Table of contents for 37 - 2022 in Best

I always thought I would grow old gracefully, age like a Parisienne, stylishly dressed and going grey naturally, which – by the way – is totally in vogue. Think Helen Mirren and Andie MacDowell. But no. I started the year pitching up to the office with purple hair. I’m now a highlighted blonde and if you Google me, you will also see I had my first facelift before I hit 50! Back then, I had one of the first facelifts performed awake, by a French surgeon, who laughed when I asked how his countrywomen were so at ease with their changing faces. ‘Lots of French women have surgery,’ he chortled. ‘They just don’t admit it like you Brits!’ How we age is a choice. There is no right or wrong…

Linda Robson had a very emotional moment on Loose Women recently, after a viewer, contacting the show about his struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), led her to open up powerfully about her own mental health struggles, including her battle with the same condition. The popular actress and mum-of-three, 64, spoke of how she hit rock bottom and had a breakdown, on a previous holiday during which she was accompanied by her Loose Women pals Nadia Sawalha and Stacey Solomon, who brought her home and took her to The Priory rehabilitation clinic, for treatment. The Birds of a Feather star spoke candidly. ‘I, like Connor, have got a bit of OCD so everything has to be really clean, and at the moment we’ve got mice in our house so it’s…

September 11 2001, started as any other day in New York City. It was bright and sunny, and I grabbed a quick breakfast before arriving at my desk for 7.30am. I’d just transferred from London to the head office of Euro Brokers in New York. I had moved to the city just a month earlier. It was one of those ‘now or never’ moments. I worked in the head office on the 84th floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower, and every time I walked up to the building, I was in awe of its never-ending height. I got in early that day because the CEO of our company, Gil Scharf, was in London, and I wanted to get some figures ready from the day before. As I picked…

HOW IT WORKS ● Nutritionist and certified health coach Carolyn Nicholas (ableapp.com) believes: ‘Any kind of extreme diet can cause lasting harm. Dramatically reducing your food intake sets up yo-yo-style eating when you bounce between eating too little, to going back to unhealthy food habits. Crash-dieting can also disrupt hormones, especially if you’re following a low-calorie, highly processed and refined carbohydrate plan that will make weight-loss even more difficult in the future.’ ● Try to avoid calorie counting. Instead, take a wider look at your habits, including sleep, stress, how much you exercise and hydration. Very often we mistake feeling hungry when we need to drink more water! ● Clinical nutritionist Suzie Sawyer advises: ‘While we all want a quick fix for weightloss, the biggest issue with crash dieting is…

Chicken Shashlik This is a meal that my dad served up at his restaurant all day, every day – probably one of the most popular dishes. So, I’ve decided to make my own version – tender spiced chicken and roasted veg, all served up with a naan. I don’t have a tandoor, but we do have an oven, and with that, a good brine and a decent marinade, we can make the same thing. Serves 4 FOR THE BRINE ● 2 tablespoons salt● 4 tablespoons vinegar● 2 litres water● 1-1.5kg chicken thighs FOR THE MARINADE ● 100ml oil● 2 tablespoons paprika● 4 tablespoons garlic paste● 4 tablespoons ginger paste● 1 teaspoon salt● 4 tablespoons yoghurt 100g chickpea flour (gram flour) FOR THE VEGETABLES ● 4 red onions, quartered● 4 yellow…

Dear Vanessa, I just looked at your Instagram feed and I saw your post about loneliness. This is a difficult one for me. I’ve known about this issue for 16 years and have always avoided broaching the subject. Why didn’t I help you tackle it? Well, at first, I couldn’t understand it. We have such an incredibly busy social life, coupled with work, so you’d think five minutes of ‘alone time’ wouldn’t be a bad thing. Unfortunately, with you it’s different. I commend you for sharing your loneliness phobia with your Instagram followers. It’s brave to be so honest about something you think of as a flaw and are not proud of. My thoughts about it are mainly of concern and support for you. I simply want to say a…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH From fearless firefighters who risk their lives to do their jobs, to those who raise thousands for charity, and people who have done something incredible that has turned someone else’s life around, there are heroes in all walks of life. We’re looking for the ordinary men and women going to extraordinary lengths to help others. So whether you know a member of the emergency services, someone who has performed a heroic act, a selfless charity fundraiser or someone who has triumphed over the odds, we want to hear about them. THE best HEROES These people, although they may not think it, are all heroes who have stood firm in the face of adversity – and we want to celebrate their great achievements. TO NOMINATE THEM If you…

