Alright, the third Monday in January is set to be the most miserable of all, and it’s coming. But, let us not premeditate glumness. Instead, let’s just plan to do something that makes us feel really, really good. For me, that’s buying a posh coffee, instead of going instant. It’s making a whole plate of potato wedges for tea. It’s ordering on ASOS (Klarna, obviously), and not filtering by ‘lowest to highest’. Oh, and it’s booking a treatment – or two – and kicking back in the salon for many hours. Join me? By Rachel Spedding

To me, there’s one key benefit of coffee – it gets me through the day. A life without the wondrous ripple of caffeine soaring through my veins is not a life I wish to discuss. Good news though – turns out – there’s more to that morning cup o’ joe than just good taste. The environment, our beauty routine… coffee grounds are majorly multipurpose. Here are six things that prove they’re magic beans. By Rachel Spedding

Alright, we've talked 2019 hair trends, and though the return of copper is sure to be huge this year, Google searches for 'brown hair' are rising (and you're about to see why). Just like tonal blondes, going 'brunette' doesn't mean committing to one shade all over. Talk to your stylist about face-framing colour techniques; toffee-toned babylights, toasted chestnut shades (think deep, rich red), or try balayage. All of which will add dimension to chocolatey locks. So, how about styling brunette tresses? According to Helen Davis, of Pickles & Co salon, "creating a natural look is starting to become popular, not…

Internet searches are pretty revealing: 'IKEA Malm drawers', 'are Dennis Quaid and Harrison Ford related?', ‘what time does Dominos in Willesden shut?'. Along with the generic help-me-solve-my-problem searches, each year, Google round up the most-asked beauty questions. From magnetic eyelashes (yes, really), to finding the right concealer for you, here are the top 10. With the answers too, obviously. By Rachel Spedding

For some, seeing in the new year means catching up on hair cuts. Ticking ‘trim’ off the life admin list, or indulging in a little salon time (because we’ve stuck out this ‘January’ thing for quite long enough), could mean trying something new. And shoulder-length hair, my looking-for-inspiration friends, is the cut you should try. It inspires flashbacks of the ‘growing out’ phase we all endured after mum’s insistence of having a bob throughout our childhood (ahead of her time on the trends it would seem). It’s not so short that ‘transformation’ springs to mind, but it’s a definite shift…

It's January. The cheese is gone, the bubbles are drank, and what remains is a new year attitude to be a better version of the year previous. My advice? Sack off the pressure, and head for a spa day. Here, when sat amidst another kind of bubbles (the jacuzzi kind), you’ll be forced to sit back and think about good stuff. Like travel plans for the new year, or what will feature on the afternoon tea menu.  I headed to the – aptly named – Chilworth Spa at Paddington Hotel to do just that.

100 people in a room gag. Andy Samberg’s charming grin. Sandra Oh’s thanks to her parents. Olivia Colman’s use of the F word. Black Panther cast on the red carpet. Christian Bale’s nod to Satan. Fiji Water girl. Golden Globes, you were great. And the hair? Well, that was even greater. Side part, tousled waves, faux bobs. That sums up the hair game last night, with a cheeky appearance from Nicole Kidman's bow thrown in too. I'm calling it though – my stand out was Lady Gaga. Dress, hair eye shadow – Gaga had baby blue on tap, matching her Valentino…

This year, let’s think less about ‘giving up’, and more about embracing new stuff (not sipping cider vinegar). Simple things, like breathing in fresh genuine air, without the pressure of committing to ‘meditation’. A walk in the park vs. an hour sat in silence. A juicy glass of water vs. no wine for two months. ‘Detox’ gets your attention, but these six simple things will leave you feeling great. By Rachel Spedding

From heating up lash curlers, to flame-throwing an eyeliner with a lighter to make it 'gel', there are heaps of beauty hacks out there. I’m thinking less GCSE science, and more ‘how to stay fresh’, in my approach to NYE beauty, so here are six ‘hacks’ that will keep you feeling great no matter where the clock’s hands are at tonight. *Prosecco may impact results. By Rachel Spedding

New Year’s Eve is our next opportunity to drink a little fizz, eat a lot of beige, and catch up with old friends. It’s also the last opportunity to do all of that and justify it within the ‘festive celebrations’ category. Whatever your plans may be (pub, club, sofa) last year, we saw bookings for spray tans at their highest this coming weekend. So, if you’re hitting the spray tan booth, here’s how to prep (and keep that colour lasting right through to 2019). By Rachel Spedding

Sure, glitter in December is an obvious choice. But, so is Home Alone 2 and East 17, yet we still crack them out every year. It’s time to talk glitter eyes, because shiny nails just aren’t enough.  You don’t need a party to pull this off, just a pretty steady hand and some scotch tape to deal with the aftermath (fallout, we know you’re coming). So, how to do it? Prep your lids with a primer to keep the glitter locked in, long-term. If you’re coating the whole eye, your fingertip is the best tool, just collect some pigment and…

We’ve got one more pay day until the end of January, and the thought of that hurts. It will arrive to us this week – in all it’s ‘thank goodness’ glory – begging to be saved and spent efficiently, on things like food supplies, heating bills, transport to distant relatives. What will we spend it on? ‘Reunion drinks’, the Zara sale, and reduced Christmas-themed chocolate. No more. This, my excitable spend-it-all-by-27th-December-and-hate-yourself-til-February friends, is your guide to being savvy and making your pay day funds last. One thing to note – I’m no Martin Lewis, but I am in my twenties,…

