While I would never turn down a weekend-long retreat - a beautiful, country spa set in the rolling hills (wow, I really painted myself a picture there) - unfortunately, time isn’t always on our side. I headed down to the Quad Health Club & Spa for a whistlestop tour of me-time, to see whether a couple of hours was enough to help me relax and refocus. By Beth Ludolf

I know that officially autumn doesn't start until the 23rd of September but, look, Bake Off has started and pumpkin spice lattes are back which means that summer is over. Sorry, but it’s true. While the same cannot be said for dark nights, we’re welcoming autumn’s nail trends with open arms. By Beth Ludolf

Some things in life are inevitable. The sun will set every evening, I will always eat the entire share-size bag of crisps and most of us will go grey. That’s just life. Grey hair has a bad rap for meaning you’re getting old but, unless thirty is old (it’s not), that’s BS. With the right care, silver hair is just as cool as its predecessor. Who needs pigment anyway? By Beth Ludolf

There are a few tried-and-tested ways to beat post-holiday blues. You could start planning your next trip (great procrastination). You could obsessively scroll through your camera roll (great content). Or, you could book yourself in for a treatment, relax, and maybe even prolong that tan you’ve worked so hard on.  By Beth Ludolf

The 90s have an undeniable cult following (and rightly so, they’re iconic). That's probably why their revival shows no sign of slowing - especially in beauty. Beyonce is bringing back french tips, Rihanna is sporting a whole head of mini buns and the make-up from HBO’s Euphoria has some serious Gwen-Stefani-at-the-1998-VMAs vibes (yep, face gems baby). Obviously, Instagram’s coolest girls are all in. The trend they’re loving? Two-tone hair (rocked by none other than [queen] Geri Halliwell).  Two-tone hair - as well as earning serious nostalgia points - looks great on all hair lengths and textures and is super playful. Go classic with blonde…

It’s happened to the best of us. In the chair, gown on, scissors ready - then the nerve goes and it’s all just “this, but shorter.”  Deciding on a new hairstyle is tough, but knowing how to ask for it is tougher. Don’t let your vocab hold you back. We’ve gathered up 7 popular styles right now and exactly what you need to ask to get them. By Liam Clifford

I’m going to call it and say I’ve tried pretty much every facial treatment going. Largely because I’m curious, but also, it’s good to be able to offer advice to friends on what to try based on their skin concerns (once ‘less rosé’ has been ruled out). Next up, we’re talking microneedling - ‘the one that uses actual needles’- to make my skin appear fresher and all-round younger.  By Liz Hambleton

Remember when Kanye said “I’ve been looking for the one, have you seen her?”, back in 2005? Well, that was also around the time I began looking for the one - “the one” being the perfect red, of course. With different tones trending depending on the season, it’s not always easy to find your go-to. When in doubt, forget the trends and stick with science (yes, really). By Beth Ludolf

On more than one occasion, I’ve been certain I’ve finally found the exact nude I’ve been searching for. Annoyingly, it’s always ended up looking completely different on my hand than it did on the colour wheel and, honestly, I haven't felt disappointment like that since the series finale of Lost. Thankfully, we’ve sussed out the science (yes, really) of finding that perfect shade. By Beth Ludolf

Most of the time, if my thick, (sort of) healthy, brunette hair won’t oblige, it’s scraped back to its rightful pineapple position. But, on those days where a messy bun won’t cut it - squishing it under a graduation hat, for example - a catalogue of minimal-effort hairstyles is sure to come in handy. Here it is – three event-ready looks, made for the laid-back amongst us. By Beth Ludolf

Waiting for the kettle to boil, listening to your colleague talk about their overgrown lawn and putting on a 4th layer of mascara. All precious minutes you’ll never get back. Thankfully, we’ve lined up three different lash treatments that won’t only save you time in the morning, they might give your colleagues something else to talk about. By Beth Ludolf

Getting a manicure. A ritual more sacred than roast dinner on a Sunday. Although I’m incomplete without acrylics, choosing which colour polish to go for is never an easy gig (commitment-phobe, maybe). Luckily for you - and, let’s be honest me - we’ve lined up three easy-to-wear nail looks to put your indecisive mind at ease. By Beth Ludolf

I’m going to call it and say I’ve tried pretty much every facial treatment going. Largely because I’m curious, but also, it’s good to be able to offer advice to friends on what to try based on their skin concerns (once ‘less rosé’ has been ruled out). This time, we’re talking face peels – adding solution to the skin for deep exfoliation . The goal? To improve my dull skin and stubborn bumpy areas.  By Liz Hambleton