BEST LED FACE MASK FOR SALON-STANDARD TREATMENT CellReturn Premium LED Mask, £1,698 If you want a serious investment, then this is the one. Made with NASA-developed technology, Lily Earle’s CellReturn Platinum LED mask emits red and blue light for a firmer, plumper, clearer complexion. The patented wireless design targets your ears and neck too. BEST HOME-USE LED FACE MASK CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask, £279 Combines anti-ageing red and near-infrared light therapy to penetrate the skin’s lower layers, delivering instant and long-term results. Use for 12 minutes, five times a week. Research found it to reduce wrinkles by 35 per cent in four weeks. BEST BUDGET MASK No7 LABORATORIES Age-Defying LED Mask, £149.95 Powered by red and near-infrared LEDs and designed to help reduce the appearance of lines and…

Q My neck is covered in wrinkles. What’s caused them and how can I get rid of them? Liz, Thetford A DR KHAN SAYS: Horizontal neck lines are typically caused by ageing and a loss of collagen, which causes the skin on the neck to begin to sag. Vertical lines usually form through maintaining the same head position over a period of time, including constantly looking down at mobiles and laptops. Sun damage and smoking can also affect your neck, as can drastic weight loss. Zhoabex, a skin booster, injected into the lines can immediately soften their appearance for a smoother, tighter effect. Results last up to six months, and some redness may last a few days. Expect to pay from £350. LESLEY SAYS: The skin here is fragile and…

THE RITUAL OF MEHR, RITUALS, £16.50 These mini fragrance sticks are a natural and stylish way to beautifully fragrance your home. Once you’ve placed the reeds into the bottle they will naturally and gently scent the room with cedar wood, sweet orange and a touch of warming spices. This luxury home fragrance is perfect to use for smaller rooms. AUTUMN DIFFUSER, THE WHITE COMPANY, £30 A gloriously bright and fruity scent inspired by afternoons spent picking fruits from the orchard, beneath dappled sunlight. The combination of crisp pear, quince and apricot blends with warming musk and amber for a rich, welcoming fragrance that marks the change in season. SALTED CARAMEL & VANILLA REED, THE BODY SHOP, £16 Indulge in the ultimate guilty pleasure with this luxuriously soothing Vanilla & Salted…

TRAVEL SNAPSHOT Toronto, the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario, is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most in North America. You’ll find it on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, which forms part of the border between Canada and the US. A vibrant cosmopolitan city, it’s bursting with attractions, but what you may not know is it’s also a green oasis with sustainable spaces, food options and plenty of ways to get back to nature! INSIDER’S GUIDE To get a real feel for the layout of the city, a bike tour is a must. It’s an exciting way to see the sights, and our guide was patient and knowledgeable. We covered all the must-see cultural and historical landmarks, such as the CN Tower, City…

CAROL McGIFFIN THE WAY I SEE IT… Wise words from our feisty, fearless and funny columnist ‘If you are a regular reader of this column you’ll know I’m not a fan of those frightening “smart” speaker things. The ones that have names to make them appear useful and friendly that you shout questions or orders at so it can give you answers or perform tasks you’re too lazy to look up or do yourself. I don’t even like being in houses that have them because I know they listen to everything. My friends always pooh-poohed my fear with their usual, ‘Oh stop it, if you’ve not nothing to hide – you’ve got nothing to fear, right?’ Wrong. Because no one, with the exception of no one, has a pure mind…

I looked around the room. The box of toiletries was filled with sweet-smelling soap, bath bombs and face masks. There was a colouring book and fresh crayons. A nice clean towel was folded tidily on the bed. I smiled and placed a teddy bear on the pillow. Just the way I always did. ‘There,’ I thought. ‘Ready for my next one.’ And just to think, I’d worried I’d be bored or lonely when my children had flown the nest and my husband had left. Instead, I’ve fostered over 100 children and my life had never been busier – or more fulfilling. Growing up, I’d been the eldest of eight children and, as my parents worked, I’d be in charge of warming up dinner and making sure my younger siblings were…

It’s been on and off for a year now with East End Boy but (famous last words), it’s finally over. And, at first, I swore to myself I would give up even looking at dating sites until at least after Christmas. But there is something oddly addictive – especially when your ego is dented – about seeing if someone else finds you attractive; an admittedly childish ‘ner ner na ner ner’ but, whatever. So a week after our holiday (more of that later) one night, at way too late o’clock, I logged on… ‘Hello, you have an expressive look that reveals a sweet and dreamy woman… am I wrong?” This message made me laugh, not least because it came from a 31-year-old calling himself Moon. It made me giggle almost…

STRESS IS MAKING ME SMOKE I used to be a big smoker back in the Nineties, but gave up as soon as my children were born. Now after 20-plus years, while going through a very messy divorce, I’ve found myself reaching for the cigarettes again – and it’s getting increasingly hard to stop. Could you hit home for me the long-term effects of smokers so it puts me off! I hate this habit. Laura, Motherwell DR HILARY SAYS: I sympathise with you in your current situation – and for the stress that it has caused. I understand why you would reach for the cigarettes again, but to answer your question, 70 per cent of all lung cancers are related to smoking tobacco and many other cancers are associated with smoking,…

