Beauty with benefits!

Get your favourite products to go the extra mile

1 Make-up that does more

Adapt your foundation to your skin’s needs. For dewy bases, mix a few drops of True Skincare Certified Organic Nourishing Avocado & Evening Primrose Facial Oil, £13.50, on the back of your hand before applying. If your skin craves hydration, add a touch of your favourite moisturiser. Then repurpose concealer as an eyeshadow primer. It helps diminish the appearance of veins, neutralise any darkness, provide a great base for your eyeshadow to grip on to and amplify its colour. Try e.l.f. 16hr Camo Concealer, £5.

2 Skin wins

Usually do a quick clean at the basin? Try applying a layer of cleanser and sitting in a warm bath for five minutes before removing it, advises facialist Sarah Chapman. ‘The steam opens pores and allows the ingredients to penetrate deeper.’ Use something like Pixi In-Shower Steam Facial, £18. Don’t neglect your neck! ‘Take your skincare products all the way down to your neck and decolletage,’ says Megan Felton, co-founder of skincare consultancy Lion/ne. ‘Also remember to coat the backs of your hands, as this area is always exposed to the sun and quickly shows signs of premature ageing.’ Use Kiehl’s Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream, £39.

3 Nailed it!

‘If you usually slather on hand cream before bed, try giving hands a treat while doing the dishes. Coat hands in a comforting, rich hand cream, slip on rubber gloves and let your hands drink up the moisture,’ says nail artist and technician Marian Newman. Stock up on something like Soaper Duper Deluxe Shea Butter Hand Cream, £7.50. Dry cuticles? Marian suggests massaging lip balm into the base of the nails and gently pushing back the cuticles to repair any dryness. We love Soap & Glory Melty Talented, £5.

4 Hair hacks

For overnight volume, instead of applying dry shampoo before heading out, try spraying Klorane Tinted Dry Shampoo with Nettle, £9, into roots before bed. This helps the product to fully absorb any excess oils while you sleep and prevent the dreaded white residue.

Style it out: Tend to mist a cloud of hairspray all over your hair? Opt for a more strategic approach to tame flyaways, fight frizz and smooth baby hairs by spraying Percy & Reed Reassuringly Firm Session Hold Hairspray, £12.50, on to an old toothbrush before using it like a comb.

5 Bath upgrade

‘If you usually pour in bath oils while the water’s running, wait. You shouldn’t pour oils into the bath until it has finished running,’ advises Nicola Baillie at ESPA Skincare. ‘The steam will disperse it and you won’t get the full benefits.’ Try Sanctuary Spa Bath Relaxer, £6. Then reap the full benefits of your body scrub by using it in the bath, suggests Nicola. ‘Apply the scrub before relaxing into the water. This allows the oils to be fully absorbed into your skin. Then try a blast of cold water after your bath, to lock in those benefits and tighten the skin.’ Use ESPA Detoxifying Salt Scrub, £38.