Charlotte Street has a vibrant history. The Bohemian hub has long attracted a colourful crowd of artists, intellectuals and restaurateurs, with the famous Fitzroy Tavern a meeting point for literary greats like George Orwell and Dylan Tavern. Today, it remains one of London's prettiest and most eclectic streets, peppered with buzzy restaurants and independent businesses that manage to foster a sense of community in the hectic metropolis.

Standing proud in the centre of Charlotte Street, the Charlotte Street Hotel is dressed in sage green, with signature striped awnings and elegant seating. Its entrance is framed by two pastel-coloured lamp posts, which add an inviting glow after dark. One of London's best hotels for design fans, the boutique bolthole could be straight out of a Wes Anderson film, inviting passers-by to stop and admire its dreamy facade.

And stepping inside feels appropriately surreal, with Oscar Bar and Restaurant on the ground floor transporting guests back to a bygone era of white gloves and elegant glassware. On the walls you'll see colourful artwork inspired by the Bloomsbury Set, a group of creatives including Virginia Woolf, that congregated in the area in the early 20th Century, with a large mural of London life by British artist Alexander Hollweg dominating the space. Kit Kemp, the hotel's interior designer, is clearly a fan of dopamine decor.

It's this slightly fantastical experience that makes The Charlotte Street Hotel one of the most beloved hotels in London. The classic hotel opened in Fitzrovia in 2000 and is the third property from the now hugely successful Firmdale Hotels group. Since its '00s launch, the Charlotte Street Hotel has retained a steady stream of visitors, whether that's Londoners looking for a stylish place to drink and dine, colleagues who favour a more relaxed location for a business meeting, or out-of-towners seeking a luxurious base to explore the capital.

ROOMS

Rooms at The Charlotte Street hotel may be slightly pricier than your typical London hotel—but with good reason. Each of the hotel's 52 rooms is individually designed by Kit Kemp, the mastermind behind the rest of the hotel's playful spaces, and features bright, bold colours and patterned textiles that feel like artwork rather than interior design. The actual artwork on the walls is of high calibre, featuring artists associated with the early Bloomsbury movement such as Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry and Alexander Hollweg. This eclectic mix of modern art, textures, patterns, and colours gives rooms at The Charlotte Street Hotel a lived-in luxury; an antidote to the more generic hotel rooms guests sometimes encounter in five-star hotels.

Beds are plush and comfy, dressed in high-quality linens with bold, patterned headboards, while bathrooms are clad in granite, mahogany, and glass and feature luxe toiletries from RIKRAK by Kit Kemp. For a real treat, the split-level Loft Suites are spectacular, offering a free-standing tub, walk-in shower and views over London's rooftops.

FOOD & DRINKS

Oscar Bar and Restaurant pays tribute to a nearby private cinema that screens Academy-worthy films. The front section is the bar area, serving unique cocktails and an extensive wine list. It's the ideal place to enjoy a festive glass of champagne, or you could retreat to one of the armchairs in the hotel's cosy library, complete with a roaring open fire. The warmer months invite guests to live out a Parisian daydream, sipping fizz on the pastel-hued front terrace and watching the world go by.

The bistro restaurant, situated at the back of the hotel, offers more formal dining with talented Head Chef Ben Porter at the helm. The restaurant serves modern European classics such as pancetta-wrapped monkfish, roast rack of lamb with fondant potato, black cabbage, and bagna càuda, or sticky black cod. Oscar always looks busy, with a reputation for fine dining and a lively atmosphere, bringing in crowds every day of the week who are looking to experience a little Parisienne café culture in Fitzrovia.

In the bar, you'll find a cocktail menu as creative as the surroundings. Perch on a humbug-striped stool at the hotel's glitzy bar and sip on a Salome's Whisper (basil vodka, Benedictine, lemon, sugar syrup, and aquafaba), Lady Windermere (Tokaji Late Harvest, Tanqueray, Saint-Germain, lime, and fresh mint), or the signature Lady Charlotte (gin, maraschino, apricot, lemon, sugar, egg white).

ACTIVITIES

At the Charlotte Street Hotel, you're right in the heartland of London's restaurant scene. The many bustling bars and glamorous restaurants of Soho and Mayfair are a short walk away, but if you want something closer to the hotel, the options are still strong. Hakkasan, a Michelin-starred uber-glamorous Chinese restaurant, is a short stroll away on Hanway Place, while Charlotte Street itself boasts Roka, a modern Japanese restaurant, and The Ninth, a buzzing contemporary French and Mediterranean bistro.

Oscar also serves an ‘Afternoon Tea with a Twist’. The 'Indulge menu' allows guests to add three miniature cocktails to their tea, with non-alcoholic options available too. Guests can enjoy their scones and finer sandwiches in the drawing room or the hotel's restaurant.

At the hotel, you'll find a fitness centre and a sauna available to guests. There's no official spa, but guests can opt for a treatment in their room, whether that's a facial, massage, reflexology or a touch of grooming, organised through Soholistic. There's also a private screening room where guests can enjoy recent releases, classic cinema and Christmassy films during the festive period.

NEED TO KNOWS

Rooms at the Charlotte Street Hotel start at £390 per night, and you can book through the hotel's website.

Address: 15-17 Charlotte St., London W1T 1RJ

At this stage, you’re probably well aware of the exercise-longevity pipeline - that well-established connection between regular movement and living longer. You probably also know that strength training plays a key part in that relationship, helping not just to extend our life, but to improve the quality of it, too.

What you might not know, however, is that lifting weights isn’t just about building up your muscles; it’s about protecting your bones, too. And that’s essential, because our bone health, despite being less visible than our muscle tone, is one of the leading contributors to longevity, especially amongst women.

In fact, new research shows that women with osteoporosis - a condition where bones become weaker, less dense and more fragile - may be at a 47% higher risk of death than women with normal bone density. And given that half of women over 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime, that warrants investigation.

Because the truth is, strength training isn’t the only way to protect our bones. There’s a wealth of other simple, daily habits that together can help us live healthier, for longer.

Ahead, two leading NHS doctors share everything you need to know about protecting your bone health. And if you’re looking for more longevity advice, we’ve also got guides to the healthiest habits for brain function, healthy ageing through midlife and the longevity trends doctors say you can avoid.

8 Simple Habits Every Woman Should Do To Protect Her Bone Health—Chosen By NHS Doctors

What is bone health?

Most of us could probably guess that having ‘healthy’ bones is important, but knowing what a healthy bone looks or feels like is, to me at least, less obvious. We tend to assume our bones are innately strong because they’re hard to the touch, but as Dr Jessica Little MBBS Bsc (hons) GPST explains, there’s a little more to it than that.

“Bones are living tissue, which means they are constantly being broken down and rebuilt throughout our lives,” she explains. “They need the right nutrients, regular movement and healthy hormone levels to stay strong.”

So far, so good. But what does ‘strong’ look like? Well, as Dr Little tells us, “healthy bones are those that have good density, a strong internal structure and a good ability to repair themselves.”

NHS doctor, Dr Amber Savary-Trathen, who specialises in women’s health, agrees, adding that whilst some of our bone density is genetic, a large part is also determined by lifestyle. “Smoking, exercise and diet all impact the strength and quality of our bones,” she explains.

As for whether it’s too early (or late) to start working on our bone health, Dr Little is clear. “Bone health isn't something we should only think about when we're older. The foundations for healthy bones are built in childhood and early adulthood, but the habits we have in our 30s, 40s and beyond still make a huge difference.”

Why is protecting our bone health important?

Bone health sits alongside cardiovascular health as one of the leading predictors of longevity in women. So, why does it have such an impact on our lifespan?

“Strong bones help us to stay active, independent and confident as we age,” says Dr Little when I put the question to her. “They allow us to keep walking the dog, lifting grandchildren, travelling with friends and exercising to maintain our cardiovascular health.”

Crucially, she also points out that stronger bones have a lower risk of fracture, which is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation and death in older adults. “Hip fractures in particular can be life-changing,” says Dr Little. “They're associated with loss of independence, longer hospital stays and an increased risk of complications in older adults.”

For women, this matters even more. Because oestrogen, which plays an essential role in bone health, rapidly declines when we go through menopause. “Oestrogen helps to protect our bones by slowing the rate at which they’re broken down,” explains Dr Little. “When oestrogen levels fall after menopause, bone loss can speed up dramatically.”

She’s right, of course. Studies show that women can lose up to 20% of their bone density in the five to seven years after menopause. “Women also tend to have smaller bones to begin with,” says Dr Little. “Couple that with the fact that we generally live longer, and there’s more time for bone loss to accumulate. It’s why osteoporosis disproportionately affects women.”

So far, this has all sounded pretty daunting, and I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to stop reading. But Dr Little has good news, too. “Bone health is one of those things where small, consistent habits really do add up,” she says. “The exercise you do today and the nutrition you prioritise now are investments in your future mobility and independence. These habits are also good for your cardiovascular health and overall ageing.”

So, without further ado, the habits Dr Little and Dr Savary-Trathen recommend you do to protect your bone health now, and in the future.

Doctors recommend—8 weekly habits to protect your bone health as you age

1. Regular strength training

“Bones respond to load,” says Dr Little, who explains that “resistance training tells your body that your skeleton needs to stay strong.”

That doesn’t mean you need to become a power lifter if that’s not your thing. “Even bodyweight exercises, resistance bands or dumbbells can make a real difference when done consistently,” says Dr Little.

2. Eat plenty of protein

“Protein makes up half the volume of bone,” says Dr Little. “This makes it easy to understand how important eating enough protein is for your bone health.”

And despite the good publicity protein has had in recent years, Dr Little says many women still don’t eat enough. “Prioritising protein at each meal will support both your muscle and bone health, which only becomes more important as we age,” she says.

If you’re unsure of how much protein you should be eating, this NHS fact sheet can help you to estimate your daily needs.

3. Incorporate high impact exercise

High-impact exercise has become a bit controversial in recent years, with some arguing that too much of it can be disruptive to women’s hormones.

But Dr Little is clear that doesn’t mean we should stop doing it altogether. “Bones love impact,” she says. “Things like stair climbing, dancing, tennis, jogging or hopping exercises stimulate bone-building.”

4. Eat calcium

“Calcium is essential for bone health, but most people can meet their daily needs through the food they eat,” says Dr Little, who recommends that we aim for around 700 mg per day. “Supplements are only recommended if you’re unable to meet this through your diet, or if you have a diagnosed deficiency,” she says.

When asked for some calcium-rich food inspiration, Dr Savary-Trathen has an extensive list. “Dairy, fortified plant milks, beans, tofu, green veg such as broccoli and nuts are all good sources,” she says.

5. Take Vitamin D

“Vitamin D actually helps your body absorb calcium,” explains Dr Savary-Trathen, who says that low vitamin D levels can lead to low calcium, which in turn can harm our bone health.

And whilst we’ll never encourage you to overload on supplements, both doctors say that Vitamin D is one that’s useful for most of us. “In the UK, where sunlight is at times pretty scarce, the NHS recommends that everyone consider a 10 microgram vitamin D supplement during autumn and winter,” says Dr Little, who adds that some people who get little sun exposure may benefit from it all year round. “This is one of the simplest things you can do for your long-term bone health, and you can buy it at your local chemist.”

6. Protect your muscles as much as your bones

“This is probably the most underrated tip,” says Dr Little, who uses the analogy of a tent to explain why she thinks so. “Think of your skeleton as the tent frame and your muscles as the guy ropes. The stronger and more balanced these ropes are, the more stable the whole structure becomes.”

It’s why she recommends yoga, Pilates and even standing on one leg, alongside standard strength training. “These activities challenge your balance and coordination, which reduces the chance of falls and protects your skeleton,” she says.

7. Be mindful of salt intake

This one might sound surprising, but Dr Savary-Trathen says it’s more important than we think. “Most people know too much salt is a threat to blood pressure, but it also makes your body lose more calcium through your urine,” she says. “Keeping your salt intake down will protect your bones as well as your heart.”

8. Minimise smoking and alcohol

In an ideal world, we’d avoid smoking and drinking altogether for a whole host of health reasons. But if nothing else, Dr Savary-Trathen says it’s important to cut down.

“Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your skeleton,” she makes clear. “Smoking weakens the bones, with an effect that becomes higher the longer you have smoked. Alcohol, too, increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.”

Shop MC-UK approved bone health essentials now:

“Claude, fix my face.” That was not the prompt that I, or rather, my boyfriend, gave an AI platform, but it decided to enhance me anyway. A few weeks ago, my partner was taking a photo of me when a woman strolled past, walking a dalmatian. “I should've asked to borrow her dog,” I quipped, as I too was bedecked in spots. “Stick out your arm like you're holding a leash,” he replied. I didn't give it much thought, but within minutes, he'd uploaded the photo to an AI platform, and back came a rendered image of me holding a dalmatian.

He presented the image to me, perhaps expecting me to be impressed by the speed with which this relatively new tech could update my image when, only a short while ago, it would have taken someone experienced in Photoshop to create it. But the first thing I noticed wasn't the dog; it was my face.

Without prompting, the AI had given me a beaming smile with perfectly straight, white teeth. My cheekbones were higher, my face smoothed out, my eyebrows better groomed. It still looked like me, but I guess the intention was to show a 'better' version of me, when all that had been requested was for a spotted dog to be added in.

Later, when I told friends about this odd experience, they suggested I prompt the AI further, turning me into Cruella de Vil. What came back was an even more yassified version of me: the smile tighter, the skin tauter, even if a dodgy wig did crown the look.

I thought again of this incident, when Meta's latest AI rollout, which has since been pulled, prompted a flurry of concern. During my afternoon doomscroll, my feed became awash with the news that users would be able to generate AI images using other people's likenesses, with news reports rushing to show people how to opt out. The fury of users was so widespread that Meta made the unusual decision to reverse this feature; posting on their newsroom that: "We've heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available." Much of the conversation rightly centred on consent, ownership and the implications of AI-generated versions of ourselves.

But my mind kept returning to a different question, because before AI can manipulate our images, it first has to decide what we should look like. I thought back to yet another conversation I'd had, this time with Nikki Lilly, who told me what it feels like to have strangers on the internet use AI to manipulate your face. Again, supposedly to "fix" her, or, more specifically, her facial difference.

Though the severity and mental health implications varied wildly, in both cases, no one had asked for a makeover.

For my part, there was no prompt requesting whiter teeth, smoother skin or more sculpted cheekbones. Yet the AI seemed to assume those were improvements worth making anyway. It wasn't simply following instructions; it was making aesthetic decisions on my behalf.

That might sound trivial. After all, we've spent years voluntarily downloading beauty filters and smoothing apps. But there's an important difference between choosing to alter your appearance and having an AI decide to do it for you, especially given that there's an entire cottage industry sprouting up which allows users to upload their image to AI platforms that will then suggest—and later sell—beauty tweakments. Qoves, a facial aesthetics platform that uses AI and computer vision to analyse users' facial features and provide personalised appearance assessments and recommendations based on aesthetic research, has 1.1 million followers on Instagram alone.

The more I spoke to experts, as well as friends who’d had similar experiences (unkempt eyebrows seems to be an Achilles heel for AI), the more I realised my experience wasn't just an odd quirk of one platform. It points to a much bigger question about the beauty standards being baked into the AI tools we're increasingly relying on to create, edit and represent us. If these systems are learning from the internet's existing ideals of attractiveness, are they also reinforcing them—one automatically enhanced image at a time?

​According to psychologists, that's exactly what makes these seemingly minor edits so powerful. "When people repeatedly see a slightly enhanced version of themselves—smoother skin, more symmetry, subtly narrowed features—it can recalibrate their internal standard of what they 'should' look like," explains Tara Well, associate professor of psychology at Barnard College of Columbia University. "Over time, the unedited face can begin to feel like a deviation rather than the baseline."

We've become used to talking about social media through the lens of comparison. For years, experts have warned that scrolling through impossibly beautiful celebrities and influencers can leave us feeling inadequate. But AI introduces a new, more intimate–and insidious–comparison: instead of measuring ourselves against other people, we're measuring ourselves against idealised versions of ourselves.

Where traditional beauty filters require an active choice–we know we've selected one, and we're usually aware that what we're looking at isn't entirely real–AI-generated enhancements are different. They're often subtle, automatic and, in my case, completely unsolicited.

"Traditional filters involve a degree of choice and awareness," says Well. "Automatic enhancements blur that boundary. Because the changes are subtle and default, users may not fully register that their appearance has been altered, which can make the enhanced version feel more 'real'. The less effortful and more invisible the modification, the more psychologically persuasive it becomes."

"In short," says Well, "these systems don't just reflect beauty standards—they quietly standardise them. And because the changes are subtle and automatic, they may be more powerful than traditional filters in shaping how people see themselves."

If AI is discreetly reinforcing conventional beauty ideals, the next question is where those ideals came from in the first place.

Professor Clare McGlynn, an expert in law and gender-based violence, argues that these technologies don't exist in a vacuum. They are trained on the same cultural biases that have long shaped women's relationship with their appearance.

