Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i Woman&Home Feel Good You

In need of a little R&R? Lighting a scented candle might just be what the doctor ordered. From classic brands to newer modern fragrance trends, there’s a fragrance to suit every mood. It’s time to invest in some well-deserved self-care… BEST FOR… CALM Boy Smells Italian Kush Candle, £38, selfridges.com A Mediterranean twist on one of the up-and-coming brand’s most popular scents, this Italian-based version blends limoncello with tangy pomelo and herbal notes of black pepper, basil, oregano, cannabis leaves, patchouli and cypress. This Works Deep Sleep Heavenly Scented Candle, £26, beauty expert.com With notes of lavender, camomile and vetiver, this candle promises to help you drift off. Light this just before you begin your bedtime routine (but remember to blow it out before bed!), and breathe in the calming…

BEST FOR… BOOSTING LIBIDO Saucy Tea, £9 for 15 bags, labtonica.co.uk Packed with jasmine blossom, rose petals and hibiscus, this blooming brew has an uplifting, full flavour. But it doesn’t just quench your thirst, the unique combination also stirs your senses and gives your libido a gentle nudge. We found it tasted best when the bag was left to steep for five minutes. Plastic-free and biodegradable, what’s not to love? BEST FOR… PAST TRAUMA My Viv Slim Vibrator, £18, Ann Summers Designed for those who experience painful sex due to vaginismus, vaginal tightness, trauma or cancer treatment, this lightweight vibrator won’t cause any damage to the delicate area. You can choose from three speeds (which start gently), and seven pulse patterns, so you can increase the intensity as you gain…

Brits have long had a love affair with ‘curry’ – an umbrella term for the many varied dishes of South and Southeast Asia – with one in five* of us rating it as our favourite meal. And while the mild tastes of tikka masala and korma still top the list of most popular Indian takeaway orders, a study** found that almost a quarter of us admit we’re getting more adventurous in the spice stakes. The good news is that from fresh breath to preventing COVID-19 and fighting depression, spice can do you good. So, it’s time to turn up the heat and reap the rewards… Turmeric With its trademark yellow hue thanks to a substance in it called curcumin, turmeric is credited with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Traditionally, turmeric has been used…

PECHE MODE A flush to the cheeks is the epitome of a healthy look. The secret to natural rouge? Forego foundation across the cheeks to allow your natural colour to shine through, and top up with dewy textures, which appear more realistic. This spring, opt for fresh peach tones, which offer more warmth than rosy pink, and work well on both pale and dark skin. Dot Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Blush in Peachy Keen, £30, cultbeauty.co.uk, on to the apples of the cheeks and blend towards the hairline. Rose Inc Blush Divine Radiant Lip & Cheek Colour in Anemone, £23, spacenk.com, looks modern when worn as both a blusher and lipstick simultaneously. DEWY SKIN Nailing the right shade, finish and texture of a new foundation can be an overwhelming task.…

Body care has come a long way from fruity shower gels, with active ingredients now common in our creams and lotions. But we’re not about to set you off on a seven-step daily ritual. ‘Taking care of your skin from the neck down is just as important as it is for the face, but it doesn’t have to be as complicated,’ says Paula Begoun, founder of Paula’s Choice. A few simple steps will change the way your body looks – and how you feel about it. START WITH THE BASICS CLEANSE Unless you’ve worked up a sweat, our skin doesn’t need vigorous cleaning. Using too much cleanser, particularly one that strips the skin, can cause more harm than good. ‘A poorly formulated wash that contains drying ingredients or abrasive scrub…

Mindfulness can benefit us mentally and emotionally – and by mastering what’s known as ‘mindful exercise’, the practice can enhance our physical health too. ‘By bringing mindfulness into all your workouts, you are bringing greater awareness and focus to the present moment,’ explains health and mindfulness instructor Louise Murray (livewellwithlou.com). ‘By doing so, you aren’t thinking about the past or the future, so it shifts you from feeling busy, distracted, worried or stressed, into a calmer, stronger and clearer headspace.’ And it’s in this enlightened headspace that we can get the maximum benefits from an activity, whether that’s running, riding a bike or taking a HIIT class. Mindful exercise can also reduce the risk of an injury. It’s no surprise then that Olympic athletes blend techniques, such as breathing work…

