Table of contents for 34-2019 in Best

Q I’m a bit lax about putting SPF on my face. Now my nose and cheeks are covered in freckles, which I hate! Help…Felicity, Penzance A DR AAMER SAYS: Caused through over-production of melanin in the skin, freckles – their medical name is ‘ephelides’ – are actually a sign of sun damage. Even on a cloudy day, UVB rays can burn through, causing damage. A course of IPL (intense pulsed light) can eliminate discoloration by targeting and zapping freckles. It has no downtime, but you cannot acquire a tan, real or fake, on your face while having this treatment, as it can cause hyperpigmentation. It’s best carried out once the summer months are out of the way. You may need up to three treatments. From £80. LESLEY SAYS: Some people…

In June this year, I went on holiday to Majorca with my husband, Phill. We swam in the sea, drank cocktails and explored the local area. I came back refreshed and relaxed. This might sound normal, but it couldn’t be any more different to our holiday in Lanzarote two years ago. Back in January 2017, we were both looking forward to it. But, as a size 30, the holiday started off with my usual embarrassment – asking the air stewardess for a seat belt extender. No matter how many times I had to do it, it didn’t get any easier. Yet, as soon as I was strapped in, I began to get excited for a week by the pool. Phill, however, had different ideas – he enjoyed exploring. But after…

TOP TIP If you don’t have outside lights, pile up solar-powered lanterns to enjoy alfresco dining well into the evening.…

Michelle Keegan, 32, found fame as plucky Tina in Coronation Street and went on to star in army drama Our Girl. She is married to TOWIE star turned-TV-presenter Mark Wright. Her Brassic co-star is ex-Emmerdale actor Joe Gilgun. Tell us about your character in Brassic, Erin… She’s a young single mum who’s set her heart on getting a better life for herself and her son, Tyler. She’s very feisty, a bit like a lioness. She protects her cub… but she’s still got a bit of a wild streak, as you’ll see in flashbacks from her younger days. What’s opened her eyes to strive for a better life? I think it’s because she doesn’t want to end up like her mum and dad. Erin wants to give her son something that…

1 BEAR-FACED CHEEK! How adorable is this gorgeous Eurasian brown bear, being somewhat mischievous while ambling in a meadow? He’s sticking his tongue out like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and it reminds us of a certain young Royal who is often a little cheeky, too! Princess Charlotte, four, was also pictured in a similar pose recently while attending The King’s Cup regatta on the Isle of Wight, while her parents raised money for charity. Cheeky creatures! 2 Who wowed the crowd? Celebrities were definitely looking pretty in pink last week! Catherine Zeta-Jones, 49, rocks this-one-shoulder number, while Anne Hathaway, 36, showcases her baby bump in a daring halter-neck with cut-outs. And over here in the UK, GMB’s Charlotte Hawkins, 44, teams her ASOS midi dress with…

DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES? Me and Albert are growing strawberries in a hanging basket – we’re not going to be on Gardeners’ World any time soon, though! ALTERNATIVE CAREER PATH? A stand-up comic. When I was 13, I got to the finals of Young Comedian Of The Year, and performed at The Comedy Store. LAST THING THAT MADE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD? Alan Halsall. He’s going to love me for saying that! He’s one of the funniest people I know.…

The pair have had a tumultuous romance since first getting together in 2012 on TOWIE. Over the years, there have been explosive rows and emotional break-ups, including a dramatic split in February when Arg fat-shamed the GC, reportedly sending a text saying, ‘You’re a fat joke… and you’re nearly 40 years old!’ Charming. But as the rows between the couple on her new show Diva Forever reveal, the jibes have become even more vicious and cruel – so much so, that Gemma, 38, is wondering whether Arg, 31, is the right man for her to start a family with. ‘Gemma has loved Arg for a long time and she could always imagine getting married and raising babies,’ an insider said. ‘She’s never doubted she’s meant to be a mum. But…

Ditch the plastics, Sweetie darlings! Well, at least one celebrity thinks we should – Joanna Lumley is urging the government to put a tax on plastic water bottles, similar to the charge on plastic bags. The 73-year-old actress visited best to talk about Brita’s campaign to reduce bottled water use, saying, ‘I’m sure taxing single-use plastic is the way to go, just to make people think twice about it. There should be duty on every bottle.’ There’s currently a 5p levy on plastic bags, but Joanna thinks this isn’t enough. ‘Think of the pound for a trolley. How many trolleys do you see abandoned? People want that pound back. Make it that.’ Joanna is heading up the new initiative, ‘Just Tap. Filtered’, to convince the public to ditch bottled water…