"Your example shows just how deeply embedded traditional views of women and beauty are," she tells me. "We know social media exposure has adversely impacted girls' self-esteem and body image, contributing to psychological distress and self-harm. The concern is that AI could intensify those harms because it makes these 'improvements' feel even more seamless and inevitable."

In many ways, that's what unsettled me most. It wasn't that the AI had made dramatic changes to my face. Quite the opposite. The edits were subtle enough to feel plausible. The kind of tweaks you might struggle to put your finger on (worryingly, my partner hadn’t even noticed), but that, combined, nudged me a little closer to a familiar beauty ideal.

I’m not the only person left questioning myself. Journalist Kish Lal had a strikingly similar experience after asking Claude to analyse her appearance as part of a reporting project. Like me, she thought she'd be able to keep an emotional distance from the results. Instead, she found herself dwelling on critiques she'd never previously considered.

"I'm an AI hater to my core," she laughs. "I hate the way it smoothes and flattens whatever it touches." Even so, one suggestion lingered: again, it was the eyebrows. "The robot told me my eyebrows would look better if they were more manicured," she says. "I'd always loved my bushy brows. I used to rip photos of Natalia Vodianova out of magazines because of hers. I even joked to a friend that the AI must just be telling everyone to thread their eyebrows."

Then her friend tried the same experiment. "It complimented her brows and told her to get filler instead," Lal recalls. “I couldn't believe that my theory was not only debunked, but that I perhaps, maybe I could look better if I got my eyebrows threaded regularly. I scheduled an appointment to get them done the next day.”

It's easy to dismiss moments like these as trivial or even funny. But they reveal something much more uncomfortable. AI doesn't need to tell us we're unattractive to influence how we see ourselves. Sometimes, all it has to do is quietly suggest that we'd look a little better if we were just... slightly different.

The more sophisticated these tools become, the more they're marketed as neutral assistants—helping us create images, edit photos or generate avatars in seconds. But assistants aren't neutral if they're making value judgements on our behalf.

On their own, those edits seem almost laughably insignificant. I joked about my 'glow-up' with friends the way Kish Lal did and yet in both instances, we were left wondering what difference those subtle suggestions would make to our appearance.

As AI-generated images become more common—and companies race to build tools that can create ever more convincing versions of us—we'll spend a lot of time talking about consent, copyright and misinformation. We absolutely should, but I'd argue we also need to ask another question: when AI decides what we should look like, whose idea of beauty is it reproducing?

Because if I ask it to add a dalmatian, I'd quite like it to stop there.

As my job title might imply, I’m a pretty health-conscious person. I exercise most days, try to eat a nourishing and balanced diet, and by and large, I get my eight hours of sleep.

It’s nothing special (I’m far from the world of biohacking and extreme optimisation), but like many of us, I try to find ways to live healthily and happily where I can.

So when, back in March, I found myself feeling a little sluggish, foggy and unfulfilled, I was surprised. My alcohol intake wasn’t excessive; I was sleeping well and running regularly, so why did I feel like I was going through the motions, rather than really living?

One answer, as I’ve come to discover, was my neglected creative health, which research increasingly demonstrates is key to mental and emotional wellbeing, reduced inflammation and slower cellular ageing.

For the past three months, I’ve been treating creative activities as importantly as exercise, building them into my daily routine to see what they could do for my wellbeing. The results? Nothing short of transformative.

For my thoughts (and the expert take on the benefits of investing in your creative health), read on. There’s also more on this topic, and other unconventional routes to greater wellbeing, in our guides to frictionmaxxing, doodling and little treat culture.

What I Learnt From 3 Months Prioritising My Creative Health

What is creative health?

Whilst it would be easy to reduce creative health to colouring in for an hour or crocheting a hat, creative health scientist Katina Bajaj says the concept runs deeper than the individual acts themselves. Bajaj, who studies how creativity has disappeared from adult life, explains that “creative health is a pillar of well-being responsible for our vitality, curiosity and capacity for meaning-making.”

Unfortunately, she says, it’s “often left out of conversations about health and flourishing,” despite a body of research connecting creative expression to improvements in cognitive, emotional, physical and social well-being.

What are the longevity benefits of investing in your creative health?

Very often, creativity is considered a luxury in our day-to-day lives, but as Professor Daisy Fancourt, author of Art Cure: The Science of How The Arts Transform Our Health, explains, it shouldn’t be. “Arts engagement is a health-promoting behaviour similar to eating a healthy diet, getting physical activity and good sleep,” she says.

She has research to back her up. A landmark study led by Professor Fancourt at University College London found that people who did an arts activity at least once a week aged 4% more slowly than those who rarely engaged with the arts. Importantly, the effect remained even after accounting for factors like smoking, BMI and income and was similar to the impact of exercising at least once a week.

So, how does it work? Well, according to Professor Fancourt’s research, creative activities may prompt positive changes in brain proteins involved in reducing inflammation and keeping the brain healthy.

The researchers also found that those who were more engaged in the arts had a lower future risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, depression and dementia, building on previous research which has connected the arts with reduced risk of depression in teenagers.

What are the signs your creative health is suffering?

You might be wondering what shape your own creative health is in right now, and you’d be right to. And that’s because, whilst many of us may be experiencing symptoms of low creative health, we may not connect the dots ourselves.

“People might be experiencing physical or mental health challenges, but might not be conscious that engaging in the arts is a behaviour that could help them with their symptoms,” explains Professor Fancourt.

As for what these symptoms could look like, it could be a sense of unfulfillment in your day-to-day life. Or, as Bajaj explains, it could be a sense of going through the motions without fully living. “Creativity is what gives us vitality,” she explains. “When someone is lacking in creative health, they may feel robotic or like they’re on a hamster wheel.”

3 tips to start building your creative health:

So, what do we actually do to improve our creative health? Well, as Bajaj pointed out in her recent TED Talk, boosting your creativity doesn’t need to be tightly measured or prescribed. In fact, often this is the antithesis of what we’re searching for.

“Being creative isn’t something you have to wait to do later, once school or work is done,” she explains. Instead, it’s about “integrating it into the way we think, express ourselves, decompress and connect with community.”

The great news is that this means boosting our creative health doesn’t require us to have lots more stuff or to dedicate hours of time. It could be as simple as spending a few minutes doodling, daydreaming or singing. That said, the fact that it can be so easily woven into our day is also what makes it easy to fall off the radar.

Fortunately, Professor Fancourt has some habit-building tips.

1. Build a creative 5-a-day

“Try to work out what would be the equivalent of your 5-a-day in fruits and vegetables in creative activities,” she suggests. “Maybe that’s fifteen to 20 minutes of art, or timetabling an hour a week to take a creative class.”

2. Think about creative diversity

“Just like our diet, it’s important not just to have one creative ingredient, but to have a variety in our lives,” explains Professor Fancourt. “This is as important as frequency.”

3. Remember that you don’t have to be ‘good’

“Just like you don’t have to be a chef to cook good food, you don’t actually have to be good at the creative activity to experience the health benefits,” reassures Professor Fancourt. “A lot of the benefits actually come from participating, so it’s a good opportunity to try a new hobby.”

I’ve spent the last three months prioritising my creative health—and have become happier and more imaginative

I want to point out that the majority of things I’ve done during my three-month creative health experiment have been pretty unextraordinary. They’ve involved doodling sessions (something I’d picked up last year but let slide over the winter), getting inventive in the kitchen, building dedicated time into my day to daydream and pulling out my old drawing pads and pencils which had long been stuffed in the back of the cupboard.

But for the sake of time and your attention span, I’m going to focus on two core memories from the last three months that made the biggest impact on my creative health.

Studio sessions

At the end of March, in the depth of my creative rut, I attended a clay charm-making workshop with a grassroots community called Studio Sessions. Run by two women, Tyla and Iman, the idea is to build community and connection between strangers over the theme of arts and crafts.

Three things stood out to me about the evening. First, how nice it was to be utterly absorbed in something you’re objectively bad at. Patience isn’t my strong suit (I’m an Aries for those wondering), so the finicky nature of moulding tiny clay charms was always going to be a challenge. Once I got to work, however, the world seemed to fall away, and I was completely focused on creating my plasticine fried egg.

Second, having others around you whilst you’re being creative has an extra je nes se quois to it. There’s something about social connection and the arts which just seems to go together, providing an added boost to the positive feelings I got when I was being creative at home alone.

And third, how accomplished I felt at the end of the night. At 10 pm, when I’d usually be at home scrolling and starting to yawn, I felt energised and ready to keep chatting late into the evening. My brain was awash with ideas for projects, and problems I’d been mulling over seemed to have clearer solutions.

Nimi Collective

Towards the end of the three months, when my creative health was already in better shape thanks to the consistency of my home practices, I attended an art gallery walk around London with a community called Nimi Collective.

I’ve always loved art and like to draw at home, but I’ve never considered myself an art person (i.e. someone who frequents the Tate at the weekend and can reel off the famous painters from across history).

But as I discovered through speaking to Anh, a former investment banker who founded Nimi, that’s how a lot of people come to the community. “A lot of people who find Nimi are what I would call shadow creatives,” she tells me. “They were creative as children but now work stressful office jobs and somewhere along the way the outlet to be creative just disappeared. Nimi is where they come back to that part of themselves.”

Like my experience at Studio Sessions, the opportunity to be creative within a social environment was one of the defining elements of my day with the group at Nimi. Hearing the different perspectives on art broadened my horizons, challenged me to think differently and undoubtedly left me feeling more present, energised and brimming with ideas.

The verdict on creative health

I can’t speak for how all these new creative activities (which also included a spoken word evening and all-female comedy night) are affecting me on a cellular level - all that’s going on below the surface - but what I can say is that carving out time for my imagination and curiosity to run wild has made me feel happier and healthier than almost any more conventional wellness habit.

Shop MC-UK creative health resources now:

Whilst there is plenty to love about the summer months, there are also several downsides that make me resent spending more time in my swimming costume. Namely, contending with ingrown hairs and KP bumps, alongside being much sweatier than usual. However, glycolic acid has quickly become the hero multi-use product to tackle almost every summer skin woe you could think of.

"Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from sugar cane," explains Dr Nora Jaafar, Dermatological doctor. "It exfoliates by dissolving the bonds between dead skin cells, helping to improve skin texture, brightness and overall smoothness."

By gently chemically exfoliating, it directly targets the causes of keratosis pilaris, prevents ingrown hairs, and can even lower the skin's pH which can stop odour-causing bacteria growing. Here's what the experts want you to know about using glycolic acid this summer, and how to do so safely.

Why is glycolic acid so popular?

"It's one of the most effective ingredients for improving skin texture, smoothing rough patches and giving the skin a brighter, healthier appearance," explains Dr Anna Andrienko, Dermatologist & Aesthetic Doctor at Dr Ducu Clinics. This, coupled with its gentle formula, make it a brilliant multi-tasker that can suit most skin types.

Is glycolic acid good for dry, rough skin?

"Glycolic acid is excellent for areas like the elbows, knees and heels where dead skin can build up," says Dr Andrienko. "By gently exfoliating the surface, it helps smooth roughness and allows moisturisers to penetrate more effectively."

But it's important not to go overboard with it, particularly if it's new to your routine. "Overuse can worsen dryness, so it should always be paired with a good moisturiser," says Dr Nora.

Can it help keratosis pilaris (KP)?

"Glycolic acid helps break down the excess keratin that blocks hair follicles, reducing the rough bumps associated with keratosis pilaris. Consistent use is needed, as KP is a long-term genetic condition," explains Dr Nora. Although you shouldn't expect overnight results, you're likely to notice a big difference over time.

Does glycolic acid help with ingrown hairs?

"Glycolic acid can be very helpful for preventing ingrown hairs. By keeping the skin exfoliated, it reduces the likelihood of hairs becoming trapped beneath the surface. It's particularly useful on the legs, bikini line and underarms, but it shouldn't be used straight after shaving or waxing as this can cause irritation," says Dr Andrienko.

Moreover, "it may also help fade the dark marks left behind after ingrown hairs heal," explains Dr Nora. Although it isn't guaranteed to eradicate these problems completely, it can make a huge difference as a regular part of your routine.

Can glycolic acid help with body odour?

"Glycolic acid lowers the skin’s pH, making it a less favourable environment for odour-causing bacteria. While it’s not a replacement for deodorant, many people find it helps reduce underarm odour," says Dr Nora.

Dr Andrienko notes that "glycolic acid doesn't stop you sweating," but explains that "some people find it helps reduce odour when used on areas such as the underarms, but it should only be applied to healthy, unbroken skin and not immediately after shaving."

Is glycolic acid safe to use during summer?

"Glycolic acid can be used safely in summer as long as you wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30-50 every day. It can make skin more sensitive to UV light, so sun protection is essential," says Dr Nora.

Dr Andrienko agrees, noting that "it's best applied in the evening, and sunscreen should always be worn on exposed areas during the day. If you're spending prolonged periods in strong sunshine, it's sensible to reduce how often you use it to avoid irritation."

Who should avoid glycolic acid?

"Those with eczema, rosacea or a damaged skin barrier should use glycolic acid cautiously, as it can cause irritation. It’s best introduced gradually, starting once or twice a week," says Dr Nora.

Mistakes to avoid

Although it can be tempting to start slathering glycolic acid on your whole body, approach with caution. "One of the biggest mistakes is using glycolic acid too often or combining it with several other active ingredients, such as retinoids or strong exfoliating acids, in the same routine. This can damage the skin barrier and lead to redness, dryness and sensitivity. Start slowly, use it a few times a week, and increase frequency only if your skin tolerates it well," says Dr Andrienko.

Shop glycolic acid

While the traditional fashion show amasses plenty of excitement—especially from the K-Pop fans swarming to catch a glimpse of their favourite celebrities inside—Haute Couture is where you'll spy the weirdest and most wonderful creations, with the confines of ready-to-wear largely out of the window. And the Autumn/Winter 26 shows did not disappoint.

Jean Paul Gaultier pushed the parameters of Marie Antoinette-inspired styling. Schiaparelli swapped traditional couture-worthy fabrics for synthetic fibres. And Chanel created its own fantasy land, bringing many a favourite fairytale to life, complete with a life-sized scarecrow, fairy-adorned shoes and a Jack and the Beanstalk-printed silk. The inspiration clearly running wild.

Throughout the whimsy, though, a handful of moments have stuck with me—each more than worthy of a deep dive into their design and delicate creation processes. Scroll on to see why.

The Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2026-2027 Moments We Loved:

Pierpaolo Piccioli's Big Balenciaga Couture Debut

The most highly anticipated moment of Couture Week was arguably Pierpaolo Piccioli's Balenciaga Couture debut. Classic couture codes—feathers, tulle, and voluminous fabrics—featured in no short supply, alongside traditional Balenciaga frameworks. He also publicly thanked the team behind the collection, writing, "This collection is the result of the work of the people in the atelier, human beings who are couture—because couture is made by the people who live it. This note is to thank each and every one of them for their time, love, and commitment. This is our collection, this is our work, this is Balenciaga Couture, now."

Matthieu Blazy's Fairytale at Chanel

Blazy's Chanel continues to be a key talking point in the fashion sphere and beyond, and the designer's second haute couture show has done nothing to slow that momentum. "I started to wonder, was Gabrielle Chanel's life a fairy tale? I found a small book in her library, Les Fées, Contes des Contes, and asked myself if, together with the Haute Couture ateliers, we could make garments that tell stories like a book," he wrote, before sending interpretations of some of our favourite children's stories down the runway: Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and The Scarecrow among them.

Daniel Roseberry Opens Up at Schiaparelli

The press texts accompanying each collection are often overly eloquent stories of inspiration and laborious savoir-faire from the fashion houses as a whole—but Daniel Roseberry took a different approach, writing as though speaking to a close friend about the struggles that actually go into creating a collection. It's one of the best press releases I've ever read. "I'll be honest. Last season's collection, The Agony and the Ecstasy, felt like a kind of breakthrough, a new benchmark for Schiaparelli. Great, I thought: I've cracked the formula," he wrote. But "it didn't work like that." Instead, he turned to synthetic materials, breaking classic couture codes.

Victor & Rolf Does a Double Act

Haute couture is often centred around opulence, with craftspeople using fine fabrics and trims to create incredibly beautiful (and expensive) pieces. Viktor & Rolf, however, sought to challenge that idea. As the label put it, gold and burlap become different expressions of the same human reality—beneath every layer of adornment or discipline lies the same fragile humanity, exposed and enduring. To illustrate the point, two models took to the stage in identical outfits: one crafted from utilitarian burlap, the other from sequins and gold.

Dior's Lynda Benglis Influence

Inspiration comes in many forms, particularly when the constraints of wearable clothing needn't be heeded, as is the case with haute couture. Jonathan Anderson took his from American sculptor Lynda Benglis for Dior's Winter 26/27 Haute Couture collection. Her work places a heavy emphasis on texture, using paper, glitter, metal, and chicken wire to knot, pleat, and mould her creations, and those tactile techniques can easily be spotted throughout the collection. This look is a stunning recreation of part of her Peacock series, with an Armadillo bag adding Anderson's signature sense of fun.