‘Being part of a football team is life-changing’ CAROL BATES 55, from West Sussex, founded the Crawley Old Girls (COGS) football team in 2015 and has played for them ever since. ‘I grew up with my dad playing football and was always dragged along to watch. As a teenager, I served the teas and pies in the clubhouse. When I had my sons, they played football, too. Football was part of my life, but the only thing I couldn’t do was play! Back then, I just accepted there were no teams for girls or women. In 2015, I was involved in a charity event which had a football tournament. I was one of two women in a team. When I got on the field to play, I only touched the…

Best for… STUNNING SEASCAPES Portloe, Cornwall One of the prettiest villages in Cornwall, Portloe is home to several steep-sided valleys with cliffs that tumble down into the sea. Smuggling was rife here in the 18th and 19th centuries, with fishermen bringing home French brandy and hiding it in coves. Today’s more legal pastimes include visiting scenic Caerhays Castle, or the fishing town of St Mawes. WHERE TO STAY Surrounded by cliffs and windswept headlands forming a beautiful part of the Cornish Coastal Footpath, The Lugger Hotel sits in the heart of Portloe, right on the water’s edge. Its 22 bedrooms are tastefully decorated, and its restaurant serves local fish and seafood. Rooms from around £150pn; luggerhotel.co.uk Best for… BLOWING AWAY THE COBWEBS North Pennine Moors, North East England Smothered in purple…

It seems like every five minutes there’s a brand new fad or wellbeing trend to try. But, often, what’s best for the body and mind is to go back to basics with your daily self-care. In her new wellness manual, nutritional consultant MaryRuth Ghiyam reveals the habits that will set you on the path to better health. Her only rule is that you do them every day. ‘The actions may seem small, but they hold the key to making big changes. As you integrate them into your daily routine, everything from your digestion and mental clarity to sleep and immunity improves, giving you an overall feeling of wellbeing,’ says MaryRuth. Try her tips within a 24-hour period – the bonus is they’re all free. 1 HYDRATE… DRINK HALF YOUR BODY…

What if you could wave a magic wand and find yourself in the job of your dreams? If you’re looking for a shortcut to help fast-track your career, that wand may come in the form of sparkly gemstones with awesome superpowers. Whether you’re already an enthusiast, or don’t know the first thing about their so-called wonders, crystals could be the secret to help you take your career to the next level, according to devotees. The pandemic has created a dramatic shift in how we go about our daily lives, and if you were thinking about a change of job, or were in the midst of beginning a new career venture when COVID first gripped our lives back in 2020, your hopes might have been temporarily put on hold. But with…

Eat eggs. Don’t eat them. Always have breakfast. Fast until lunch. Don’t eat dinner after 6pm… With so much conflicting advice on how to eat when, it’s hard to know what to believe. To set the record straight, we bring you the facts and reveal the common food myths that you can ditch. The theory goes that the acids in lemons help torch body fat. But the amounts simply aren’t strong enough to do this. But lemons are high in vitamin C, which can help boost fat loss – and your immune system. They also contain a fibre called pectin, which can help you feel fuller for longer. MYTH CARBS MAKE YOU FAT Carbs don’t make you fat – too many of them will, but too much of anything will…

Never underestimate the power of a good brow. Filling in and shaping your eyebrows will accentuate your features, lift the eye area and frame your whole face. If you have been blessed with naturally-luscious arches, good for you. Turn to fixing gels to whip them into shape. If, on the other hand, you’re struggling to deal with sparse, spindly eyebrows, there’s a buy to enhance what you’ve got. But there are so many brow products to choose from, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed by the options available. Generally speaking, powders work best to fill in gaps and add fullness. Brow pencils are ideal for mimicking the look of individual hairs and creating shape. Choose a shade one or two levels lighter than your natural hair colour for a soft…