I’m going to call it and say I’ve tried pretty much every facial treatment going. Largely because I’m curious, but also, it’s good to be able to offer advice to friends on what to try based on their skin concerns (once ‘less rose’ has been ruled out). Next up, we’re talking LED facials – the facial that triggers the body’s repair mode with light energy. The goal? To boost collagen and help to heal my scar tissue.  By Liz Hambleton

There are a number of things worth travelling for in life, notably, food, culture, and really great landmarks; but with so many spas on the doorstep of London, hopping on a two hour train to Manchester might seem a little elaborate. Wrong. I’ve just got back from a day trip to The Spa at The Midland Hotel, where 7 hours spent in its lower ground spa retreat, being pampered and relaxing, proved that sometimes it’s worth going the distance to find a spot that, well, goes the distance. By Rachel Spedding

CACI facials have been at the forefront of skincare treatment for over 26 years, but there are still heaps of us who have no clue what’s involved. ‘CACI facials deliver dramatic results without the need for surgical intervention’ – explains Pamela Kennedy, Salon Manager of Seduire London Beauty Clinic – ‘they’re the ultimate anti-ageing treatment system’. We’ve tried it, celebs keep trying out, here’s what’s involved (if you try it too). By Rachel Spedding

I’m going to call it and say I’ve tried pretty much every facial treatment going. Largely because I’m curious, but also, it’s good to be able to offer advice to friends on what to try based on their skin concerns (once ‘less rosé’ has been ruled out). Next up, we’re talking oxygen facials – the facial that blasts a stream of oxygen straight to the skin. The goal? To nourish my skin and give it some glow. By Liz Hambleton

The world of pregnancy can be a daunting one. You’ve just brought a baby into the world (!) so getting to grips with the changes your body goes through both before and after birth is bound to be a little tricky at times. Chances are there's already a lot on your plate right now, so worrying about your skin and hair shouldn’t be a main contender. To celebrate Mothering Sunday, we’ve pulled together a list of soothing, pampering, and most importantly safe products for new and expectant Mums. Go ahead and treat yourself, or alternatively if you’re looking to celebrate…

Aside from how to poach an egg, and the severity of a tissue ending up in the washing machine, mum's taught us a whole bunch of stuff. Beauty advice included. Perhaps you've been bleaching your locks with lemon juice since the tender age of 12, or rubbing Vaseline into your lashes every night. Whatever advice has stuck, you're probably (like us) curious to know which of mum's 'tips' are actually true. We've done the digging, and it's time to debunk some mum myths (with the help of industry experts). Hair, nails, brows – all the stuff you've been wondering for…

Relaxation and small child – two phrases not often paired together. Good news, we’re making it happen. We’ve rounded up nine ‘mum-friendly’ salons that you can head to, baby in tow, without the stress. From space to park up your stroller, to ‘mini me’ matching mani packages, here’s where to head with your little one. Relaxation guaranteed (subject to child’s behaviour). Side note: if you’re looking for another mum to clock-up some salon time with, make sure to check out Peanut. The social networking app to meet, chat, and share experiences with like-minded mothers. Download Peanut, then follow this link…

Yellow had it's time, red will always be big news, but the colour to go for at the salon this year? Green. Emerald green, metallic green, Solero Shots* vibrant and juicy green – all of it, will prove a damn good time on your fingertips. Try CND Shellac's 'Lush Tropics' for a lime-toned shade, or 'Palm Deco', if deep-jade is more your vibe. If a classic manicure is your go-to treatment, ask your manicurist for 'Stay Off The Lawn'. Not just because that is the best name of a nail polish, ever. Of course we know what's going on in the world…

I’m a bit of a beauty obsessive (naturally). I love a full face of makeup, will rarely leave the house brow-less, and I'm a sucker for a gel mani at my local nail bar. I do the ‘beauty stuff’ because it makes me feel good, and there's something about being done-up that satisfies my Geordie roots. We beautify for a number of reasons; here are 17 women (with interesting careers, across a whole bunch of industries), telling us why they do it. By Rachel Spedding

In the last 12 months, ‘how to prevent grey hair’ has become a breakout Google search. It seems the beauty landscape is divided, by those who are keen to cover their greys, and those lathering in the purple shampoo to achieve it (you're on trend, silver foxes). If you’re team ‘cover up’, keep reading. We spoke to the hair pros at Wella to get the expert intel on what to do when the greys appear. By Rachel Spedding