Duran Lantink Takes on the Traditional Train at Jean Paul Gaultier

Who remembers the giant pair of breasts that delighted and horrified fashion fans in equal measure on the Autumn/Winter 2025 runways? Well, Duran Lantink is back to his customary boundary-pushing ways with this Jean Paul Gaultier haute couture collection, taking each garment to the limits of its sculptural potential. Marie Antoinette served as a key reference point, with crinolines, bustiers, and trains all challenging the boundaries of what's considered classic.

Rahul Mishra's Standout Sculptures

"Within temple complexes, cave sanctuaries and monumental carvings hewn from sandstone, granite and basalt, Indian artisans transformed stone into eternal muses, dancers, apsaras, devis, celestial attendants, divine lovers and gods," read the Rahul Mishra Haute Couture show notes. These figures became the designer's source of inspiration, as he saw them as "some of the most intimate records of how beauty was once imagined". Layered necklaces, elaborate girdles, anklets, armlets and headdresses took centre stage before the clothes, with statue-like silhouettes stalking onto the runway.

An increasingly familiar scene is playing out on TikTok: a 20-something girl slathers her body in tan-accelerating oil, then lies out in peak sun. Next, the camera zooms in on her walnut-coloured tan and the stark outline of her bikini straps. What follows are remarks about the UV Index. “As soon as that UV Index starts hitting six and up, this is where I’m at,” says one TikToker, reclining on her sun lounger, a tub of Carroten in shot. “I’m roasting, and I love it; I love every minute of it. I have my little book with me, I’ve got my tanning gel, I’ve got my water, my phone’s on do not disturb. Life is good, man.” While another boasts, “A little burn goes a long way.” Welcome to Gen Z’s disturbing new world of ‘tanmaxxing’.

As the name suggests, the viral trend is all about maximising your deepest, darkest tan. It encourages you to use the UV Index, which measures the intensity of the sun’s rays, to find times when the risk of burning is highest. Some devotees are taking the trend even further by turning to Melanotan, an unlicensed synthetic peptide that mimics the hormone that stimulates melanin production. Marketed as a shortcut to a deeper tan with less sun exposure, it carries significant health risks and has been linked to the darkening of existing moles, the appearance of new moles and freckles, and other changes in skin pigmentation.

There’s an outcry from doctors and dermatologists, who call the trend “extremely dangerous”. The premise of tanmaxxing is, after all, to shun SPF in favour of deliberately exposing the skin to UV rays at their most powerful. “A tan is essentially your skin responding to injury,” says Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, a GP and aesthetics doctor. “When your skin is exposed to ultraviolet light, it produces more melanin (the pigment that gives skin its colour) in an attempt to protect the DNA within skin cells from further damage.”

Dr Brendan Khong, a medical and aesthetic doctor, says the long-term effects are deeply problematic. “Every deliberate tanning session, whether it’s ‘creating a base tan’ or a ‘filter-ready glow’, is banking DNA damage in skin cells,” he explains. “That damage doesn’t repair itself – it accumulates.”

It will, at best, manifest as premature ageing—wrinkles, pigmentation, loss of elasticity—and, at worst, cause skin cancer. Gen Z already knows that. Yet they’re tanmaxxing anyway. These are the same girls who raided Sephora for Drunk Elephant’s retinol and vitamin C serums, and whose slavish following of TikTok ‘skinfluencers’ turned the likes of Hyram Yarbro into a superstar. So what’s changed?

What’s driving the tanmaxxing trend?

There’s a fair amount to unpack here. Let’s start with how, in recent years, tan lines have gone from naff to sexy in popular culture. Singer Addison Rae proved the point by appearing in Perfect magazine under the headline “Addison Rae is Full-Hot” with the pale outline of her bikini etched onto nearly-naked, bronzed skin. Meanwhile, over on Instagram, the cool girls are making a case for sunburn blush, a technique where reddish-coloured blush is swept over the cheeks and bridge of the nose to look like you’ve spent too long in the sun.

It also leans into the controversial ‘looksmaxxing’ conversation, which endorses extreme measures for extreme results to maximise physical attractiveness, says Chelsea Mtada, a trends analyst, beauty consultant and founder of I.T Girl Intelligence.

Others believe that tanmaxxing is an act of rebellion, in much the same way that smoking is back in fashion and giving the booming wellness industry the middle finger. Dr Khong isn’t so sure. He believes the motivation for tanmaxxing runs much deeper. “Gen Z absolutely knows the skin cancer statistics—they have grown up with SPF campaigns and dermatologist content on their feeds,” he says. “But knowing a risk intellectually and feeling it emotionally are two different things, especially when the visible reward—tanned, sun-kissed, ‘snatched’ skin—is immediate and the consequences are decades away.”

Gen Z’s mindset post Covid may also play a part. “Gen Z came of age during a period defined by uncertainty and cancelled futures,” Dr Khong notes. “That has fed a broader cultural pull towards instant gratification—not just in tanning, but in how this generation approaches health generally. It’s less a conscious act of defiance and more that long-term consequences feel abstract compared to how a tan looks in a photo today.” This reflects the findings of the Canadian Dermatology Association into the disconnect between tanning behaviours and rising skin cancer rates among Gen Z. Research found that nearly 39% intentionally tanned during the previous year, 45% say it makes them feel more confident, and 37% say they look better in photos.

Much of its appeal also comes down to how a tan is perceived as the ultimate summer fantasy. “The Gen Z audience was never loyal,” says Mtada. "From clean girl to skinification, this was an audience that was always going to follow the lead of the algorithm. In 2026, bronzed bodies on Love Island and ‘Euro summer’ are the aspirational mood board.” During a cost-of-living crisis, a tan says “I can afford to go on holiday.” It’s also associated with looking slimmer, healthier and more attractive—“beauty standards that social media reinforces,” Dr Muntasar adds.

Much of this messaging comes from ‘tanfluencers’, who discuss the necessary steps to get a deep tan in much the same way people talk about their skincare routines. “Platforms like TikTok can normalise behaviour very quickly,” Dr Muntasar says. “When someone sees hundreds of videos promoting tanning as part of a beauty routine, the risks can start to feel distant or less important, particularly because skin cancer often develops years later, rather than immediately after sun exposure. Once something is labelled as ‘self-care’, people naturally become less cautious about it.”

And, last, but by no means least, there’s the psychology of a tan. For many people, a tan and a smattering of sunburn are associated with positive memories. Robyn, a 23-year-old social media manager, says: “I associate a tan with summer, with holidays, with feeling ‘glowy’—all things that make me feel happy and beautiful. I think tan lines look quite sexy, and the marketing around them as an accessory has definitely made an impression on me. Tanning as an adult also feels like a reclamation of my brown skin, which I used to hate seeing darken in the sun, afraid it would make me stand out more than I already did among my white friends.”

She goes on to say, “I do worry about my skin and have a lot of anxiety about it drying out or getting damaged while I tan. I always make sure my face and neck are slathered in a high-factor sunscreen, but I’m more careless with the rest of my body.”

Is there such thing as a 'healthy tan'?

The safe sun guidelines remain true: “Seek shade during peak UV hours; wear protective clothing, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats where practical and avoid the temptation to use sunbeds,” says Dr Muntasar. But as an aesthetic, a tan needn’t be demonised—false tan can create beautifully sunkissed limbs, just without the damage.

And while the UV Index is a useful guide, some experts now say that you don't need to wear SPF if the UV index is 3 or under, unless you have a family history of melanoma, lots of moles or you’re using retinol. “Most international guidance recommends sun protection when the UV Index reaches 3 or above because that’s the point at which UV radiation becomes strong enough to cause skin damage with prolonged exposure,” Dr Muntasar says. “If you’re briefly walking from your house to your car on a winter morning with a UV Index of 1 or 2, the risk is obviously very different from lying in the midday sun during summer. Personally, I wear SPF every morning because it’s a simple habit that removes the guesswork.”

Tanmaxxing is the other extreme end of the spectrum. It’s also undoubtedly harmful, especially given that a 2025 survey by the American Academy of Dermatology found that half of Gen Z respondents had already got sunburnt, and most said they often forget to wear sunscreen.

There’s also an argument that suncare brands need to rethink their messaging. “Their communication has been explicit about the face and the neck, where selfies are the dominant way Gen Z consumers perceive themselves,” says Mtada. “That's where protection is guarded. But where brands haven't paid enough attention is protecting the body against the sun.”

I nursed my mum through three episodes of stage 4 skin cancer. I know first-hand how gruelling the treatment is: surgery, where large chunks of your flesh are sliced away, and immunotherapy drugs that can cause dangerously high fevers, possible organ damage and the top layer of your skin to painfully peel away. That is, if you’re lucky enough to live near an NHS hospital that offers the treatment. If not, prepare to fork out over £4K privately per infusion. I also know that treatment doesn’t always work. Surely no fleeting TikTok trend or hot girl summer is worth that.

Let’s start with a number: one in eight.

That’s how many women in the UK are living with anaemia - a condition that can leave you chronically exhausted, unforgivingly forgetful, and running on mere fumes. The kind of exhaustion that makes getting through the day feel like wading through wet cement. The kind that coffee certainly can’t fix and an early night doesn’t touch.

Like most of us, you’d probably file it away under “classic burnout”. Society probably would too. But what if burnout isn’t the whole story here?

If iron deficiency isn’t already on your radar, it should be. According to the WHO, it’s the world’s most common nutritional deficiency, affecting around two billion people worldwide. Women shoulder the overwhelming burden: nearly one in three women in a recent UK study had an iron deficiency. Yet routine screening remains worryingly uncommon. Meaning too many women could be living with symptoms they’ve come to accept as “normal.”

The impact stretches far beyond feeling tired. Toby Richards, a world-leading expert in the treatment of Iron Deficiency at The Iron Clinic, says, "Iron deficiency is now considered more disabling than diabetes."

Physical symptoms aside, the effects can extend to your mental health, too. A 2020 population study found adults with iron deficiency had a 52% higher risk of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, than those without it. It’s yet another reminder that low iron doesn’t just leave women feeling tired; it can shape everything from their mood to their memory.

Perhaps this isn’t just a story about iron. It’s a story about the way women’s symptoms are so often explained away. Because when brain fog, exhaustion and low mood are dismissed as “just life,” we risk overlooking something that’s not only incredibly common - but, in many cases, entirely treatable.

So before we chalk another woman’s exhaustion up to burnout, maybe it’s worth asking a different question: what if we’re calling it the wrong thing?

First - Why iron deficiency is being mistaken for burnout

Let’s play a game of symptom bingo. You’re tired all the time. You can’t concentrate. Snapping at everyone. You feel flat, overwhelmed, and you’ve forgotten what “well rested” even feels like. The obvious diagnosis? Life. Or if you’ve spent more than five minutes on social media lately - burnout.

But according to Richards, there are two reasons iron deficiency is so often mistaken for burnout.

"The first is that the symptoms are incredibly generic," he explains. "'I'm tired' could mean almost anything, so iron deficiency is often overlooked." The latest Lancet guidance agrees, warning that symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive impairment are often non-specific, meaning iron deficiency remains routinely under-diagnosed. “Crucially,” he warns, “these symptoms can develop before someone becomes anaemic, leaving many women feeling dreadful while being told their blood tests are "normal".”

The second reason is that it creeps up on you. “Normally you have enough iron stores for 3-5 years, so if you develop iron deficiency, it can take 3 years or more to notice”. By the time you notice something is wrong, he says, it's often because a cold, a bout of flu or another illness tips you over the edge. "That's the crisis that finally brings it to the surface."

Which perhaps explains why so many of us don’t spot it sooner.

GP Dr Philippa Kaye sees the same pattern in her consulting room. “For too long women have been told that pain, mood changes or fatigue are simply part of being a woman," she says. "That means some women never come to the doctor - and others aren't always heard when they do."

The hidden reasons women develop low iron

Confession: as a retired vegetarian, my understanding was that being "iron deficient " meant you needed to eat more red meat. Turns out, what you’re eating isn’t always the issue.

For Richards, the answer is simple: there are two main reasons women become iron deficient.

The first is pregnancy. "During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by almost 50% to support both you and your baby, dramatically increasing your body's iron requirements. If your iron stores were already running low before pregnancy, as many women's are, it doesn't take long for the tank to empty. Most women are iron deficient by the time they give birth."

The second is something hiding in our handbags alongside spare tampons and painkillers. "Heavy menstrual bleeding affects around one in three women. The problem is that most women don't realise their periods are heavy because they've never known anything different."

And that’s the catch: none of us gets to trial someone else’s period for comparison. If you’ve always packed spare underwear “just in case,” and instinctively know where every public toilet is, it’s hardly surprising you think that’s just how periods are supposed to work. Spoiler alert: they’re not.

In fact, Richards says the average woman with heavy periods can lose around "a litre of blood over the course of a year." A litre. That’s not just a number - it’s a reminder that, month after month, many women are unknowingly losing far more iron than they ever replace.

Naturally, that’s only part of the story. Pregnancy and heavy periods might explain why many women become iron deficient, but what we eat still plays an important role in whether our iron stores recover.

"People often think spinach is enough," says specialist registered dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine. "While it contains iron, it's a form that's much harder for the body to absorb than the haem iron found in meat and fish."

The answer, she says, isn’t necessarily eating more meat. “Pairing plant-based sources such as lentils, beans, tofu and fortified cereals with vitamin C-rich foods, including peppers, berries, kiwi or citrus fruit, can significantly improve absorption. One habit worth breaking? Drinking tea or coffee with meals, both of which can reduce how much iron your body absorbs.”

Now, before you read on, there’s one final plot twist - one that Richards says could explain why so many women slip through the cracks. "Women are often told their iron is 'normal', but that's usually based on a laboratory reference range, not the clinical definition of iron deficiency."

It’s an important distinction. The ‘normal’ range printed on a blood test isn’t always the same threshold clinicians use when assessing whether iron deficiency could be contributing to symptoms. Updates to NICE guidance, for example, use a ferritin level below 30 ug/L as a marker of iron deficiency in many clinical settings.

The takeaway isn’t to distrust your blood test or your doctor. It’s that if you’re experiencing persistent symptoms, it’s worth having a conversation about what your results actually mean in the context of how you’re feeling, not just whether they’re flagged as ‘normal’. Knowing the difference could be the key to reaching the right diagnosis and, ultimately, feeling like yourself again.

The symptoms to look out for

More often than not, when someone asks how we’re feeling, we default to the most British response imaginable: “Fine.” Or, if we’re being particularly honest, “Fine-ish.”

​Rather than asking yourself if you’re “fine”, Richards suggests paying attention to what your body is trying to tell you. These are the clues he looks for:

• Two flights of stairs check: If walking up two flights regularly leaves you puffing, with a racing heart or palpitations, it’s worth paying attention. Low iron means your body has to work harder to transport oxygen, making everyday tasks feel far more demanding than they should.
• Your legs won't keep still: An overwhelming urge to move your legs at night - known as restless legs syndrome - is one of the most common signs of iron deficiency, particularly during pregnancy.
• You're craving things that aren't food: One of the biggest red flags Richard sees, strongly associated with low iron, is pica: the craving for non-food items. For some women, it’s chewing ice cubes (Pagophagia). Others find themselves chewing on paper, chalk, or even the smell of laundry detergent. While it might sound bizarre, a 2023 review of 20 studies found that these cravings consistently disappeared once iron deficiency was treated, suggesting they can be one of the body's clearest cries for help.
• Brain fog that won't lift: Struggling to concentrate? Forgetting words? Feeling more anxious than usual? Low iron can affect the brain long before anaemia develops, as iron plays a vital role in energy production and neurotransmitter function. The result? Symptoms that are easily mistaken for stress, burnout, or the mental load of everyday life.

How do you know if your period is heavier than it should be?

The problem: if you’ve ever had heavy periods since your teens, they’re probably your normal. Which means it’s surprisingly easy to miss the signs that your bleeding is heavier than it should be. According to Dr Anisha Patel, a GP specialising in women’s health, these are the clues to look out for:

• It lasts longer than seven days.
• You're changing a tampon or pad every one to two hours, or doubling up on protection.
• You regularly bleed through onto your clothes or bedsheets.
• You're passing blood clots larger than a 50p coin.
• You plan your life around your period, or avoid work, exercise or seeing friends because of it.
• You feel unusually tired, breathless or lightheaded during or after your period.

The important bit: a heavy period isn’t something you simply have to put up with.

"If your periods are affecting your quality of life, or you think they could be contributing to fatigue or iron deficiency, it's worth speaking to your GP," says Dr Patel. "There are effective treatments available to reduce bleeding and, where needed, restore iron levels."

Here’s what I’ll leave you with. Life is exhausting. Burnout is real. Stress isn’t a myth. But somewhere along the way, we’ve become so used to explaining away our symptoms that we’ve stopped asking why they’re there in the first place.

Maybe the answer is burnout. Maybe it’s the mental load. Or maybe it’s something as common and as treatable as low iron.