Few things are more glorious than a meadow filled with wildflowers. Tall red poppies, sky blue cornflowers and bright yellow buttercups – a vibrant example of nature at its best. A field full of flowers is also vital to the survival of thousands of insects, not least among them the humble bumblebee. They provide shelter and food for the buzzy pollinators, who in turn play an essential part in supporting the ecosystem along with a whole host of other insects. According to The Wildlife Trust, there are 1,500 insect pollinators in the UK including bumblebees, honeybees, moths, butterflies, flies, wasps and beetles. Together they pollinate around £690 million worth of crops annually and, claims the Trust, are responsible for every third mouthful of food we eat. The fruit, veg and…

YOUR 30s – THE FIRST SIGNS WHAT’S GOING ON: Most women think they looked their best in their early 30s. If only we could stop the clock here! This is also the decade when fine lines and crinkling, plus thinning skin, appear around the eyes, cheeks look a little flatter, then frown and expression lines can become deeper. The skin’s natural collagen and elastin, which keeps it supple, begins to break down. There’s also open pores and broken capillaries to consider, and hormone fluctuations can cause acne. Now is the time to invest in anti-ageing products and get into a routine. SKIN SAVERS • Cleanse and moisturise twice daily and wear a broad-spectrum SPF30 every day. • Counteract the dulling effect of slower skin renewal with a gentle exfoliator once…

WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY BROTHER Attached is a photo of me with my lovely uncle, my mum’s brother, Albert Forsyth – known as Ally. He passed away unexpectedly on 7 April 2021. My mum is struggling to accept his passing. Can you please tell me if Ally is at peace and with his spiritual family? My sister and I look after our mum and dad, but since Ally’s passing, my brother, David, is distant, and on the rare occasions we see him, he’s withdrawn, looks unhappy and has distanced himself from the rest of the family. I sense something is not right with my brother. Can you tell me what’s up? Jeanette LEE SAYS: Concerning your brother David, a lot of miscommunication has come about. Despite this, there’s a chance…

Exciting new series Send Nudes: Body SOS, which is currently airing on E4, uses groundbreaking technology so individuals considering cosmetic surgery get to see themselves like never before – with full-size avatars of their naked bodies. In the opening episode, Irish model and host Vogue Williams meets single mum Steph, who is desperate for smaller boobs. But participants, via their life-size naked avatars, must decide whether to push ahead with their plans for surgery or have their minds changed by what they see in front of them. Here, mum-ofthree, Vogue, 36, who is married to former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, tells us more… Tell us about the series, it sounds intriguing! I can tell you what it’s not. It’s not a series about plastic surgery, but it is about…

Ulrika Jonsson angrily revealed on her Instagram that she has been kicked off a dating app for ‘violating the terms of service’ in her attempts to find her perfect match online. Last week, the Swedish TV personality, 55, a single mum-of-four, slammed the dating app Hinge for ‘banning’ her from the platform. Ulrika insisted that the app should spend more time banning the ‘countless catfishes’ (fake accounts) she has had to endure, rather than targeting her. And as anyone who’s accustomed to dating apps will know, she may have a point! Sharing a screenshot of a warning which informed her that her profile had been removed, the former weather presenter wrote on her Instagram Stories: ‘Nice one @ hinge. No reason (Maybe you should spend a bit more time banning…

Established in 1759, Lotus is recognised as the oldest British footwear brand. Their AW22 collection contains everything you need for the Winter months; from stylish leather boots to sophisticated occasionwear. You can guarantee that each design from Lotus offers both style and comfort, leaving you with happy feet day and night. To explore the collection, visit lotusshoes.co.uk. best has ten £150 Lotus vouchers to give away. To enter, see right. HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: Save money by entering online at hearstmagazines.co.uk/best3722 by 23 September 2022. PHONE: Call 0901 027 2727 by midnight on 23 September 2022. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer than two minutes. Charges for mobiles may be higher. Phone line closes at midnight on 23 September…

Walking down the street I felt like I was wearing an invisibility cloak. Just a few days earlier, in July 2018, I’d turned 40 and it dawned on me that the attention I’d grown so used to in my teens, 20s and 30s was almost completely gone. As a middle-aged woman I felt like I was disappearing, fast. It’s difficult to admit that – it sounds vain and self-indulgent – but back then, as a mum of three in my early 40s, that’s exactly how I felt. Since the age of 14 I’d ridden a wave of self-esteem that led back to my looks. I got good grades at school, loved drama, fashion and writing, but the thing I was best at was looking good. I wasn’t alone. Many close…