This column is about encouraging women of any age to improve their health, fitness and strength. All of this inevitably leads to increases in confidence, self esteem and mental health, plus the obvious physiological improvements, such as improved body shape, hormone function and metabolism. The decreases can be seen in resting heart rate and the size of your trousers. We’re agreed on that, aren’t we? That said, there is nothing wrong with focusing on specific areas of your body, but you need to understand what works and what doesn’t. So I’m going to use my column as a pulpit and preach till I’m blue in the face because if there’s one question I get asked ALL the time, it’s this: ‘What exercises should I do to get rid of my…

It’s fair to say that going to the doctor’s is never much fun – whether it’s attending a routine cervical screening or seeking help for a rash/pain/annoyance that simply won’t go away. But for some of us, visiting the GP triggers debilitating stress and high anxiety levels, which can feel terrifying – and as we get older we often face a higher risk of health complications which can further exacerbate any worries. Research by health test provider Medichecks found that during the first lockdown, out of 2,000 people polled, one in five had a health condition that they would ordinarily have sought treatment for, but did not. For those who already had a phobia of doctors, the pandemic reinforced their conditioned response to steer clear, and worsened the anxiety of…

There’s never a good time to get a cold sore, and it always feels like they last for a lot longer than they should – especially if you have a big event on the horizon! But while you might think great oral hygiene will help ward them off, unfortunately no one is immune to getting them. Though fear not – there are still precautions you can take. Here, our experts reveal their tips and tricks for treating cold sores at home. What causes an outbreak? It’s not just bad luck which causes cold sores. ‘Most people already have the cold sore virus, but little is known about why some people end up with more cold sores than others,’ says Dr Paul Springs, a prosthodontist at Timeless Dentistry. ‘Outbreaks generally recur…

Alzheimer’s has gripped health headlines over recent years. And it’s no wonder – there are currently over 850,000 people living with this condition in the UK and this is set to rise to 1.5m by 2040*. Although scientists have been desperately trying to close in on a cure since its first discovery in 1906, diagnosing, let alone treating this destructive disease, has always been a challenge – until a clever breakthrough. Revolutionary screening It’s hard to believe that a condition as complex as Alzheimer’s could potentially have such a simple solution, but it’s true. According to a study**, a straightforward eye test carried out by opticians – usually used to spot early signs of eye disease – could help predict who is at risk. The study of 32,000 people measured…

Stressful moments can’t be avoided, but if life is regularly getting on top of you, it’s time to learn the tricks that will encourage you to relax. ‘Relaxation techniques help us build resilience to chronic stress, improve the quality of sleep and digestion, and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression,’ says holistic health and wellbeing expert Rophin Vianney*. ‘Lowering stress hormones in the body also allows the immune system to function more effectively.’ Ready to stop stress in its tracks? Try Rophin’s simple combination of stretching, breathing and meditation exercises, so that you can create a feeling of calm – anytime, anywhere. 1 Gently stretch Stretching not only improves flexibility, it opens up muscles that you use to breathe. ‘If the muscles in and around our neck, shoulders, back, stomach –…

Everyone’s talking about… MUSIC THERAPY FOR MENOPAUSE Whether you sing along to Adele when you’re feeling sad or listen to David Bowie for a nostalgia fix, we’re all familiar with the power of music for our wellbeing. But, did you know pressing Play on your favourite song can also help improve symptoms of depression during menopause? That’s right, a new study* found that menopausal women who listened to music showed marked improvements in mental health symptoms, including those with depression. This is because music helps mood-boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin to be released. It also helps to reduce the levels of circulating stress hormones, such as cortisol. Manifest your dreams With daily exercises on how to receive abundance in life through manifesting love and improving your self esteem,…