The point isn’t to assume the worst. It’s to stay curious. To ask questions. To trust that your symptoms are worth investigating. Because feeling like yourself shouldn’t be a luxury; it’s the baseline.

Shop MC UK approved wellness products:

Can I let you in on a secret? Over the last few months, I’ve really struggled with the motivation to exercise.

Admitting that makes me feel like a bit of a fraud. Let’s face it: my job is to write about health and fitness. I remind you all, almost weekly, about the benefits of movement, with all its longevity and mood-boosting qualities. Outside of work, I lead a run club, where my job is to inspire others to show up on days when they don’t feel like it. And when someone tells me they’re feeling low, my immediate advice is for them to don their trainers and get outside.

And yet… Since the start of the year, I’ve been in what can only be described as an exercise rut. I wake up promising myself I’ll move my body, only to lie in bed dreading every second of it. Every run, every home Pilates class, every gym session requires a silent negotiation.

Partly, I think it’s down to boredom. Research shows that perceived variety can contribute to overall exercise wellbeing, which makes my rotation of the same three running routes, strength sessions and Pilates routine hardly a recipe for success.

Also, I’d started to fall into the trap of over-optimisation. I’m innately competitive, and like many of us, I had started to measure the quality of my movement by distance covered, pace achieved, or weight lifted. There’s nothing wrong with this, but when it becomes obsessive, it can (in my experience) get quite exhausting, pressurised and unenjoyable.

I knew I needed to shake things up, so in early April I decided to switch the gym for outdoor movement - and that’s when I discovered the wonder of trail running. Combining fresh air, nature, and a welcome lack of emphasis on pace, it became the antidote to my slump.

For my journey into the sport, read on. And for more outdoor movement inspiration, check out our guides to road running vs trail running, the benefits of going headphone-free and why running slower might actually make you faster. Oh, and if motivation is a struggle right now, we’ve got tips to train your brain to enjoy exercise.

After Months of Exercise Burnout, Trail Running Helped Me Reconnect with the Joy of Movement

What is trail running, and why is it so popular right now?

I’m hardly alone in my shift to the trails - statistics from RunRepeat show that participation in the sport has risen by over 200% in the last decade. The growth is particularly prominent amongst women, who now make up 30.5% of competitors in ITRA races, up from just 16% in 2007.

And though it’s become synonymous with Dolomite-esque mountains and UTMB races, trail running is actually far simpler, more varied and accessible than you think. “Trail running is just a run that is off-road,” explains Nike run coach and founder of Ultra Black Running, Dora Atim. “It could be a rocky path along the coast, a forest route through woodlands or a trail path through the mountains.”

As for why it’s so popular right now? According to feminist sociologist of sport, Dr Bethan Taylor-Swaine, it’s linked to the way trail running can separate exercise from performance. “In road running, the first question we often ask is, ‘How fast did you run?’” she says. “It’s become the way we categorise people, which presents a lot of pressure, especially for women who already face a demand to conform in order to be accepted in sport.”

Trail running, in contrast, grants women freedom. “It’s not about how fast you run, it’s not about competition, it’s about women as individuals, moving through nature, taking that time for themselves,” says Dr Taylor-Swaine. “That can be a really empowering and slightly counter-cultural experience.”

What are the benefits of trail running?

That sense of freedom is one of the key benefits of trail running. “People often say it clears the mind,” says Atim, who says it helps her to compartmentalise her thoughts. “I find the constant mental to-do list starts to quieten as the beauty of nature takes over, and this can make you feel more relaxed during and after a trail run,” she explains.

Research backs her up here. Time in nature has been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and has been linked to reduced rumination (that horrible cycle of overthinking and worry that so often occupies us when we’re stressed).

Dr Taylor-Swaine agrees, adding that there’s a rebellious element to trail running. “Trail gets you out of the regulatory framework of running as we know it. You don’t have to run as fast as you can; you don’t have to look a particular way. You’re in places where you’re less likely to be observed, and there’s a sense of adventure to it. In a hyper-regulated society, that’s a very attractive prospect.”

That’s not to say that trail running is without markers of performance. “Tenacity, grit, perseverance are still highly valued,” says Dr Taylor-Swaine, “but this idea of pace, which a lot of women get in their head about when running, is taken out.”

Of course, there are also numerous benefits for our muscles, bones and tendons, too. “Trail running terrain is often softer than the pavement, which makes it lower impact,” says Atim, who adds that the uneven ground improves balance, coordination and proprioception. “These three qualities will improve any kind of running you do, so it’s a win-win,” she says.

Are there any risks to trail running?

Of course, we have to acknowledge that trail running doesn’t come without risk, nor does it come without its own accessibility barriers, particularly for women and people of colour. Historically, the sport has been white and male-dominated, with a lack of safety, research on diverse physiologies, time, financial freedom, and confidence often keeping other communities out of the sport.

“We can’t ignore that in trail, you’re often on your own in remote places for long periods of time,” says Dr Taylor-Swaine. “The sport also challenges your body differently, requires elements of mountaineering and better preparation when it comes to fuelling.”

Thankfully, efforts are being made to make trail running more inclusive, thanks largely to groups like Atim’s Ultra Black Running, which create spaces for black women and non-binary people in trail running. But that doesn’t mean you should go out unprepared. “Things like knowing how to use a map or what to do in an emergency are important,” says Dr Taylor-Swaine. “Doing mountain skills courses is something I encourage - if you did outward bounds at school, it will come back quickly.”

Trail Running Helped Me Rediscover My Love For Movement—Here’s How

My introduction to trail

Before I started trail running, I really thought I’d need to get a train to the mountains or coast for my run to count. As it turns out, I was completely wrong.

Trails are anything that takes you off-road or pavement for the majority of the run. Which means that most of us can probably reach one within 15-20 minutes.

I’m fortunate to be able to access a route within a five-minute run, so, with the help of the AllTrails app for navigation, I headed out onto the farmer’s field behind my house.

At first, I found it tough to let go of the pressure for pace. I felt like I was moving so much slower than I would on the road, and a sense of dread loomed over me as I approached a hill. On the road, I’d avoid them at all costs, knowing they’d slow me down.

But with the reminder that trail running isn’t about pace ringing in my ears, I took it slow, focusing more on the way my body felt than the speed at which it was moving.

When I got to the top, I paused and took in the view. It was a beautiful day, and I realised that it was one of the first times I’ve ever allowed myself to stop on a solo run. Despite being only 20 minutes from my front door, I’d never taken in this view. It was gorgeous.

After catching my breath, I continued on my way, getting back home around 45 minutes after I’d left. At first, it was strange not to be looking immediately for the metrics, but quickly that discomfort turned to freedom.

For the next few weeks, I kept my trail running super low pressure. I went out just once or twice a week, tried to mix up my routes and didn’t think about speed or distance.

Quickly, I realised how much I was looking forward to my runs - not dreading them as I had been on the road. Interestingly, my motivation for other forms of movement was coming back, too. With an injection of something new in the mix, the idea of a Pilates class or a gym session on my non-run days didn’t seem so boring anymore. Balance was slowly being restored.

Finding my feet

After spending my first few weeks tentatively broaching the off-road lifestyle, I decided it was time to step things up a notch. So far, my trails had been limited to farm tracks and woodlands, but with a trip to Northumberland on the cards, I decided that now was my moment to get really off-grid.

And this is where I really fell in love with trail running. Yes, the farmlands and woods around my house are lovely, but the freedom of being out in mountainous terrain, of hopping rocks and climbing steep hills to reach jawdropping views was what really sold me on this sport.

It was at the top of one particularly stunning hill that I realised my love of movement had returned. With the wind in my face, dirt on my shins and not one thought about pace, time or distance, I felt fully present in my body.

Of course, this wasn’t going to be my daily trail run. But peppering in these trips to new landscapes feels like a very good use of my weekend and a way to spice up my exercise routine.

Three months on

Three months on from my foray into trail running and I’m down in Bradford-on-Avon on a group trail running trip with Nike. We’re testing some of their new ACG collection, which involves an 18km trail run around the hilly Wiltshire countryside.

It will be the furthest distance I’ve covered and I’m undeniably nervous. The old familiar worries from road running kick in - will I be able to keep up? Will I manage the whole distance? What if I can’t handle the hills?

About 2km in, though, I realise I needn’t have worried. In trail running, walking up steep inclines is embraced, not shamed. Stopping to cool down in streams is encouraged and sprinting down wooded hillsides feels like fun rather than a race.

I didn’t stop smiling the entire run and, by the end, I’m exhausted, sweaty but completely buzzed. I feel free, relaxed, capable and very, very proud.

In the last few months, trail running has given me a completely fresh perspective on movement. It’s taught me that pausing to enjoy a view isn’t failure, that you can still work hard without chasing a time, and that things don’t always need to be so serious. It’s fun and refreshing, and I’m definitely no less fit for it.

If you’re feeling a little burnt out or are just looking to inject something different into your routine, I highly recommend.

Shop MC-UK Approved Trail Running Gear Now:

Former jewellery designer turned brand consultant, Leila Kashanipour has carved out her own lane by doing what she does best: perfecting the art of the finishing touch. Now a content creator, she understands the power of accessories to elevate an outfit and masterfully mixes prints, textures, statement pieces, and under-the-radar brands to create looks that are distinctly hers. As schools break up and summer holidays fast approach, we asked her, as one of our Marie Claire Masters, to give us the lowdown on what she packs for her summer getaways. Here, she shares everything she packed for a week in Marbella with her mother.

For a stay at the iconic Marbella Club, my approach to packing centred on one quietly brilliant philosophy: the power of the set. Coordinated pieces require less deliberation and deliver instant, considered style. A kind of automatic elegance that removes the guesswork entirely.

My intention for this particular trip was to dress down without compromising sophistication. Heels were deliberately left behind (minus one for a picture opportunity, ha!), as, with the hotel's breathtaking grounds as my primary backdrop, I wanted to move freely while still feeling elevated. The goal was polished but never overdone.

Silk and satin sets, often with a whisper of delicate detail, became the cornerstone of my wardrobe. There is something inherently luxurious about the way these fabrics read… effortless in their nature, yet undeniably refined. The beauty of a well-chosen set lies in its versatility: accessorised thoughtfully, the same piece can shift seamlessly from a languid afternoon on the terrace to a candlelit evening.

Above all, I believe in packing with intention. The occasion, the atmosphere, the destination—each trip tells its own story, and your wardrobe should reflect that. For me, no two packing lists are ever the same. Scroll below to see everything I packed for a week in Marbella which includes some of my all time favourite holiday looks.

White Mini Dress + Novelty Bag

Striped Crochet Set + Sandals

Neutral Silk Trouser Set + XXL Sunglasses

Blue Silk Co-Ord + Chunky Necklace

I flew to Rio expecting to report on Shakira's record-breaking concert. Instead, I found myself inside a fully immersive brand world that made me question whether holidays themselves have fundamentally changed.

Increasingly, it seems we're travelling not just to see places, but to become part of a moment—and brands have noticed.

By the time I arrived at Copacabana Beach for Todo Mundo No Rio, the free open-air festival where an estimated two million people would gather to watch Shakira perform—and, crucially, the reason for my visit—I owned a Corona sarong, a Corona T-shirt, a Corona cap embroidered with "Copacabana" in the brand's signature font, a raffia beach bag, badges and enough merchandise to convincingly pass as a member of staff.

I had spent the previous evening drinking shimmering Corona beers brewed to mirror Rio's golden-hour glow at a sundowner DJ set atop Sugarloaf Mountain. On the day of the much-anticipated festival, artists hand-painted silk scarves featuring illustrations of Sugarloaf, Copacabana, and, of course, the Corona logo. There were customisation stations where we queued to make our merch bespoke.

It seemed that I hadn't just travelled to Rio; I'd stepped inside the Corona universe. I've been lucky enough to go on my fair share of press trips over the years. They usually revolve around a beautiful hotel, a launch dinner or a carefully curated itinerary. This, though, was different. Not so for my travelling companion, who had previously flown to Corona Island, the beer brand's own tropical enclave off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia.

At first, it felt like very slick marketing backed by a very big budget. But between those customisation stations, sunset parties and Shakira performing to millions on the beach, I realised Corona wasn't simply sponsoring a festival—it was offering something increasingly valuable: the feeling of belonging to a moment. Being a Brit, my mind drifted to the silky-smooth M&S ads of yore… "This is not just a brand activation… this is a Corona brand event."

Or, to use the brand's own parlance: "This Is Living." That fittingly apt brand slogan neatly sums up something we're all craving—something that should be a given—but feels increasingly elusive in our digital-first world: living.

We're No Longer Just Travelling to See Places

Was Rio an anomaly—or a glimpse of where travel is heading? We often talk about experience-led travel as though it's another passing holiday trend, lumping it alongside sleep tourism, wellness retreats and solo travel. But I wonder if something more fundamental is happening. Increasingly, we're not content to travel simply to see places; we're travelling to step inside worlds.

Just look at the holidays dominating our wish lists. People don't just go to Edinburgh; they go because Taylor Swift is in town. They don't simply book Silverstone; they travel for Formula One. Sicily isn't just Sicily anymore—it's The White Lotus, Euro Summer and Dua Lipa's wedding destination. Thousands of people fly across continents to run marathons, attend immersive wellness retreats or spend weekends at festivals where the destination is almost secondary to the event. Yes, the place still matters. But more often than not, it's the moment that gets us on the plane.

The data suggests this isn't simply anecdotal. Mastercard's latest travel report argues that people's motivations are becoming one of the biggest forces shaping how—and where—they travel. Researchers identified two growing groups: those seeking immersion in local culture and those travelling for a specific experience, whether that's a sporting event, nightlife, shopping or a festival. "Today's tourists are looking for travel experiences that leave a lasting impression, helping them to create memories," explains Natalia Lechmanova, Mastercard's Chief Economist for Europe.

Of course, people have always travelled in search of memorable experiences. Safaris, pilgrimages and even the humble package holiday all promised some form of escape or enrichment. What's changed is the expectation. Today's holidays increasingly claim transformation. They're sold not as a chance to switch off, but as an opportunity to become someone else, however briefly.

Rio made that very clear. On paper, I'd travelled there to report on a music festival. In reality, I'd entered something closer to an immersive universe. Every touchpoint, from the Fairmont hotel takeover to the personalised merch, reinforced the sense that I was part of something designed to feel bigger than a holiday or even a festival.

Perhaps that's why the trusty old travel brochure feels so outdated. For decades, holiday marketing asked a nostalgically simple question: Where do you want to go? Today's savviest brands seem to be asking something altogether different: Who do you want to become while you're there?

The New Luxury Is Access

It's easy to dismiss Todo Mundo No Rio as a one-off. After all, not every brand has the budget to take over one of the world's most famous beaches or sponsor a concert for millions of people.

Then I found myself at Silverstone. This time, I was there as a guest of Revolut. Officially, I'd been invited to the British Grand Prix. In reality, I'd been invited into Formula One itself: hospitality suites, behind-the-scenes access, choreographed moments, including a Q&A with driver Gabriela Boroleto, and a front-row seat to one of the biggest weekends in British sport.

Despite the frighteningly hot weather (climate change, people!), it looked very different from Rio, but there were similarities. Both weekends were designed to make guests feel less like spectators than participants. Again, the event wasn't something just to watch; it was something to inhabit.

Neither brand was selling the event; they were selling proximity. Proximity to culture and exclusivity—a moment millions of other people wanted to be part of. Brands used to sell products. Then they sold lifestyles. Increasingly, I think they're selling memories—or perhaps more accurately, the opportunity to create them.

It's easy—and tempting—to dismiss this as clever marketing, but I don't think that's the whole story. If brands are investing millions in immersive experiences, it's because they've recognised something about the way we now travel. We no longer want to be passive observers. We want to belong.

Perhaps that's because modern life increasingly fragments us. We work remotely. We consume entertainment alone. Algorithms personalise everything we see. Even the internet, once imagined as a shared public square, increasingly serves each of us a different version of reality. Travel—and music festivals, which so often go hand in hand—have become one of the few places where we can still experience collective joy.

Standing on Copacabana Beach, surrounded by, quite literally, millions of people, I kept returning to a thought: I am part of this. That desire—to participate rather than just bear witness—helps explain why so many of today's biggest travel trends revolve around events, communities and transformation rather than destinations alone.

Of course, that doesn't mean we should surrender ourselves unquestioningly to branded worlds. There's a fascinating conversation to be had about commercialisation, authenticity and whether our experiences are becoming increasingly mediated by corporations. But dismissing experiences like Todo Mundo No Rio as simply marketing misses something important because they reveal how profoundly our relationship with travel has changed.

For my part, I went to Rio expecting to write about a beer brand throwing an extravagant festival. Instead, I came home wondering whether holidays themselves have fundamentally evolved, and thinking about why, increasingly, we're chasing moments that make us feel part of something bigger than ourselves.

Ultimately, I think we travel to step inside worlds—to belong to a moment, if only for a weekend, and return home feeling as though, however briefly, we were part of something bigger than ourselves.

Let's be real: fibre isn't exactly the sexiest topic in wellness.

