last thing at night. (An addiction I’ve managed to kick, happily.) Read More…

Be Nice To Your Knees

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Crack! Pop! Ouch! That isn’t a breakfast cereal. It’s the sound of a knee, slamming on ice. I could hardly have imagined when I took a tumble on the slopes 20 years ago that a simple skiing injury would have such long-term repercussions – but having had so many friends go through similar experiences with knee injuries of some description, I know how important ongoing knee TLC is for generally wellbeing.

A very common skiing injury, my Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury needed surgery, at the time – with my surgeon warning: one in ten people who underwent the operation need a complete knee replacement, at some time. As someone who likes to stay really mobile I vowed, at that moment, not to be one of them – but it’s something which requires an ongoing effort, rather than pretending my knee’s as good as new.

Knees are hugely complicated joints, bound by an intricate system of ligaments, tendons, cartilage and muscle – acting as a hinge between the thigh bone, shin bones and kneecap. And whether you’re a seasoned athlete, a weekend walker or a couch potato, it’s really important to understand how to protect knees from damage. It can be the difference between a full, active life and – well, staying on that couch. Read More…