GOTHIC TALES The Skeleton Key Erin Kelly Hodder & Stoughton – £16.99 Fifty years ago, The Golden Bones – a book combined with a treasure hunt – became a worldwide smash. But for the family of the author, sinister consequences echo through the decades. Totally original, this is a feast of a thriller. River of Ashes Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor Vesuvian Books – £8.99 A twisty, page-turning thriller that addresses strong social issues and dark family secrets. Filled with tension and Southern Gothic vibes, plus a terrifying bad guy in the form of psychopathic Beau, this is a strong start to a new series. STAR TURNS Forever Home Graham Norton Coronet – £20 (29 Sep) When her husband develops dementia, Carol is forced out of their home by the…

THE PERFECT PERENNIALS Garden produce is largely divided into annuals and perennials – the former (which includes potatoes, carrots, kale and much more) needs to be replanted every year, whereas perennials remain in the ground and reproduce. Here are three popular ones to try over the next year… RHUBARB Available as both crown and seeds, I’ve found you get quicker results with the former. Plant in Autumn or Spring, so long as the soil is warm. Rhubarb likes well-draining soil, to avoid anywhere prone to getting waterlogged. It also loves manure, so dig some into the soil for a rich, nutritious mix for your plant to feed off. If your plant is new, restrict your harvest to just a few stalks, any more and it could affect future growth. Twist…

From Peaky Blinders to Line of Duty, the birth of Black Sabbath, Thomas the Tank Engine, and even the inspiration for Lord of the Rings, Birmingham has played a global role in our cultural influences – and these are just the tip of the iceberg. Most recently it’s had the eyes of the world on it as host of the Commonwealth Games 2022. At the beginning of August, the BBC announced it’s moving staff into a purpose-built centre in Digbeth, the fast-expanding creative quarter (also touted as one of the coolest places to live in Britain), in 2026. More regeneration is set to springboard off this, attracting creative talent to the city, which has already seen business strengthened – Goldman Sachs and HSBC both opened up huge hubs in the…

SKIN SAVERS Summer takes its toll on our skin – too much sun, extra sugar (all those ice creams and cocktails) and a build-up of sunscreen that sits in your pores. Not to mention stress and a lack of sleep from late nights and heatwaves. No wonder we’re left with skincare woes – dry skin, spots, pigmentation problems and redness. The good news is there’s a raft of products to give your post-holiday skin some TLC and none of them will break the bank. So, whatever your skin issue, there’s a solution under £10 to help you face the new season with a smile! 1 NATURAL BEAUTY Sukin Facial Moisturiser (£7.95, lookfantastic.com) If you prefer the feel of a lighter lotion to a heavy cream, you’ll like this moisturiser with its…

THE BOTTOM SHAPER BEST FOR: bigger bums with excess fat BodyTite is the most advanced form of radio frequency energy assisted liposuction, using local anaesthetic with permanent results. A radio frequency probe is inserted through a tiny incision that heats and melts fat, which is then sucked out. At the same time, the probe heats the skin, causing it to tighten. Results are immediate, with full effects after three months. Compression garments must be worn for up to six weeks and you’ll need to avoid strenuous exercise for two weeks. From £2,000. CHEEKY UPLIFT BEST FOR: smaller bottoms and for mild cellulite Reaction combines two technologies – vacuum massage and radio frequency (RF). The massage improves blood circulation and lymphatic draining, while the heat produced by RF stimulates new collagen…

Her hubby Wayne, who Coleen Rooney has been with since she was a teenager, has always been the big earner. But now, it’s been reported that Coleen has signed a multi-million-pound deal that would see her earn more than her football manager husband. Following a fierce bidding war between rival streaming companies such as Amazon, Netflix and Discovery, the US streaming giant Disney+ has confirmed that one of its five new unscripted UK original titles will be ‘Exclusive access to Coleen Rooney for an official Wagatha Christie documentary.’ This would be a massive deal for Coleen — in every sense. If the amount is correct, she would be the main breadwinner in the Rooney house for the first time in 20 years. As well as the money, the mum-of-four, 36,…

THE KILLER AFFAIR Wednesday, 2.15pm, Channel 5 A hump-day treat thriller for you! Believing her husband has been unfaithful, a woman hires a PI, to prove it. Starring Lauralee Bell. LIES BETWEEN FRIENDS Thursday, 2.15pm Channel 5 A wealthy family’s life is upended when the 18-year-old daughter of a family friend comes to live with them for a few months. A MOTHER’S TERROR Friday, 2.15pm, Channel 5 Alyssa Manning was abducted as a small child and spent seven years living with her kidnapper before she was returned safely to her parents. Now, she’s afraid the same will happen to her daughter……