For the uninitiated, fibremaxxing, a term that went wildly viral on TikTok earlier last year, is exactly what it sounds like: intentionally increasing your fibre intake, often by adding seeds, legumes, fruit, vegetables and wholegrains to meals in an effort to support gut health, digestion and blood sugar regulation.

After all, the average UK adult consumes just 19g of fibre a day - significantly below the recommended 30g target. Consultant dietitian Sophie Medlin previously told Marie Claire that our increasingly ultra-processed diets may be partly to blame.

"Studies show that over 53% of the average UK adult's daily calories now come from UPFs," she explains. "This is problematic because these foods, which are typically very low in fibre, take up more space on our plates and tend to displace naturally fibre-rich foods like vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds and fresh fruit."

So, why all the fuss about fibre? Well, according to a 2019 study, adults consuming the highest amounts of dietary fibre had a 15 to 30% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer compared to those eating the least. Further research has also linked higher fibre intake to better longevity, reducing the risk of obesity and a lower risk of developing chronic diseases.

Even as a Health Writer, I'll admit that optimising our health can sometimes feel like a full-time job.

If we're not trying to hit several thousand steps a day, we're being encouraged to eat more protein, improve our sleep hygiene, cold plunge, habit stack and optimise our hormone health. Wellness has become an endless game of nutritional whack-a-mole, where the moment you feel you've mastered one healthy habit, another arrives demanding your attention.

As someone who doesn't suffer from bloating, digestive discomfort or any obvious symptoms of poor gut health, consciously focusing on increasing my fibre intake felt, if I'm honest, like one wellness task too many. But the more I read about the science behind fibre - and the growing body of research linking it not only to digestive health but everything from blood sugar regulation to heart health and satiety - the more curious I became.

So when a friend recommended Biomel Complete Gut Powder, I decided to put my supplement scepticism to one side and give it a go.

Keep reading for my honest review after taking the TikTok viral fibre supplement every day for four weeks. Whilst you're here, we've got plenty of guides packed full of balanced nutrition advice for you. Don't skip our guides to the benefits of mindful eating, intuitive eating or the infamous inflammation diet.

I road tested this viral fibre supplement for a month, but did it actually make a difference?

What is Biomel Complete Gut Powder?

Biomel Complete Gut is essentially designed to do several jobs at once, combining prebiotic fibres, live cultures, digestive enzymes and vitamins into a single daily scoop.

The formula contains a blend of fibres including chicory root fibre, apple fibre and beta-glucan, alongside 25 billion live cultures across 13 different bacterial strains, plus added vitamins B6, B12, D and calcium. In practical terms, one serving delivers around 4.7g of fibre - not enough to replace your fruit and vegetables, of course, but enough to make a meaningful dent in the UK's notoriously low fibre intake.

The supplement comes in multiple flavours and can be enjoyed in several ways, including:

• Shaken with cold water for a quick post-workout drink.
• Mixed with coconut milk or your milk of choice for a creamier, more indulgent shake.
• Blended with banana and yoghurt for a fibre-rich breakfast smoothie.
• Added to overnight oats.

Who is Biomel Complete Gut Powder good for?

If you're struggling to hit your fibre target, you're first in line to potentially benefit from a supplement like this. It'll come in particularly useful if your diet relies heavily on convenience foods or if you're frequently eating on the go.

That said, gut health nutritionist Adrienne Benjamin warns against approaching fibre like an Olympic sport. "Fibre is absolutely vital for gut health; it feeds beneficial bacteria, supports regular bowel movements, and helps maintain a healthy gut lining," she explains.

"But the TikTok version of fibremaxxing, where people load up their bowls with 10-plus different ingredients or leap from 10 grams to 40 grams of fibre overnight, can actually backfire."

She adds: "A better approach is to introduce fibre gradually and consistently, allowing your digestive system to build tolerance."

What does the science say on fibre intake? Do you really need a supplement powder?

Probably not, at least not as a replacement for Whole Foods. Whole foods should always be the gold standard where possible, as they provide a broader range of nutrients alongside fibre.

"A high-fibre diet is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, strokes and certain cancers," says Medlin. "It also plays a role in stabilising blood sugar levels and promotes satiety, supporting healthy weight management."

Supplements can't replace vegetables, fruit, legumes and wholegrains, but if you're someone who struggles to hit 30g daily - and statistically, most of us do - they may help fill the gap in a practical way.

I road tested Biomel every day for four weeks - here's my honest review

Weeks one to two:

I should probably start by saying that I don't suffer from significant digestive issues. I rarely experience bloating; my stomach is generally fairly settled, and I know I'm fortunate in that respect, so I wasn't expecting any significant changes when I tried this.

What I noticed immediately, however, was the taste. The Belgian chocolate flavour is genuinely delicious, and part of my reasoning for avoiding supplements is a serious dislike for anything artificial in flavour, so that was a really pleasant surprise.

Depending on the day, I mixed it with water, coconut milk or blended it with banana and yoghurt if I was having it pre-workout or alongside breakfast. It tasted somewhere between a chocolate milkshake and a protein smoothie, which made it surprisingly easy to stick to.

The first couple of weeks passed without any dramatic revelations. There was no overnight digestive transformation or sudden feeling that I'd unlocked the secret to optimal health, but I did find myself genuinely looking forward to my daily chocolate shake.

Weeks three to four:

This was where things became more interesting. Firstly, my digestion became remarkably predictable, which was unexpected given my often chaotic freelance schedule that can see me eating lunch at wildly different times each day.

While regular bowel movements alone don't necessarily prove perfect gut health, improved stool frequency is one of the most well-established signs that dietary fibre is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. Fibre, particularly chicory root fibre, has consistently been shown to support normal bowel function and increase stool frequency.

Secondly - and this surprised me the most - my skin improved. I'm prone to hormonal breakouts and clusters around my chin and jawline, but towards the end of the month, my skin looked noticeably calmer and less reactive.

Can I say with certainty that a fibre supplement cured my acne? Absolutely not. However, there is growing interest in the so-called gut-skin axis, with researchers increasingly exploring how gut bacteria may influence inflammation and skin conditions, including acne. Some studies suggest that diets higher in plant fibre may support healthier gut bacteria and potentially improve acne severity through reductions in inflammation and better blood sugar regulation.

The final thing I noticed was a change in my appetite. My usual mid-afternoon cravings - typically characterised by an almost urgent desire for something sweet around 3 pm - seemed to completely disappear, which is by far the most surprising thing about this trial.

Whether that was down to fibre's well-documented ability to slow digestion and promote satiety, or simply the placebo effect, is impossible to say with certainty. What I can say is that I felt fuller for longer and far less preoccupied by the afternoon energy dip that would usually send me rummaging through the kitchen cupboards.

Would I continue taking it?

Surprisingly, yes. Not because I believe it transformed my gut health overnight, or because I think supplements can ever replace a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and wholegrains, but because it made increasing my fibre intake feel easy, enjoyable and - perhaps most importantly - sustainable.

Keen to up your fibre intake? Shop MC-approved essentials below

Beauty insiders, biohackers and longevity enthusiasts are going crazy for copper, more specifically, GHK-Cu, a copper peptide linked to everything from wound healing and collagen production to thicker, healthier-looking hair. From supplements and serums to creams and injectables, you may have noticed it all over your social feeds. But despite the sudden surge in popularity, it’s actually not a new ingredient. So, with that in mind, is it really the Wunderkind everyone’s claiming it to be? We spoke to the experts to find out…

GHK-Cu explained

When it comes to peptides, “think of them like keys that open up different locks,” shares Dr Omar Babar, medical director at Healand Clinic. “Each key latches onto a specific lock aka a receptor in the body, and unlocks a specific process like making collagen, repairing tissue, releasing a hormone, and so on," he adds.

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring peptide made up of three amino acids—glycine, histidine and lysine—which binds to a copper ion, forming a compound the body uses as a repair signal. When our tissue is damaged, GHK-Cu gets to work by stimulating collagen production, calming inflammation, and signalling cells to regenerate.

As we age, our natural levels of GHK-Cu drop significantly. "By boosting it, you're allowing the skin to do what it's naturally supposed to be doing: stimulating repair mechanisms and supporting its own healing properties," explains Babar. So, it makes sense that there’s so much interest in replenishing natural stores through serums, supplements and injectable protocols.

GHK-Cu skin benefits

GHK-Cu signals fibroblasts (the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin) to ramp up production. It also functions as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. This makes the peptide quite unique. As Alejandro Saldarriaga, head of applied research at DECIEM, explains, they “support several aspects of healthy-looking skin rather than focusing on a single visible concern.”

And according to Dr Charlie Cox, longevity doctor at longevity hospital Reborne, “the topical skin evidence is the most solid data when it comes to the effectiveness of GHK-Cu, as studies show an improvement in firmness, texture, tone and fine lines.”

Take the stats on the NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 31:1, for example. A lightweight, water-based serum designed to support overall skin quality, including firmness, elasticity, smoothness, and radiance. Studies found that twice-daily use of the product for 12 weeks visibly repairs multiple types of facial wrinkles, including crow's feet, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, forehead lines, and glabellar wrinkles. It also showed significant improvement in skin tone evenness at four and eight weeks, and in elasticity at four weeks.

It’s impressive, which is why it’s being compared to the gold standard ‘skin perfector’ retinol, as it offers similar results despite GHK-Cu being far more tolerable for sensitive or reactive skin types. "Retinol works by accelerating the skin's renewal processes, while copper peptides support the skin's natural repair and renewal mechanisms. For some individuals, this can make copper peptides a valuable alternative or complement to retinoids, particularly when skin comfort and tolerability are important considerations," says Saldarriaga.

What GHK-Cu does for hair

People across social media have been raving about the impressive hair growth they’ve noticed while using GHK-Cu, especially when injecting the stuff (more on that later). In theory, it makes sense that this copper peptide could “help improve blood supply to the follicle, support tissue repair, and prolong the hair growth phase,” explains Hannah Gaboardi, trichologist and founder of The Hannah Gaboardi Clinic. And that’s because GHK-Cu activates the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway (the biological mechanism that pushes follicles from their resting phase back into active growth), while also reducing inflammation around each follicle, which over time can shorten the growth cycle, as well as contribute to strands growing back finer and weaker.

The copper peptide might also be helpful in treating telogen effluvium, the type of diffuse shedding triggered by stress, illness, surgery, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies or significant weight loss. While it doesn't address the underlying trigger, "by supporting cellular signalling, reducing inflammation and promoting scalp health, it can complement a treatment plan focused on correcting the root cause," says Gaboardi.

She stresses that this caveat matters, as "peptides alone are unlikely to resolve telogen effluvium if the underlying trigger remains unaddressed. The most important step is identifying and correcting the cause, whether that is low iron, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction, stress or hormonal changes." The same logic applies to androgenetic alopecia. Since GHK-Cu has no effect on DHT - the hormone that drives this common form of female hair loss - it can't be used as a substitute for treatments that target DHT directly like minoxidil.

“Since it's relatively new, we don't have enough long-term research compared to the likes of minoxidil or other DHT blockers, or even in-clinic treatments like PRP," notes Gaboardi. So, realistically, where it is likely to genuinely help is with diffuse thinning, post-damage recovery, weakened strands, and a compromised scalp environment—as we do know it supports the conditions needed for healthy growth.

Delivery methods decoded

Bioavailability, which is essentially how much of an active actually reaches your bloodstream or target tissue, varies wildly depending on the delivery method. "Anything taken orally, only 20 to 40 per cent will get absorbed into the bloodstream as the rest gets destroyed in the stomach. When injected beyond the skin barrier and into the tissues, you get the highest bioavailability of all—anywhere from 90 per cent all the way up to 99 per cent. And then topicals sit somewhere in between, with absorption varying depending on the size of the molecule," shares Babar.

For most people, topical application of GHK-Cu purchased from a reputable source, paired with microneedling, is the most accessible and the safest avenue. The micro-channels created by the tiny needles improve penetration, so you increase bioavailability without the need for injection, which is where things get considerably murkier.

A word on injectable peptides

A huge and largely unregulated market has emerged around injectable peptides, with most bought directly online - think longevity compounds, tanning agents, and recovery aids. “The GLP-1 boom is largely responsible. As many of these compounds aren't new discoveries, they were researched decades ago and shelved, sometimes for commercial reasons, sometimes simply because society wasn't ready for at-home injecting. But the popularity of weight-loss jabs has made self-injecting completely normal for millions who'd never previously considered it, and that comfort has spilt over into peptides. A whole industry is now poised to launch because of the normalisation of self-injecting,” reveals Babar, who offers a range of ‘for research purposes only’ peptides at his clinic.

‘Research purposes’ is the key here, as GHK-Cu and other popular peptides “don’t hold a marketing authorisation, so they cannot lawfully be sold or marketed for human use,” reveals Cox. They can be used by an individual for research purposes, but the risk is that, as of yet, we don’t have the same clinical trial data as with the likes of Ozempic and Mounjaro. Meaning injectable peptides can be risky business, as most people buying peptides online have absolutely no idea if what they’re taking is legit.

“We literally spend thousands of pounds testing and vetting our peptides before you can actually use them for clinic purposes. But that’s not the case for a lot of the suppliers people buy from. God knows where they're produced, in what conditions, how they're being stored, and how they’re shipped from country to country,” says Babar.

Whether it’s GHK-Cu or another peptide, the biggest risk has very little to do with the molecule itself and everything to do with what you're actually injecting. In recent years independent testing of consumer peptides bought online has repeatedly found a significant proportion failing basic quality checks, with live bacteria, heavy metals and bacterial endotoxin (which can cause serious illness and even death) being present in samples.

Even if your peptides are the real deal, they could be dangerous for your health. Take Melanotan, a synthetic peptide that mimics the hormone that stimulates melanin production, pushing pigment-producing cells to work harder for a faster, deeper tan without time in the sun. The skin cancer risk can’t be ignored, as “people have reported existing moles becoming darker, new freckles or moles appearing and changes in pigmentation,” shares Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, GP and founder of The Aesthetics Doctor Clinic. He advises against using melanotan, noting that “any change in a mole is something we take very seriously because it can potentially make it harder to identify early warning signs of melanoma.”

Is GHK-Cu worth a try?

When it comes to using GHK-Cu topically on the skin, the answer is a resounding yes. However, “consumers should also be aware that not all copper peptide products are made equal. The form of the peptide, the amount used, and the surrounding formulation can vary considerably from product to product,” warns Saldarriaga.

As for our hair, the science is plausible, but the proof isn't there yet, and it's no substitute for treatments that address hormonal hair loss directly. So, if you fancy giving it a shot, “prioritise reputable brands that provide clinical data, research and transparent ingredient lists,” shares Gaboardi.

And when it comes to injectable GHK-Cu, Saldarriaga points out that it’s worth remembering that “copper peptides have a long history of use in skincare, with origins in dermatology and medicine stretching back to the late 1980s. Whereas many injectable peptide protocols are still supported by a more limited body of evidence. As with any emerging area, it's important that growing interest is matched by continued research.” That might mean right now the risks outweigh the rewards. But if you’re keen to give it a go, be sure to source your injectable peptides through a properly vetted clinician rather than social media.

GHK-Cu products to try now

When I started watching the hit TV series Off Campus—the show that has middle-aged women in a chokehold—I expected to be talking about the romance. Instead, I found myself thinking about Hannah’s boobs. Not because the show was drawing attention to them, but surprisingly because it wasn't.

Here was a young woman with a fuller chest wearing T-shirts, cute cardigans and jeans without every outfit being engineered to maximise cleavage or every glimpse of a bra turning into a moment of titillation (pardon the pun). She wasn’t squeezed into lace balconettes that no university student would realistically wear to class, nor was her body treated as shorthand for sex appeal. She simply existed as a woman with bigger breasts. That shouldn’t feel groundbreaking. Somehow, it does.

Television has become remarkably good at celebrating different kinds of beauty, but when it comes to young female leads, there are still recurring visual archetypes. On one end, there are actresses like Zendaya, whose slim frame has become synonymous with modern fashion campaigns and effortless cool. On the other, there are stars like Sydney Sweeney, whose curves are often embraced as part of their on-screen appeal and whose styling frequently leans into overt femininity and sexualisation. Now it goes without saying that both of these women are beautiful and both deserve to dress however they choose, but somewhere between those two familiar images sits another body type that rarely gets to exist without commentary.

This is where I think the character of Hannah fits in. She has what many women would probably describe as a normal body. She has breasts that require actual support. Clothes fit her the way clothes fit so many of us: sometimes slightly awkwardly, sometimes comfortably, never as though they were designed solely for the male gaze.

As someone who has been a long standing member of the bigger boob club, I noticed it almost immediately. Not because I spend my life looking for women who resemble me on screen, but because it’s surprisingly rare to see someone whose body isn’t treated as a costume decision.

Women with fuller busts know the strange balancing act that comes with getting dressed. The exact same white T-shirt that looks understated on someone with a smaller chest can suddenly be read as “sexy.” A button-up shirt gaps in just the wrong place. A simple vest top attracts attention that was never invited. Your body is interpreted before you’ve said a word.