How many times have you made a snap decision that you wish you could take back, or rushed into a commitment before realising that you should have taken a moment to pause and reflect on your options for that crucial bit longer? Many people strive to minimise procrastination, but it can be a good thing, providing sufficient time to properly plan a task or resolve a situation rather than simply reacting to it. That said, it’s also important to know when to get on with the job in question. Whether it’s your gut instinct, a desire for perfection or a simple case of time mismanagement that’s holding you back, our experts can help you to harness your procrastination response and get the balance right. LEAN INTO A TASK GRADUALLY ‘There…

If you’ve been hankering after a new look, without too much expense, then colouring your own hair could be just the thing. It’s cost-effective, there’s no appointment required and the whole process can be wrapped up in under an hour – all from the comfort of your own bathroom. The downside is that you’re missing out on the vision and experience of an expert, with spot-on application. But also remember, you don’t need to be in an exclusive relationship with either at-home dye or a salon colourist. A happy medium could be a mix of both, and any good professional will be able to tell you how to keep your colour fresh between appointments. Q What’s the best way to apply DIY hair colour? ‘The better your application technique, the more…

As many as 49% of the UK population report suffering from hay fever symptoms and up to 37% of people have developed symptoms for the first time in the past five years* – and the future’s not looking any brighter. In fact, allergy researchers have predicted that due to climate change and pollution the number of hay fever cases will double by 2030. While this is a stark reminder that we all need to do our bit for the environment, it’s also quite disheartening. After all, there are only so many eco swaps that any individual can make! But even if you can’t save the planet on your own, small lifestyle changes can make a huge difference to your hay fever experience. From your diet and exercise routine to the…

Shopping, travel and work have changed, and the way we take care of our health has, too. Two-thirds of GPs now urge their patients to take greater responsibility for their own health. With that in mind, here’s our round-up of the best at-home tests and checks to do today, which could be life-saving. Take your pulse ‘A pulse oximeter helps you check your pulse rate and blood oxygen levels,’ says GP Dr Nick Summerton. ‘These devices clip on your finger and check how well you’re breathing. They’ve been a lifesaver throughout the pandemic.’ Try Jumper Pulse Oximeter (£20, Boots). Cervical cancer Every year, more than 3,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer but, despite this, more than a million skip their screenings. An at-home HPV test doesn’t…

We can all relate to Freddie Mercury blasting out ‘I Want to Break Free’ – deep down, who doesn’t want to shake off their shackles and soar towards a world with no limits? But somehow it just isn’t that easy. We put it down to our past, other people or circumstances, but the truth is, all that’s holding us back is the voice inside our own head. Happily, we have the power to shut that nagging old parrot up, and listen to something much kinder instead. Follow these ideas to make a start. STOP SABOTAGING YOURSELF Do you sometimes feel you’re your own worst enemy? Perhaps you buy that bag you can’t really afford, eat doughnuts after a workout at the gym, wake up hungover before a job interview or…

1 Among your friends, you would describe yourself as… A The quiet one B The one who asks questions C The wise one D The gossip 2 A friend tells you a secret. You… A Take it to your grave, obviously! B Share it with your therapist for her thoughts C Tell your partner if it’s important D Tell other friends on the down-low 3 How often do you share your opinion on something? A Never B Occasionally C Only when asked D Always! I’m entitled to it 4 You meet a new person, how do you react? A You’re guarded B Ask them questions about their life C Chat freely D Tell them about yourself first 5 How often do you tend to post on social media? A Hardly…

This has to be a dream. I have woken to a symphony of tropical birds, the sound of waves lapping the beach, my bedroom curtains twitching in the breeze. I leave my bed and pad outside, where the dawn sun warms my skin. A few yards and I am onto the beach – the white sand crumbling underfoot, tiny crabs scuttling from my approach. It may feel too good to be true but this experience is far too vivid for a dream – I am actually here. And boy, does it feel good. In the dark days of lockdowns we may have all dreamt of escaping to a tropical beach. But as time went on and travel restrictions continued, it started to become tricky to recall what a truly recharging…