She was known as the ‘royal rebel’ – famously sending shockwaves around the staid establishment when she displayed a tongue piercing, aged 17. The Queen’s eldest granddaughter revealed the stud at Prince Charles’s 50th birthday party in 1998. History doesn’t record whether Her Majesty was amused at Zara’s bold move. But time moves on, and now, aged 38 and a mum of two daughters, Zara has gone from rule-breaking teen to concerned parent. And although her girls, Mia and Lena, are aged just five and 14 months, like any mum, she worries about their future. ‘I’d rather one of my daughters came home with a piercing than a tattoo, because at least a stud can be removed,’ she said recently, ruefully adding, ‘I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on…

1 You want sweet-smelling hair SPRITZ YOUR HAIRBRUSH Spraying perfume directly onto hair can dry it out, so for a subtle scent, spritz it on your brush and comb through your locks. 2 You have bumpy arms STOCK UP ON STRAWBERRIES Notoriously tricky to treat, the natural acids in strawberries will slowly help slough off stubborn dead skin. Chop one in half and rub over the affected area, then rinse. 3 You need a morning reviver USE CHAMOMILE ICE CUBES Before you go to bed, brew some chamomile tea, pour into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight. The next morning, wrap a cube in kitchen paper and rub over your face for an instant, gentle refresh. 4 Your eye make-up slips APPLY A ‘WET’ LAYER Instead of primer, dip your…

Chicken Kiev Serves 4 Ready in: 50 mins 4 skinless and boneless chicken breasts2 garlic cloves, crushed2tbsp fat-free natural cottage cheese1tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley, plus extra to serve4 level tbsp freshly grated Parmesan2 large eggs, beaten4 medium slices wholemeal bread from a small 400g loaf or 2 x 60g wholemeal rolls, crumbedLow-calorie cooking sprayVegetables, to serve 1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/fan 170°C and line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. 2 Slice into the side of each chicken breast to form a pocket. Take care not to cut all the way through. 3 In a small bowl, mix the garlic, cottage cheese, parsley, 3tbsp Parmesan and a little seasoning. Spoon the mixture into the chicken breasts and press gently to seal, skewering with a cocktail stick if…

1 BRANCH OUT Gardening skills are on the decline, with over a fifth of Brits surveyed by sustainable brand Thought admitting they didn’t know how to pot a plant. Yet, there are many easy ways to get green fingers. For a quick refresher, the B&Q website offers step-by-step guides on planting everything from vegetables to flowers. And, if you have a Dobbies Garden Centre near you, most branches offer free planting demos. They also run workshops for kids, so they can get involved, too! 2 MAKE DO AND MEND Only a third of us repair clothes when they rip or fall apart, contributing to the huge 350,000 tonnes of clothing that end up in landfill each year in the UK. To fix a fallen hem or mend a tear, use…

… the fourth series of Naked Attraction We’re going bigger and better. Even I couldn’t believe it when the production team said a celebrity was taking part (can’t possibly say who, but it’s quite an eye-opener!). We also have somebody with HIV who wants to talk about how it’s not a death sentence any more. Another first is a trans female born into a strict Muslim household, and my favourite, a 57-year-old church-goer whose only man in her life so far is God – she now wants to pick a man naked! … the show’s ‘guilty pleasure’ status It’s a bit like Come Dine With Me without your clothes on! There’s all different types of shapes, bodies and age ranges and, as viewers, we can all identify with that. It…

Does your home need a little TLC? If you’re looking to do some DIY soon, look no further than B&Q. Whether you’re looking to completely revamp your kitchen or bathroom, or just add a few choice accessories to your home or garden, B&Q is the destination to transform your humble abode. Ten lucky best readers will win a £50 B&Q voucher. To enter, see the details right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best3419 by 6 September 2019. POST: Send a postcard with your name, address and contact number to Best/B&Q giveaway, GVBSTL19638, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT by 6 September 2019. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2728 by midnight on 6 September 2019. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone…