Film and television have often reflected that same logic. Women with larger busts are frequently styled to accentuate their figures, as though curves must always be part of the story. If they’re not being presented as overtly sexy, they’re often hidden beneath oversized silhouettes. There rarely seems to be space for a woman who simply gets dressed without her body becoming the defining feature of the character.

Off Campus offers some relief in this way with Hannah being attractive because she’s witty, intelligent and emotionally layered, not because the camera continually reminds us of her figure. Her curves aren’t hidden, but neither are they emphasised. They’re simply there, treated with the same casual normality afforded to countless other female protagonists.

I personally think that though the distinction may be subtle, it's incredibly important. Representation isn’t just about seeing different body types on screen; it’s about seeing those bodies freed from the assumptions we’ve attached to them.

Maybe that’s why Hannah feels so refreshing?! Not because she’s redefining beauty, but because she’s portraying something television has quietly overlooked for years: a young woman with an entirely ordinary, curvier body whose existence isn’t framed through either fashion fantasy or sex appeal. Sometimes, she’s just wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a very normal bra. And for many of us watching, that feels surprisingly radical.

Off Campus is available to stream now on Amazon Prime.

Welcome to What Lily Loves, a personal edit of the pieces, places, and ideas currently inspiring me. Think of it as your insider guide to what’s shaping my wardrobe and daily rituals. From standout finds and under-the-radar designers to shopping destinations, cultural hotspots—from restaurants and theatres to podcasts—here are the latest discoveries I’m loving.

The Designer Drop

Polène

French label Polène has become a go-to for luxury handbags at a more affordable price point. What many fans aren't aware of, however, is its extensive sustainability practices. One priority is upcycling leather off-cuts produced during the making of its bags. Just last year, when the brand opened its first London store, an entire wall of bricks and a sculptural table were made from compressed leather off-cuts - pretty impressive.

The Nomad Solé bag is one of the newest additions to the brand, and it cleverly blends upcycling with everything you would want from a chic summer carryall. The bag features a total of 382 beads moulded from leather off-cuts, each held in place by 320 hand-tied macramé knots. Few brands are able to embrace such innovative practices while simultaneously creating pieces that are anything but luxurious, which is why this handbag is at the top of my wishlist.

Spotlight On

STAUD

This month I’ve found myself constantly clicking on pieces by Los Angeles-based label STAUD. Loved by celebrities including Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, the brand is my go-to for bright summer dresses and playful handbags—but this summer it has stepped it up a notch. Think fun beach totes, embellished swimsuits, and cover-ups from its collaboration with iconic Positano beach restaurant Da Adolfo. The pieces are so popular they’re already selling out fast, so here are some of my favourites so you don’t miss out either.

Shop the edit:

New In This Week

Investment Bikinis

As I start mentally packing my summer holiday wardrobe ahead of a trip to Puglia this month, my priority is swimwear, and in particular, bikinis. A self-confessed bikini addict, I have so many I’ve never got round to counting them, and I keep bikinis that don’t even fit me anymore, or that my mother passed down to me, in what I like to call my swimwear archive. That said, I continue to shop for new bikinis, and while some great styles can be found on the high street, investing in a bikini will pay dividends.

The difference between designer and high-street swimwear is primarily in the fabric and the level of detail in the cut and size grading. Swimwear fabrics are expensive, particularly if you are looking for materials that won’t lose their colour or shape easily. Add in recycled fabrics, and the manufacturing costs begin to soar. But as the only time you’re likely to be this naked in public, buying pieces that will not only last longer but also support and flatter in all the right places comes at a price—but are totally worth it! Here are some of my favourite investment bikinis I’m packing this summer.

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On My Radar

Off Campus

It will come as no surprise to many that I’ve included Amazon’s new hit TV show Off Campus this week. The show has Gen Z and millennials (myself included) in a chokehold with its smile-inducing love-fest, steamy bedroom scenes, and catchy soundtrack that has been playing on repeat on my Deezer ever since.

Based on Elle Kennedy’s bestselling Off-Campus book series, the show follows a group of college athletes as they navigate friendships, rivalry, and romance, with the first season focusing on the relationship between lead character Garrett Graham and Hannah Wells. If you’ve got a lot to be getting on with, be warned—I think I’m on my fourth rewatch as we speak.

Watch Off Campus on Amazon Prime now.

In Case You Missed It...

Growing-up, when I thought about a facelift, I envisioned rich old ladies with distorted facial features, unnaturally tight skin, and tell-tale scarring. Now, with celebs being more transparent about the work they have had, I, along with everyone else have become more aware of what a good facelift can do. And that offers a natural-looking, yet completely transformative youth boost. Kris Jenner, Sia, Lindsay Lohan (allegedly), and at least a dozen Bravo Housewives have wowed us with their new faces. So, now, as going under the knife has become more normalised than ever before—I’m starting to consider the surgery I once thought I’d never have.

I’m not alone, as according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAPPS), face and neck lifts rose by 11 per cent in 2025, while brow lifts, which are typically combined with facelifts, increased by a whopping 27 per cent. So, as the reality became not if, but when would I get a facelift, I also started to wonder if I would have to start planning my longstanding and future aesthetic treatments around my desire to go under the knife.

“You absolutely do,” shared plastic surgeon, and Mallucci London founder, Patrick Mallucci. “The road to surgery requires as much thought as the surgery itself, because what many patients don’t realise is that the aesthetic treatments you have in the years, months and even weeks before a facelift can significantly affect the surgery and the outcome.”

Facelifts, explained

Ponytail facelift, deep-plane facelift, SMAS facelift. There is a plethora of terms for what plastic surgeon and aesthetic doctor, Lara De Luca, explains is essentially, “a surgical procedure that repositions and tightens the facial tissues and removes excess skin to restore a more youthful appearance.” What makes the latest facelift techniques better than facelifts of old is that, “modern facelifts focus on lifting and repositioning the underlying structures of the face rather than simply pulling the skin tight. This creates more natural-looking, longer-lasting results and avoids the overly stretched appearance that was sometimes associated with older techniques,” adds De Luca. But like with most aesthetic treatments and surgical procedures, one size does not fit all. “Every surgeon has their own technique, and every technique has its advantages and disadvantages. The buzz surrounding particular techniques on social media can be misleading and a distraction from the more important conversation about which technique suits you best,” adds Mallucci.

What suits you will largely be dictated by several factors: your bone structure, skin thickness, fat distribution, the level of sagging, as well as how much downtime you're willing to accept and your long-term goals. Age doesn’t really play a role, as it's less about how old you are and more about how soon you show signs of ageing. "Some patients may be suitable candidates in their 40s or earlier, particularly if they have experienced significant weight loss (often assisted by GLP-1s), extensive sun damage or have a strong genetic tendency towards early facial ageing. Others may not consider surgery until their 60s or later. Genetics, lifestyle, skin quality and facial structure all play a role," shares De Luca.

The treatments that can complicate things

Timing is key. Not just when you decide to go under the knife, but how you plan the aesthetic treatments that are often booked to push surgery further down the line—and, increasingly, which treatments you've been told to fear versus which ones actually deserve the reputation. TikTok is awash with videos vilifying certain treatments as facelift-ruiners. The truth, however, is far more nuanced than the discourse suggests.

Sculptra, in particular, has become a scapegoat for a problem that's largely historic. Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Ashwin Soni explains that complaints traced back to how the product was used years ago, not the product itself. "Sculptra comes as plant-derived microparticles mixed with sterile water, and very early on, some providers weren't diluting it enough," he says. "Injected too concentrated—and often too deep, in the same plane surgeons later need to work on during a facelift—it triggered a collagen response that could potentially cause lumps, leading to a lasting reputation".

The good news is that dilution protocols have moved on, and most biostimulators now follow far more conservative guidelines. Soni often recommends Sculptra to his own patients, both to improve skin elasticity ahead of a facelift and to maintain results afterwards—provided you're seeing someone who genuinely understands facial anatomy and injection depth. In fact, Sculptra is one of the safest and most robustly researched biostimulators available today, having originally been developed over 25 years ago for medical use and put through rigorous safety protocols.

Threads, however, are a different story. Where Sculptra's reputation has outlived its risk, Soni is unequivocal that threads haven't—he never recommends them, calling the scarring risk, from both the depth they're typically placed at and the way they interact with tissue, too consistent a downside for someone planning future surgery.

Other biostimulators like hydrating Profhilo, regenerative exosomes and polynucleotides are not "a concern," reveals Mallucci, as they're designed to improve skin quality, boost hydration, and stimulate collagen at a superficial level. The same goes for devices like ultrasound-powered Sofwave and Morpheus8, which combines microneedling with radiofrequency to tighten and contour skin.

One category we should be more wary of, says Mallucci, is "deep-acting energy devices" such as J-Plasma and FaceTite, which work at a level that can scar you in the same planes a surgeon later needs. Soni makes a related point about radio frequency microneedling specifically: the risk isn't really the device category, it's whether the person holding it understands anatomy. "You need to make sure that you're with a provider who understands it," he says—the same caveat, really, that applies to all non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

What about dermal filler?

Though dermal filler has arguably been knocked off the top spot with the rise of biostimulators and fat transfers, many aesthetic doctors still believe it has an important role to play when it comes to lifting, and contouring the face—especially in the years leading up to a facelift. "However, large volumes of filler can sometimes mask the true extent of age-related volume loss or tissue descent, making assessment more challenging," explains De Luca. "They’re not a contraindication to surgery, but it’s important that patients disclose their filler history during the consultation so the surgeon can plan accordingly."

And you might not even have to dissolve your filler pre-surgery, “In some cases it might be an advantage to dissolve the filler before the facelift. In other cases, it’s not necessarily required. It depends on where it’s been put and how long ago,” adds Mallucci.

Find one doctor, not five

If there's one piece of advice that cuts across all of this, it's not about which treatment to avoid—it's about who's administering it. Soni is candid that patients hopping between providers make surgical planning harder, simply because no one has the full picture. "People need to have a long-term game plan with a doctor, with whom they're in a long-term patient relationship," he says, pointing out that skin quality and anatomy shift over time regardless of what you have or haven't had done.

His advice for anyone choosing a provider: do your homework and research them in depth. Check before-and-afters, ask about training and experience with facial anatomy, read reviews, and confirm their registration with the various governing bodies like the General Medical Council, or the Nursing & Midwifery Council. The BCAM Pre-Consultation Safety Questionnaire is a handy six-step checklist designed to help you choose safely. It covers practitioner qualifications, insurance, premises standards and product sourcing, and can be printed or sent to a clinic ahead of time.

When to stop tweaking

Whether you choose to get a facelift in your 40s, 50s, 60s or 70s, the healthier your skin is, the better—if we ensure our skin is well-hydrated, collagen-rich and resilient it will make a meaningful difference to both our results and recovery.

What we must do is be totally transparent with our future surgeons and go for our first consult at good amount of time before our ideal surgery date. “As a rule of thumb, stopping treatments at least six months before surgery, and ideally up to a year in some cases, allows for better assessment and surgical planning. Patients also need to disclose all previous aesthetic treatments, as well as any previous facial surgery or trauma. This information can significantly influence surgical planning and helps avoid unexpected findings during surgery,” says De Luca.

I’m planning to create a digital diary of all the treatments I’ve already had (everything from injectables to lasers), and log all my future treatments too, so by the time I have my first consultation with a surgeon I’ll be armed with all the info they need. Let the countdown begin...

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice - always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before treatment decisions.

Le Meurice is a dream for art lovers, its prestige unmatched worldwide. The luxury Paris hotel, situated on the historic Rue de Rivoli since 1835, is considered Paris' first 'Palace Hotel' and has a storied past. Le Meurice famously hosted the lavish wedding banquet of Picasso and Olga Khokhlova, bringing together Parisian high society in the hotel's Versailles-inspired Salon Pompadour. Le Meurice also charmed Salvador Dalí, who was so captivated by the hotel that he booked the Royal Suite Alphonse XIII for a month, every year for over three decades.

It was Dalí's part-time residence that inspired the father-and-daughter designer duo, the legendary Philippe Starck (the mind behind Sanderson London) and Ara Starck, when they refreshed the Dorchester Collection hotel in 2016, leaning into surrealism within the décor. Most notably, the Dalí restaurant features a stunning ceiling mural by French artist Ara, where dancers glide beneath the restaurant’s glass dome.

Stepping into the lobby, there's a lot to take in; Le Meurice's unique style blends traditional elegance with modern flair and a firm focus on art, both classical and contemporary. Leather seats are surprisingly embossed with portraits of 18th-century figures, mixed with Dalí-inspired furnishings. A painting by Baron François Girard, showing the hand of the 19th-century Parisian socialite Madame Regnaud, hung above the reception and is an instant talking point. Eero Saarinen's Tulip chairs offset the grand decor of Restaurant le Meurice Alain Ducasse, which was initially inspired by the Salon de la Paix at the Château de Versailles. There are plenty of playful touches, from Philippe Starck's interactive frosted mirror to Zoulikha Bouabdellah's modern art sculpture, 'The Kiss', in the lobby. Le Meurice is a seriously impressive hotel, but part of its charm is that it doesn't take itself too seriously.

Le Meurice is one of Paris' 12 Palace Hotels - along with the likes of the grand Le Bristol (rumoured to be the Kardashian's hotel of choice in Paris) and Le Hôtel Plaza Athénée, an accolade that celebrates hotels that transcend usual standards of luxury and veer into the exceptional, often housed in grand, historic buildings - basically the crème de la crème of French hospitality.

The hotel first opened its doors in 1835 and was named after its original owner, Charles-Augustin Meurice. Over the years, it's undergone multiple renovations from creatives and designers who've put their own stamp on the interiors. Yet, the hotel has retained its original spirit as a place for creatives and thinkers in the heart of Paris, with a vibrant, lively atmosphere, particularly at Le Dalí restaurant and the dimly lit Bar 228, which plays live jazz every night of the week until 1 am.

ROOMS

Each of the 160 rooms and suites (121 rooms and 39 suites) is designed in the same style, 'modern Versailles' style, by design studio Lally & Berger, who fuse classic Louis XVI styling with contemporary touches. Try and book a park-view room if you can - there are just 40 in the hotel, complete with classic iron balconies and romantic French windows, so these book up quickly. The plush bathrooms are crafted from marble, with fluffy robes and towels, and all feature a free-standing tub and a separate, large walk-in shower with luxury toiletries from Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Complementary water, fruits, and artisan chocolates are replenished at the end of each day.

The suites are suitably jaw-dropping, with huge bathrooms, a walk-in wardrobe and classic Parisian dressing rooms. And let's not forget the views. For those lucky enough to stay in the Belle Étoile Penthouse, meticulously designed by Lally & Berger, the private rooftop offers spectacular panoramic views of the Tuileries Gardens and landmark sites like the Louvre, the Eifle Tower, and Notre Dame in the distance.

FOOD & DRINKS

The food at Le Meurice is one of its biggest draws, with the two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Le Meurice Alain Ducasse among the premier dining spots in Paris, housed in a beautiful space overlooking the Tuileries. For a fine dining experience, this luxurious restaurant offers a journey through French flavours.

The more relaxed Restaurant Le Dalí offers a lively setting to enjoy French classics, with a strong focus on local and seasonal ingredients. You'll find nods to the surrealist painter throughout the restaurant, including the hand-painted canvas by artist Ara Starck, depicting a series of dancers in bold shades, adding a little bit of theatrics to the surroundings.

For an aperitif or nightcap, the sumptuous Bar 228 is a luxurious den with dark wood pannelling and deep leather armchairs to sink into after a long day's exploring. Guests can also pop in for a high-brow pastry at La Pâtisserie du Meurice par Cedric Grolet, a charming pastry boutique dedicated to the hotel’s own pastry chef.

ACTIVITIES

At Le Meurice, the sights of central Paris are quite literally on your doorstep, and if you want to venture further afield, the Tuileries Metro stop (Line 1) is a short stroll away. For those exploring on foot, the Tuileries Gardens, offering a lush green oasis in the heart of the city, are a good place to start. As a bonus, the Eurostar is just 15 minutes away, so getting to the hotel is a complete breeze.

Back at the hotel, there's a small spa with four treatment rooms (two for couples and two for individuals), as well as saunas and steam rooms. Treatments are suitably luxurious, including Valmont facials and a wide range of massages, from hot stone to Swedish.

NEED TO KNOWS

Rooms at Le Meurice start at £1,277 per night, and you can book through the hotel's website.

Address: 228, Rue de Rivoli, Paris, 75001, France

By now, you'll know that we're big fans of Pilates here at MC UK. The low-impact, full-body workout has soared in popularity in recent years, with boutique studios and on-demand platforms popping up left, right and centre. While social media might make it seem like a passing wellness trend, the method has more than a century of history, not to mention a growing body of research to back up its benefits.

Popularised by the likes of Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Harry Styles, the method was first developed in the early 1920s by Joseph Pilates, which was originally called Contrology. The popular workout is practised all over the world to help improve strength, posture, flexibility and body awareness through mindful, controlled movement.