Christmas shopping. It’s not all mulled wine and checking-in on Facebook. It’s more like Takeshi’s Castle. Navigating yourself (and 17 carrier bags – handles getting thinner by the second), from one end of a tightly packed high street to the next. Feet sore, hands stinging, and beads of sweat carelessly rolling down your back – beneath that ‘I’ll need to wear this’ extra jumper. In short: it’s treacherous, and you’ll need a break. So whichever ‘big city’ you’re in, here are the best nail bars to visit for some much needed mid-shop R&R. You deserve this. By Rachel Spedding

You know when you want to buy something really expensive? Like, beyond-your-budget-should-really-not-buy-it expensive? So, you decide that ‘cost per wear’ is enough justification? In context: ‘if I wear these jeans every day for a month, they’ve technically only cost me £2.50 per day’. It’s ludacris, but it works doesn’t it? You’ve been cost-per-wearing your life for a while now, and didn’t even realise. Imagine doing that with beauty treatments? Plot twist, you can, because book in for these treatments now, and they’ll last until NYE. Cost.per.wear. Thank us for the enabling later. By Rachel Spedding

Sugaring has been big news this year, as the vegan alternative to the old faithful – waxing. The ‘ancient’ technique has roots in the Middle East, where Cleopatra is rumoured to have been a fan. Using all-natural ingredients, and promising long-lasting results, sugaring bookings have increased on Treatwell by 200% in the last year. Sweet. We spoke to Tanja Westendorff of Sugaring London, to see why it’s on the rise (and exactly what’s involved). If you’re a hair-shifter – shaving, Veet-ing, plucking (bold) – you’re going to want to read this. By Rachel Spedding

A quick search of the hashtag #MeghanMarkle on Instagram right now will bring up all types of inspiration from the British Fashion Awards last night: hair, wardrobe, how to still look ridiculously great halfway through pregnancy. But, the bit that we’re fixated on in the office today is her manicure. Sure, nails are kind of our thing, but Markle's *rumoured* decision to break Royal protocol in the name of a really nice manicure is something we're most definitely in support of.  We've done a little digging (procrastinating), and think we may have found the colour in question. CND's Dark Dahlia. The 'rich, blood-toned'…

Coral hair is a trend we'll happily shout about forever (Kelis – thanks for reminding us how mighty fine it looks). From subtle, pink and pastel, to zesty, brighter shades, it's the surprisingly wearable colour that we're seeing pop up on Instagram a lot lately. Worn best with a blunt cut bob, or rough-textured waves, the colour is the stand out, which means... less time needed styling (hurrah). If you're keen to try, but an all-over colour feels too bold, ask your stylist for a semi-permanent taster. Blonde hair will be toned, or shifted to peach with a dose of…

We all have that one friend (it's me), who loves the beauty stuff. Expensive hairspray (it holds), plush-looking skincare (the gram needs it), regular massages (but my shoulders?), and a hoarder of products (can't justify – just greedy). Here’s everything your beauty-loving friend would like to open on Christmas Day. Read: here’s all the stuff you’re going to want – because I know it’s really you that’s obsessed. By Rachel Spedding

The facts. A gel mani lasts around two weeks. It’s three weeks to Christmas. Book yours now and it’ll be ready for a refresh right before the big day (your next one will last ‘til 2019 – scary). The hard bit? Picking a colour. Like the toss up between tea and coffee, red or white, Ant and Dec – it’s almost impossible to pick a favourite. That’s when expert advice comes in handy. We’re sharing the expert intel, because it’s Christmas – a time for giving. To help you choose your next nail colour, here they are, the most-booked colours of…

It's December. A time for advent calendars, loungewear, and loads of festive socialising. With funds running thin from present-buying (wine-buying), reinventing your hair is the easiest trick for refreshing an outfit, so you can wear the same all-black get up for three parties straight. No judgement here, FYI – you thrifty thing. From 40s style high-shine waves, to intricate braiding, the simplest hair shift keeps things looking interesting up top. An accessory will do the job too – and since 90s slides are proving popular at the moment, adding an extra something-something to your hair style is both 'on trend' and practical. Savvy. A great…

Great stylists, products, therapists, and a strong cacti collection – so, why are your repeat bookings so suspiciously low? Well, before you redo your whole salon, here are six mistakes you might not realise are really bugging your customers.

Mistletoe (not holly, the other one), serves more purpose than an awkward kissing encounter in your living room. It adds benefits to your beauty routine too. In fact, the liquid extract – taken from the leaves and stems – has been used in European health practices for a long while. From supple skin, to stronger hair, here are the (unexpected) ways mistletoe can keep you feeling great this festive season. By Rachel Spedding

‘Me time’ is hard to find these days. Between the commuting, the office hours, the extensive socialising (and drafting excuses not to socialise) – it’s tricky to find a slot just for you. When the opportunity arose to visit one of London’s largest – and most reputable – spas, I made time. It’s been four days since my visit to ESPA Life at the Corinthia, and I’m still relaxed. Despite its history – located within the Corinthia Hotel, a building dating back to 1885 – the spa is considered ‘next generation’. Spoiler: I agree. By Rachel Spedding