Health & Beauty

Clinical trials suggest pharmaceutical-grade lavender oil may ease anxiety symptoms at just 46p a dose, without addiction risks.

With around 33 million overweight or obese adults in the UK, alongside research suggesting that over half (54%) of the nation hope to lose weight in the next 12 months, health experts are warning of an increase in people suffering with “scale anxiety”. 

It starts slowly with darker mornings, heavier limbs and cancelled plans. Then it’s harder to get up, harder to focus, and harder to feel like yourself.

According to British skincare brand Elemental Herbology, the focus in 2026 is shifting towards a more balanced and intentional approach to beauty and wellbeing.

I love a viral beauty product. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching the internet collectively lose its mind over a lipstick, a serum, or — in this case — a lip balm. And in winter especially, lip care isn’t optional; it’s a non-negotiable part of anyone’s makeup kit.

With temperatures plummeting around the UK, those prone to dry skin may notice that foundation starts to crack and sit unevenly on the skin.

I’ve been road-testing it properly for a week now. Morning. Night. No filters. Here’s what I actually think.

A dermatologist is warning that many popular winter “self-care” habits, from hot showers to cosy scarves and comforting food, may actually be fuelling a chronic facial skin condition affecting millions.

Everyday life plays a huge role. Work pressure, relationships, money worries and health issues all creep into our minds the moment our heads hit the pillow. And for me, there’s another factor to throw into the mix: perimenopause. The result? I’m sleep deprived, grumpy and permanently hot — not “slightly warm”, but medium-rare hot.

As 2026 rolls in, many of us are doing what we do best at the start of a new year: dramatically reflecting on the year just gone, romanticising a “new us”, and setting intentions that feel full of promise, at least until February.