Today, Pilates is widely recognised for far more than its physical benefits. Research suggests regular practice can improve core strength, balance and functional mobility, while systematic reviews have also linked it to improvements in wellbeing and quality of life. In other words, those slower, more intentional movements can deliver benefits that extend well beyond toned abs.

But perhaps the best part? Scientists are continuing to uncover lesser-known ways the practice may support both body and mind.

For those of you who don't know me - I'm Ashlea McKee, a classical Pilates instructor, MC UK Master and founder of Élan Wellbeing and the Pilates with Ashlea app. Below, I've explained the one benefit you might not have heard about yet - plus exactly why Pilates is worth adding to your routine this year.

If you're eager to read more Pilates content, while you're here, don't skip our guides to the best Pilates exercises for beginners, best Pilates core moves, best core sculpting Pilates moves and the best Pilates bar exercises, here.

The rise of the Pilates runner

You'll know from my first Marie Claire Masters article back in March that I think Pilates is an incredible all-rounder of a workout - but there's one lesser-known benefit that no one seems to be talking about.

You see, Pilates is an incredible method to train alongside cardio disciplines, like running, as it boosts core strength, coordination, recovery times and injury prevention (I'll go into more detail on each below).

First up: training Pilates alongside your weekly mileage helps to aid joints and improve mobility and body awareness, making you a more fluid, form-focused runner. It also assists with any postural imbalances which, if left unnoticed, could lead to potential injuries down the line. It's an excellent workout for boosting abdominal and pelvic stability, too, creating a stronger core foundation which, in turn, supports better balance, control, and running efficiency.

Connecting to your breath is a key tenet in both disciplines; focusing on your breath during Pilates will only improve your ability to do so during training miles or races. Breathing is one of the main principles of Pilates, as you'll know, and there's a big focus on connecting your breath to movement. To sustain your pace while running, breathing is essential, and efficient breath control can help take your performance to the next level.

One of the things I love most about Pilates is what a mindful form of movement it is: it creates a powerful connection between breath, mind, and body.

Next, Pilates trains controlled, low-impact movement in a way that running can't. Running is high-impact and cardio-based; Pilates is a slower and controlled low-impact workout. Train them both together, and you'll reap the cardio benefits from your mileage and the strength and mobility gains from the Pilates mat or apparatus work, like the Reformer, Tower, and Wunda chair. Pilates can improve running efficiency and economy in many ways, in other words, making you a stronger, faster runner.

And finally? And finally? Pilates can help lower your risk of injury - not just during marathon training, but across many sports and everyday activities as it improves form, body awareness, and alignment. It helps runners move more efficiently and stay stable during long-distance running, especially when you start to tire. Pilates gives runners the tools to better support their bodies throughout training, which you can then take into your race.

Take it from those who've tried it

I asked the members of my Pilates community who workout regularly with me while fitting in their weekly miles, and they said the main benefits they've noticed themselves span:

• The core stability and control helps with your leg control and therefore your stride.
• The coordination of your arms and legs with the power and pace you're generating.
• The posture perspective - if you're running long distance, staying straight and aligned through the trunk and spine helps to sustain pace, movement, and speed, as well as distribution of weight.
• The reduction of tension, aches and pains
• The stamina from the classical order (progressions and transitions).

The importance of a strong core and glutes

Underpinning many of the Pilates moves I'd recommend for runners is a focus on core and glute strength. Both muscle groups are essential for runners and non-runners alike, helping you move well in everyday life and supporting the strength and stability that become increasingly important as you age.

A strong core helps you hold yourself taller and feel lighter while running. Strong abdominals also support better posture, and better posture helps you breathe more efficiently and sustain your pace for longer. Remember - it's all connected! Pilates emphasises movement from the centre in every exercise, helping to build strong foundations through the deep abdominal and stabilising muscles. This, in turn, creates better control and stability, especially as fatigue sets in.

Next up, your glutes. The glutes play a major role in powering and supporting movement, and the hips need to be both strong and mobile for an efficient stride. As we know, running is high impact, so if the glutes and hips are weak or tight, other muscles begin to compensate, which can lead to poor form, fatigue, and even injury. Pilates helps strengthen and mobilise these areas to improve overall running performance.

If you only have ten to fifteen minutes to work out, remember this: it's always better than nothing, and can still be super effective. Focus on moving the body through all planes of movement.

A beginner classical Pilates order is a great place to start with exercises like The Hundred, Roll Up, Single Leg Circles, and more foundational movements that never date.

Keen to prepare your body for smoother, more efficient running and reduce the risk of injury? Try the moves below.

7 Best Pilates Moves for Runners

Warm up: Bridges

One simple change runners could make this week to improve performance is simple: to warm up and cool down. Taking care of your body is key for longevity, injury prevention, and performance.

A warm-up can include some breathing, standing Pilates, spinal mobility, and hip, knee, and ankle mobility, keeping it dynamic but controlled.

A cool-down post-run can be more focused on releasing through stretching and mobility work for the hamstrings and hips, using exercises such as Child’s Pose, the Roll Up, Spine Stretch Forward, and a side-lying quad stretch.

Best for: Warming up the body, spinal articulation, glute activation, pelvic stability, and mind-body connection.

Move one: The Hundred

How to: Lie on your back, lift your head, neck and shoulders, and extend your legs to tabletop or a 45-degree angle while engaging your core. Pump your arms up and down in small, controlled movements, inhaling for five pumps and exhaling for five, until you've completed 100 arm pumps (10 breath cycles).

Best for: Breath, deep core activation, coordination, and full-body warm-up.

Move two: Single Leg Circle

How to: Lie on your back with one leg extended on the mat and the other raised towards the ceiling. Keeping your hips stable and your core engaged, circle the lifted leg in a slow, controlled motion, making small circles before reversing the direction. For your reps, try five circles in each direction.

Best for: Hip mobility, pelvic stability, and single-leg control.

Move three: Shoulder Bridge

How to: Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet hip-width apart. Press through your heels and the backs of your arms to lift your hips until your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. To progress the exercise, keep one heel firmly pressed into the mat while lifting the other leg straight up toward the ceiling. Flex your foot as you lower the leg halfway, then point your toes as you lift it back up. Complete 6 reps on one side before switching legs.

Best for: Pelvic stability, posterior chain (back body) activation including the glutes and hamstrings, ankle mobility through dorsiflexion (flex) and plantarflexion (point).

Move four: Side-Lying Bicycle

How to: Lie on your side with your body aligned along the back edge of the mat, your legs slightly in front of your hips, your head supported, and your core engaged. Bend your top knee and extend the leg forward, then open through the hip and sweep the leg back behind you. Bend the knee to return to the starting position, keeping the movement smooth and controlled while maintaining a stable pelvis throughout. Aim for five reps in each direction

Best for: Hip and knee mobility, lateral hip stability, and single-leg control.

Move five: Single Leg Kick into Swimming

How to: Lie face down on your mat, propped up on your forearms with your elbows directly beneath your shoulders and your chest gently lifted. Bend one knee to kick your heel towards your glutes twice, then switch legs, keeping your core engaged and your pelvis stable. Next, lower onto your front and extend both arms forward. Lift your opposite arm and leg, then continue alternating sides in a smooth, controlled "swimming" motion, keeping your torso as still as possible. Aim for eight to ten reps of each.

Best for: Hip flexor and quadriceps focus, posterior chain strength, and postural focus

Move six: Single Leg Stretch

How to: Lie on your back, lift your head, neck and shoulders, and draw one knee into your chest while extending the other leg away at a low diagonal. Switch legs in a controlled, rhythmic motion, keeping your core engaged and your upper body lifted throughout. Aim for eight to ten reps.

Best for: Deep abdominal strength, breath coordination, core and pelvic stability, control, and hip mobility

From Splitsville to Lily Allen’s tell-all album, ethical non-monogamy has been having a bit of a PR crisis. Open relationships and swinging are often portrayed as messy, doomed, or a marriage on the brink of collapse. So when I sat down to watch The Invite—Olivia Wilde's new dinner-party comedy in which an ethically non-monogamous couple propositions their neighbours—I expected more of the same. I was wrong.

Without spoiling what happens, The Invite gives ENM the nuanced portrayal it rarely gets on screen. The story follows two couples whose dinner descends into arguments, flirtation and, eventually, a proposition. Yet, for once, the open couple (played by Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) aren't the dysfunctional one. Instead, it's the supposedly "normal" monogamous pair (Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen) whose relationship begins to unravel.

It doesn't suggest ethical non-monogamy is easier than monogamy, nor that one relationship model is inherently better than another. What it does do is resist the simplistic stereotypes that have dominated portrayals of open relationships for decades.

"For decades, open relationships have shown up on screen as a shorthand for chaos, imminent betrayal, or a marriage in crisis," explains Ruby Rare, Intimacy Expert at Feeld. "We rarely see them simply existing, how they're actually negotiated and experienced. It's refreshing to see The Invite, a glossy Hollywood production, flip this script, with the non-monogamous couple portrayed as having the healthier and happier relationship dynamic."

As someone who has dated people in open relationships, I know firsthand how often ethical non-monogamy is misunderstood. As open relationships, swinging, and polyamory become more visible, it feels more important than ever to move beyond sensationalism and ask what these relationships actually look like in practice.

So I spoke to four people living in ethical non-monogamy about the realities rarely shown on screen.

"People are not worried about sex—they're worried about what sex means"

Ben and Olivia have been together for two years. Ben is also married, and his wife and children have met Olivia, who also has a partner. "We operate a kitchen table style polyam where everyone knows each other and would hang out independently too," Ben explains.

He didn't grow up believing ethical non-monogamy was even an option. "I grew up in a very heteronormative culture, where the only exposure I can remember growing up was when my parents mentioned their coworkers had tried swinging and it had destroyed their marriages. Not exactly a glowing endorsement."

Like many people practising ethical non-monogamy, his understanding developed gradually rather than overnight. It was his wife's desire to explore her sexuality that first prompted them to reconsider what their relationship could look like, beginning with a threesome before eventually dating other people independently.

"I won't lie, there followed a period of unlearning, of understanding what each of our triggers and insecurities were," he says. "People are not worried about sex; they're worried about what sex means, about being abandoned, about not being loved. Monogamy or polyamory are not better or worse than each other, they are just different, but what polyamory does is force you to confront insecurities, to explore yourself and for your partner to do the same."

It's a perspective rarely reflected in mainstream storytelling. While films often treat non-monogamy as inherently dramatic, Ben describes something far less sensational: the ongoing work of communication, self-reflection and emotional honesty.

"Mainstream media tends to focus on it being an oddity, at the fringes of society, filled with strange, ugly queer people," he says. "There is also an obsession with ENM done wrong and failing… this does happen, but by people who were never ENM in the first place and just wanted to sleep around and didn't care if it hurt people."

That gap between lived experience and cultural representation is precisely what The Invite begins to challenge. Rather than presenting openness as evidence that a relationship is failing, it allows its characters the emotional complexity that monogamous couples have long been afforded on screen.

"Ethical non-monogamy isn't a band-aid"

Olivia came to ENM from a very different starting point: a long-term relationship in which she began to question whether exclusivity was her only option and a desire to explore her interest in women.

"I feared we'd have to break up if I wanted to do this," she says. Instead, her partner suggested an open relationship, something she hadn’t even considered possible."I was so relieved and grateful because I was deeply in love with them and didn't want to break up," she explains. "I had always been attracted to multiple people but had avoided exploring these connections for fear of hurting people. Now I had the opportunity… I dove into learning about how to do it conscientiously."

Like Ben, Olivia describes ethical non-monogamy not as the absence of commitment, but as a relationship structure that demands more intentional communication than many people realise. And while mainstream portrayals often frame open relationships as a last-ditch attempt to save something broken, she believes that's one of the biggest misconceptions.

"If you're considering opening things up, make sure you address relational problems before getting involved with other people. ENM is not a band-aid. Be as open and upfront as you can be."

She also challenges the idea that jealousy is inherently incompatible with non-monogamy: “Jealousy often comes from a place of fear; consider why you’re feeling it and what you need.” Rather than pretending jealousy doesn't exist, she says ethical non-monogamy has taught her to examine where those feelings come from instead of treating them as evidence that the relationship itself is failing.

And while ENM is often portrayed as emotionally volatile or unstable, she describes something more grounded. What’s missing from most depictions, she argues, is the “wonderful community that comes with being polyamorous as well.”

It's another aspect of ethical non-monogamy that The Invite hints at, but which popular culture has rarely been interested in exploring. Conflict makes for compelling cinema; healthy communication rarely does.

Redefining what commitment looks like

If Ben and Olivia arrived at ethical non-monogamy through existing relationships, Vic's experience began from a different place altogether. She was single when she first started dating someone who was also seeing other people. “It really didn't bother me. That felt refreshing and right for where I was,” she says. “I was getting to know this person with low pressure and without the relationship escalator ringing in my ear.”

For Vic, stepping outside the traditional expectation that every successful relationship should move through the same milestones allowed her to recognise patterns she'd previously struggled with.

"It set up the conditions to create a loving relationship that I have been in for the past six months. I struggled with losing myself in relationships and forgiving poor behaviour before. It was linked to a feeling of low self-worth."

What often gets lost in conversations about ENM, Vic suggests, is that it isn’t about replacing commitment, but redefining what commitment looks like. “My girlfriend and I have a very fulfilling sex life, but there are things I enjoy that she doesn't. She doesn't expect me to be fulfilled by one person, and I don't expect that either.”

Still, she is clear that intention matters. “For me, wanting to experience new things is such a normal part of life… I'm still a full human who needs to show up for people who are already in my life.”

Like many people practising ethical non-monogamy, Vic has encountered assumptions from people who know little about it. In her first polyamorous relationship, she told colleagues about her relationship, only for one to describe it as a "porn star relationship."

She believes media portrayals have helped reinforce those misunderstandings. "It's often sensationalised and misrepresents the power dynamics. Often, it is one person wanting it and the other acquiescing, or it's adding a third to an existing couple. Not everyone dates together in ENM. I date separately."

Why does popular culture still get ethical non-monogamy wrong?

Dylan* came to polyamory through a relationship with someone who was already practising ethical non-monogamy. Looking back, he believes that made the transition significantly easier than trying to open up an existing relationship.

"Polyamorous dating as a single person is much easier than trying to open up a previously closed relationship. The more variables you're dealing with at once, the more difficult it can be."

Across all these experiences, a pattern emerges: ENM is rarely about casual excess or emotional detachment, and yet, most depictions still fall back on familiar tropes. Dylan notes that many narratives are “written by people who have no personal experience of poly relationships,” which leads to predictable framing: “it being all about sex, rather than companionship” or a default “regular couple” structure where secondary partners are emotionally flattened out of the story.

What’s missing, in other words, is not drama, but accuracy. And as ENM becomes more visible in culture, from celebrity narratives to films like The Invite, the question is no longer whether it exists on screen, but whether it can be shown without being reduced. Ethical non-monogamy is certainly not the easy choice, but for many it’s the right one. It’s time we show healthy and committed polyamorous couples onscreen and stop reducing them to punchlines or plot twists. We need to start treating ENM as what it already is for many people: just another way of doing relationships, with all the complexity that implies.

*Names changed

When was the last time you treated yourself? Not just in monetary terms (although we're totally here for a new lippie every now and then), but really in any way at all - big, small or somewhere in the middle?

If you can't even remember, then this one is for you. Because we're calling it: little treat culture might just be our favourite wellness hack ever. And, unusually for a TikTok health trend, it comes with some legitimate benefits, too.

An extension of the excellently-monikered 'lipstick effect' - a phenomenon coined by beauty empire magnate Leonard Lauder in 2001 - little treat culture is all about indulging ourselves on a daily, weekly or monthly basis (choose your poison!) with small, achievable and affordable luxuries that elevate our everyday into something just that little bit more special.

And, while research into the practice is somewhat limited, there is acknowledgement from experts that it can enhance mental health and wellbeing - check out this piece from The Conversation, by a lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, Kokho Jason Sit.

As a self-confessed treat obsessive (I even get a dopamine hit from simply adding to basket - no checking out required!), when I was asked to test out little treat culture for a month to see if it enhanced my wellbeing, it's safe to say I was delighted; I didn't need asking twice.

Keep scrolling to find out how I got on, but in the meantime, fellow shopping lovers might enjoy reading our guides to how to master emotional fitness, our favourite therapist-backed mental health habits and check out the emotional regulation habits of successful women, here.

Is Little Treat Culture the Antidote to Self-Optimisation for Boosting Wellbeing?

What is little treat culture?

We've touched on this above, but let's hear what the experts have to say.

"'Little treat culture’ describes the practice of intentionally creating small moments of pleasure, comfort, enjoyment, or reward throughout everyday life," explains Dr Steven Mahan-Taylor, clinical director and consultant clinical psychologist at London Bridge Therapy. "While social media often associates it with buying a coffee, pastry or small gift, the concept is much broader."

"A little treat might be reading a chapter of a novel before work, taking a bath on a Monday afternoon, sitting in the sun for ten minutes, lighting our favourite candle in the evening, having a favourite lunch, taking a scenic route home, or sharing a meaningful conversation with a friend."

