One thing we all have in common is sleep. We spend about one third of our days in a restful state with our eyes closed to the world.  Our body needs sleep to perform and our brain needs it to restore balance.

Having done some research on dermaplaning, I am none the wiser as to the long term effects. This shaving phenomenon is rapidly taking the beauty world by storm with over 3.8 billion views on Tiktok to date. In truth, this treatment is more suited to younger women in their twenties or thirties who want to achieve that porcelain, doll-like skin. But there is online information suggesting it’s suitable for all ages, depending on skin types and issues of course.

Although it’s only September, here are PEPHER’s top five beauty discoveries so far this year:

You know those moments when you feel your upper arm flapping as you shake salt and pepper on the delicious meal you're about to eat. Maybe it’s a plate of french fries, a mound of creamy mashed potatoes or possibly something a little more healthy like a piece of fish or bowl of tomato soup. Either way, the flabby flaps are an icky feeling and an instant reminder that it’s time to start toning up.

As a woman, how is it possible to accept the changes that occur over 50, particularly from the neck up? Every woman is different with varying levels of ageing depending on lifestyle, environment, health and genetics. Many choose to have surgery or go down the road of botox and fillers. But what other options are there to fix or disguise the ageing face?

My mother often said these words when I was growing up to let us know when we were stressing her out for some reason or another. Mind you, I recall her being blond from most of my teenage years so we mustn’t have been that bad!

As women approach middle-age, many of us struggle to wear lipstick like we used to. Especially the darker reds and plums that once gave us confidence, suddenly look a bit hag-like (dare I say it!). This is mainly due to thinning lips and those fine vertical upper lip lines that are determined to stay front and centre no matter how hard we try to fight them. We notice our lipstick bleeding into these crevices as it begins to get harder to stay in between the lip lines.

The Nivea Q10 range of anti-wrinkle moisturisers does not disappoint. If you have sensitive skin and don’t want to break the bank, this selection has a lot to choose from.

Clarins Self Tan Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster may sound like a mouthful but it does perfectly describe every aspect of the resulting look when using this facial self-tan.  These tanning drops can be added to your daily or nightly moisturiser for the perfect fresh & glowing appearance during the Summer months. I would recommend using one or two drops at the beginning to get an idea of the shade on your complexion and then gradually adding more drops to maintain an even looking facial tan.

Although the Bixie haircut was christened a few years ago, I seemed to have somehow missed the memo. This new-ish edgy hairstyle is the love-child of the bob and pixie cuts and is presented in many different variations depending on hair texture, thickness and length. The good news is that it is easy to morph from one style to the other and the bixie is perfect for women who want to maintain some length yet add some structure

The Ground Skin Restorative Cleansing Balm is an amazing cleanser that gives your face a taste of the luxurious nourishment it deserves. The scent alone relaxes the mind with aromas of rosewood & geranium essential oils. The 120ml jar lasts for months, it is literally the gift that keeps on giving. 

Have you noticed that hair salon prices have greatly increased in recent years, particularly when it comes to getting colour or highlights? And with no guarantee or return policy, we often have to walk out the door with a new hairstyle regardless of whether we like it or not.  Most of the time the results are satisfactory and we leave the salon feeling happy and renewed.  But what do you do if you're unhappy with your cut and/or colour after paying through the nose and feel that you didn’t get your money's worth?  I guess you can tell yourself that it’s a lesson learned and never return to that hair salon again.  But if you are very unsatisfied, it might be a good idea to be honest with your hair stylist and let them know that you expected a different or better result.  If they offer a refund or a free redo, they might deserve a second chance.  Remember when it comes to hair, the expression 'you get what you pay for' doesn't always apply.