She may not have meant it at all, but poor Nadia Sawalha really did put her foot in it on Loose Women recently! During a debate about whether it’s ever acceptable to make fun of your partner’s weight – after Love Island’s Maura Higgins quipped that her man, Curtis Pritchard, was ‘more cheesecake than beefcake’ – Coleen Nolan was left stunned by a comment from her pal. After Coleen, 54, revealed that her family teases her about her weight, Nadia, also 54, said, ‘But I don’t think you can be throwing away funny comments about people’s weight unless you really know them, because it can be so hurtful. ‘But you’re very comfortable with your fa…’ she continued, before stopping in her tracks and talking about something else entirely. A shocked…

TOP TIP Give a classic 50s-style dress a more relaxed look by teaming with white trainers and a denim jacket. TOP TIP A pleated maxi dress doesn’t crease, so it’s perfect if you’re only taking hand luggage! TOP TIP Hit the bar after a day at the beach in a relaxed-fit dress. Choose one with sheer panels to keep cool.…

‘Here we go again, but it’s August, so it’s more like here we don’t go again – because the usual round of travel nightmares are once again ruining the holidays and causing immense stress, disappointment and expense to people who’ve planned, saved and looked forward to what might be their only two weeks of R&R all year. I feel so sorry for anyone who’s affected, but especially families with school-age children. Not only are they ripped off left, right and centre for holiday prices during the summer break – because they are fined if they take the kids out in term time – but they’re also routinely victimised by opportunistic unions who coerce their members into striking at the times when it affects the most people. So far this month,…

Straight up! Ankle-length jeans look fresh teamed with a pair of pretty flats. Walk on the wide side Pack those skinnies away and invest in a pair of wide-leg jeans instead. Dress the part Invest in a dark denim dress, as it’s super-versatile and perfect when the weather turns colder. Jump start Jumpsuits or boiler suits are fast becoming a wardrobe essential.…

MARVELLOUS MOJITO 1 Gently heat 200g caster sugar with 200ml water in a pan until dissolved, boil for 1 minute, then stir in 10 mint leaves and leave to infuse. 2 Put 2 lime quarters, 3tbsp mint sugar syrup and 5 mint leaves into each of 6 glasses, mash contents with the end of a muddler and mix in 50ml white rum, plenty of ice and soda water to taste. Serves 6 LEMON ICED TEA 1 Put 4 English Breakfast tea bags and 6tbsp caster sugar into a large bowl, then add 1 litre boiling water and leave to steep for a couple of mins. 2 Discard the tea bags and leave the tea to cool completely. Fill a very large jug with ice, then pour in the cooled tea…

HER NEW MAN TOOK MY FRIEND AWAY! My close friend of more than two decades finally got herself the man of her dreams. But, in the year or so she’s known him, we’ve drifted apart immensely. I miss her so much. I don’t want to blame this guy, as I hardly know him. But I can’t help think that, if he weren’t in the picture, we’d still be best buds. I’ve tried so many times to reach out, but it feels like she just doesn’t have time for me any more. I feel used. It was OK to see me every week when she was single, but now I’m literally discarded!Jo, Newcastle She’s so swept up in her head-over-heels relationship that she’s forgotten the girl code. We all know it’s…

BEST’S CELEB INSIDER TALKS TO JOE THOMAS Actor Joe Thomas made his name in hit TV series The Inbetweeners and went on to appear in Fresh Meat. Last year, the 35-year-old took the lead role in British film The Festival, alongside his fiancée, actress Hannah Tointon, 31. About to tour the UK in comedy What’s In A Name?, Joe tells best about how The Inbetweeners changed his life and how comedy can be a lonely business. How do you feel about the new play? I’m really excited, because it’s a clever script and very funny. It all centres around a family dinner party that goes wrong and turns into a huge argument – something I think we’ve all experienced at some point. A dinner party is a great way to view people and see how they react in…

LEO 24 July – 23 August There’s no stopping Leos – Barack Obama, Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Jenner, to name a few – once they have sunk their teeth into an engrossing endeavour. No matter what it takes, the kings of the zodiac will be determined to succeed, and the rewards for taking this attitude will be well worth it. SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November Some miraculous good fortune will be uplifting. An unexpected twist in events will bring back happy memories. You are reminded of a similar and rare occurrence in your past, and you can’t believe it’s happened twice. You might seriously consider starting again on something you gave up a while ago. AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February Put more effort into balancing work and play.…