Sounds good, right? And compared to the strict self-optimisation culture that's permeating our feeds (Steven Bartlett's claim that indulging in two glasses of wine 'ruined' his life for three days springs to mind), taking a moment each day to lean into what makes us happy has to be a good thing.

"Psychologically, little treat culture can be understood as a response to the increasing pressure many people feel to constantly optimise themselves," agrees Dr Mahan-Taylor. "Rather than viewing wellbeing as something achieved through rigid routines, productivity hacks, or endless self-improvement, little treat culture invites us to seek joy, pleasure and restoration in everyday moments."

What are the benefits of little treat culture?

If you need any more encouragement to get fully on board with the trend, listen up: there are a myriad of mental health benefits associated with maximising our daily joy.

1. It emotionally replenishes us

Emotional replenishment might not be high up on your list of self-care priorities, but hear this: taking care of your emotional wellbeing can help boost resilience when times get tough.

"One of the most significant benefits is that little treats can act as emotional replenishment," notes Dr Mahan-Taylor. "Many people move through their days focused on responsibilities, deadlines, and obligations, often postponing enjoyment until a future holiday, promotion, or milestone, or indeed waiting until there is a significant period of time to be able to really unwind."

2. It's accessible and achieveable

One of our favourite aspects of little treat culture is that there are no rules. It's all about what makes you feel happy, and that - inevitably - will vary from person to person. Furthermore, we're literally talking just a few minutes of your day - no need to book a whole spa weekend.

"Little treats aren’t too time-intensive," notes Dr Mahan-Taylor. "Small moments of pleasure help interrupt this pattern by reminding us that wellbeing is built day by day, moment to moment, not just during longer periods of time, which so few people have."

3. It helps counteract stress

There's no getting around it: life is stressful. There's always something to be ruminating on, but we know that stress is a huge contributor to the development of chronic disease, reduced immune function, poor sleep and worsened cognitive function.

And we know there's no point in us telling you to reduce your stress: sometimes (often) the best thing we can do is find ways to work with it; little treat culture might be the perfect antidote.

"Small treats can boost mood and provide a welcome break from the stresses and complexities of daily life," shares Veena Ugargol, cognitive behavioural therapist and yoga therapist at MoreYoga. "When we fully engage our senses in enjoyable experiences, we're often able to step away from worries and focus on the present moment."

4. It enhances emotional awareness

"Importantly, little treats can also help us notice and savour positive experiences," Dr Mahan-Taylor advises. "Many people are prone to adapting quickly to good things or focusing attention on problems. Intentionally pausing to enjoy something pleasant can strengthen feelings of gratitude and satisfaction.

"Additionally, moments of joy, pleasure, and comfort help broaden our emotional experience. According to psychologist Barbara Fredrickson’s Broaden-and-Build Theory, positive emotions expand our thinking, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and social connection. Small moments of joy can, therefore, have benefits that extend beyond the moment itself."

How to lean into little treat culture

At this point, we couldn't really be much more on board - so, how can we incorporate little treat culture into our lives, stat?

"The key is to broaden our understanding of what counts as a treat," notes Dr Mahan-Taylor. "It doesn’t need to involve spending money or consuming something.

"Useful questions to ask are:

• What gives me genuine pleasure or comfort?
• What helps me feel more present?
• What leaves me feeling restored rather than depleted?

Clearly, what works for one person might not be a treat to someone else, so the key is to find out what fills your cup.

"For some people, a treat might be ten uninterrupted minutes with a cup of tea," says Dr Mahan-Taylor. For others, it might be dancing in the kitchen, listening to a favourite podcast, taking a walk in nature or leaving work on time.

"The most effective little treats are often those that align with our personal values and needs rather than those we feel we 'should' enjoy."

I tried little treat culture for a month - and honestly? I feel happier and calmer than ever

Weeks one and two

To say I'm excited about giving little treat culture a whirl would be a massive understatement: even before the trial starts, I'm excited about which treats I'm planning for myself, which is evidence in itself that the idea works, right?

But that being said, as a self-confessed shopping lover, I have to have stern words with myself about how this is not carte blanche to 'treat' myself to that new watch and handbag I've been coveting for five years.

When I say I exercised monumental levels of self-restraint over the course of the first couple of weeks, I'm not exaggerating: I have the experts' advice ringing in my ears as I settle on a few things I know I'm going to love: lighting my special candle in the morning as I log on to work, really savouring that first sip of tea in the garden in the morning, and taking a moment in the evening to practice the piano (one of my greatest loves, which I rarely make time for!)

And it turns out, you don't have to be doing something entirely new to reap the rewards.

"It's also worth considering whether some of the things you're already doing could be reframed as treats," agrees Ugargol. "Cooking your favourite meal, spending an afternoon watching films or TV shows that you love, or enjoying an uninterrupted morning with a good book can all become meaningful treats when approached intentionally."

I even find the anticipation of watching my favourite shows enjoyable (let's just say, the new season of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders could not have come at a better time!)

By the end of the first week, I already feel a renewed sense of enthusiasm and lust for life: not to overstate it, but I really do feel as though I have more to look forward to; the challenge is helping me to recognise how many lovely things I already have in my life (but that handbag would fit in nicely too, just saying).

Weeks three and four

As I reach the halfway point of the challenge, it's safe to say I'm hooked. Once you're tuned into it, there are so many ways we can treat ourselves on the daily: my favourites so far have been (in no particular order!) a Sunday afternoon bath watching a film on my laptop (top tier treat), savouring a quick lunch with a friend rather than rushing and stressing, visiting a gallery (for free!) with friends and - in case you're concerned I've lost my shopping ability (the economy might not recover) I finally treated myself to replacing the bottle of perfume that smashed in my luggage on holiday last summer.

Another aspect of the experience that I hadn't previously considered was using my treat time wisely. I'll bite: I do have a gel nail habit (no regrets), but I usually spend the appointment juggling my phone from hand to hand while responding to emails and making to-do lists on my Notes app, which doesn't make for the most relaxing experience.

"One important thing is to be fully present when enjoying a treat so that you get the maximum benefit from it," shares Ugargol. "For example, if you treat yourself to a massage, allow yourself to really focus on the experience rather than mentally running through your to-do list."

Will I continue to seek out little treats, come the end of the month? Without a doubt. While it took a few days to quiet the noise in my brain telling me I didn't deserve the treat, once I'd leaned into the practice, I can honestly say I felt happier and more at ease than I have in a really long time.

So go ahead: treat yourself, it's good for you. And with that, I'm off to savour an iced coffee in the sun.

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I'm always on the lookout for new facial treatments – particularly those that work to actively contour the face rather than target skin quality. As someone who's recovering from hormonal acne, I'm pretty picky about who touches my face for the latter. But a sculpting facial massage appointment? Sign me up.

This is why when I first heard about fascia facials, I knew they were calling my name. Listen, I love my gua sha and facial rollers so much (and use them every day) but I'm always keen to try something that delivers more dramatic, instant results. Here's what I learned from giving the treatment a go first-hand.

What is the fascia?

Fascia is the connective, supportive tissue that wraps around your muscles, bones, organs and nerves. It also supports structures such as blood vessels and fat compartments. It's present all over your body, but in your face, there are a couple of specific 'systems' that are worth knowing. "The key fascial layer often discussed is the SMAS, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, which is important in facial structure and ageing," explains Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Sidra Khan.

With this in mind, it makes sense that without giving your fascia attention, you may see signs of puffiness, tension and less definition. It's important to note, of course, that the fascia alone is not responsible for the appearance of your skin and face by any means, but it can be a contributing factor. Stress and tension kept in the jaw, shoulders and neck can contribute to fascia becoming stiff and therefore less smooth, flexible and healthy overall.

What is a fascia facial?

My experience of a fascia facial was pretty typical: this is not a relaxing treatment, but a pretty vigorous facial massage that aims to contour the face, reduce puffiness and aid in lymphatic drainage.

The fascia has long been a focus of Korean contouring facials, so I went to try one out at Pure Glam Beauty. Of their 'Korean Signature Contour,' they explained: "Fascia work is a key part of the treatment. We use targeted techniques to release tension, improve circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage. The goal is to reduce puffiness, enhance facial definition and create a naturally sculpted appearance. Unlike traditional facials that focus mainly on the skin, this treatment works with the deeper facial structures that influence facial shape and contour."

The facial combines stretching motions and firm massage with the fingers, down the neck, shoulders and across the face. My facialist used lifting movements and pressure point work, and did a round of dry massage (with gloves) and one with oil for better slip. It was noticeably different from a 'regular' facial as it's much more focused on facial structure and tension rather than skin quality.

A typical fascia-focused facial will begin with a double cleanse, then move into a series of facial massages (either with or without product and gloves), followed by face masks, moisturiser and mist.

It wasn't the most comfortable treatment I've ever had (particularly at the bit around my neck, which was very sore because my muscles there are tight), but I definitely saw an instant lift post-treatment. When looking at my before and after pictures, you can see a subtle contoured effect particularly along my jawline and cheekbones.

Who would benefit from a fascia facial?

If, like me, you've been experiencing water retention and puffiness around your face, a fascia-focused facial can definitely be a great choice. This is a treatment to try if you want to contour and define the face, rather than enhance skin quality or concentrate on specific concerns such as acne or eczema.

My facialist actually told me that the ideal number of facials to aim for is about 20 a year, if you want long-lasting structural change. For most of us this may not be achievable, but it can be a great one-off treatment for temporary lift and definition. If you have a wedding, party or other special occasion, for example, booking in a week prior for one of these can make a huge difference. As you can experience a little puffiness and soreness the days following an appointment, it's best not to leave it any closer to the date.

Can you do a fascia facial from home?

In theory, yes, but I'd argue this may be better suited to the professionals as we're dealing with the deeper structure of the skin rather than the superficial layers. That said, if you're willing to learn more about the practise and put it to the test, you can benefit from at-home facial massage techniques that aim to improve the fascia.

This is best done with fingers (although if you want to simply try facial massage, a gua sha or roller can make it easy). I'd suggest following a step-by-step tutorial like the ones by @anastasiabeautyfascia: a skin expert who's built her following by focusing on the all-important fascia. Anastasia is proof that long-term attention to the fascia can literally change the shape and structure of the face.

I loved having this treatment and would definitely go back for more, but I'm not sure I personally have the willpower (!!) to perform it on myself regularly. For that, I'll be sticking to my handy gua sha which subtly improves puffiness over time. A professional fascia facial will instead become my special treat.

When choosing a summer holiday destination, what factors feel most important? Flight options? Price? Perhaps proximity to the sea? There may, however, be another element worth considering, and it all comes down to branding. Welcome to the world of the fashion house hotel takeover—the increasingly elaborate practice of luxury labels installing themselves at the world's most coveted coastal hotspots for the summer season.

Think branded deckchairs in Ibiza, Burberry-striped jetties on the French Riviera and a Gucci-emblazoned beach club in Monte Carlo, its Flora print steeped in genuine Monaco history.

It's part marketing, part genuine craft and entirely Pinterest-friendly—providing the perfect backdrop for many a photo. It also simply makes for a bit of fun, because why not waterski against a Burberry-branded backdrop or sip a Casablanca-themed smoothie while you're at it? Below, the destination pop-ups worth planning an entire holiday around. Or, at the very least, a day trip.

Dior x D Maris Bay, Datça Peninsula

Widely considered the most luxurious destination in Türkiye—and where I was lucky enough to seek out this season's top sandal trends—D Maris Bay's Dior takeover is back for yet another season. Alongside the boutique, which is often one of the first locations to receive any new collection, sits a Dior-coded swimming pool, deckchairs, sun loungers and lilos, all more than worthy of an Instagram snap.

Visit here

Jacquemus x The Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

Jacquemus is making a splash at the Monte Carlo Beach Club, but did you know the brand has also popped up in Bodrum? It's perched at the Mandarin Oriental Paradise Bay with sleekly striped sun loungers and colourful cushions.

Visit here

Gucci x La Rose des Vents, Monte Carlo

From May to October, Gucci is celebrating its return to Monaco by taking over La Rose des Vents in Monte Carlo. The Flora motif—originally conceived by Vittorio Accornero for Princess Grace of Monaco—takes centre stage across sun loungers and umbrellas, with a special selection of Gucci accessories and ready-to-wear available exclusively at the Monte Carlo boutique and on gucci.com.

Visit here

Casablanca x The Six Senses, Ibiza

Casablanca has long felt effortlessly cool, so it's unsurprising to see the brand pop up in Ibiza, taking over the Six Senses Rocky Beach with boldly coloured cushions, sun loungers and sofas. An exclusive detox smoothie, named Casaway, has also been added to the beach menu, blending beetroot, pineapple, mango, coconut cream and matcha. And the playlist has been curated by Casablanca Founder and Creative Director Charaf Tajer, setting the tone for many a party, I'm sure.

Visit here

Burberry x Hôtel Belles Rives, Antibes

Bringing some British charm to the French Riviera, Burberry has collaborated with the historic Hôtel Belles Rives beach club. Picture checked deck chairs, Burberry-branded ice lollies and a jetty taken over entirely in blue and white. As an extra special touch, the brand is also offering exclusive Burberry experiences, including waterskiing.

Visit here

Chloé x Es More, Formentera

The island of Formentera might only be 12 miles long, but this summer a number of luxury labels are all vying for precious space, Chloé included. From the 16th June to 31st September, the boho brand can be found at Carrer de Ramon Llull, 10-12, 07860 Sant Francesc Xavier, Balearic Islands, Spain, parading the à La Plage collection of fun florals, broderie anglaise, and statement accessories.

Visit here

I've always considered feeling deeply one of my greatest strengths.

When my best friend's long-term relationship ended, I spent days replaying our conversations as I lay awake at night, viscerally feeling her heartbreak as though it were my own.

A few months later, when another friend's relationship broke down, I spent days physically tense, my stomach churning each time my phone lit up, waiting for an update. When another close friend underwent surgery, I stayed in knots until I knew she was safely through it. And after a friend lost a parent, I had to log off work altogether that day because the sadness felt too heavy to carry alongside my own commitments.

For years, I assumed this was simply what being a good friend looked like. I take pride in being the person people call in a crisis - the one who listens, remembers every detail and seems to know when something is wrong before anyone says it out loud.

But recently, after what has felt like a particularly difficult year for many people around me, I've started to wonder whether my empathy comes at a cost.

I've noticed that joy has become complicated. Career wins and exciting plans can be shadowed by guilt, as though my own happiness is somehow inappropriate while people I love are struggling. At the same time, my own worries feel easier to dismiss. Compared with everything else going on, they rarely seem significant enough to take up space. In many of my closest friendships, I find I know every intimate detail of someone else’s inner world, while - despite our closeness - they know surprisingly little of mine. This is not because they don’t make space for me, but rather because I struggle to let them step into it.

As it turns out, I'm far from alone. New data from Counselling Directory, based on a YouGov survey of more than 2,000 UK adults, found that when people are feeling emotionally low, they're most likely to turn to a friend for support (35%), ahead of family members (33%) and partners (32%). Women are carrying much of this emotional labour, with 42% saying they would confide in a friend compared with 27% of men. Just 11% said they would turn to their GP, while as little as 7% would seek support from a therapist or counsellor.

Psychologists say there can be another side to this story. Research suggests that highly empathetic people - especially those who struggle to separate their own emotions from others' - may be more vulnerable to anxiety, depression and emotional exhaustion. One aspect of this is known as 'emotional contagion': the tendency to unconsciously absorb the feelings of those around us. In other words, feeling deeply may be both our superpower and our Achilles' heel.

So, when does being a supportive friend tip into carrying emotional burdens that were never ours to hold? And how can we keep showing up for the people we love without sacrificing ourselves in the process? I asked top psychologists and therapists to explain.

Whilst you're here, you may want to learn more about compassion fatigue, how women are "stress holding" in their pelvic floors, and our guide to accessing online therapy. We’ve also got expert-led guides to recognising depression symptoms, coping tips for anxiety and healthy mental health habits we swear by, too.

Are you the 'therapist friend'? Top psychologists reveal how to set healthy boundaries to protect your mental health

What is the 'therapist friend'? And how to spot if you are one

Most friendship groups seem to have one: the person everyone instinctively turns to when life falls apart.

They're the friend who answers the late-night phone call, talks someone through a panic attack, remembers every detail of a break-up months later, and somehow always finds room to hold another person's emotions, even when their own life feels full to bursting.

On paper, these qualities sound entirely positive. After all, emotional support is one of the foundations of close friendship. Research consistently shows that strong social relationships are associated with better mental and physical health outcomes, lower rates of depression and even increased longevity.

The issue, psychologists say, isn't being supportive. It's when support becomes an identity.

"'The therapist friend' is rarely just tired," explains Dr Elena Touroni, Consultant Psychologist and Co-Founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic. "They are often carrying a weight they took on long before they were old enough to understand it wasn't theirs."

In clinical practice, Dr Touroni often sees people who have become so accustomed to prioritising the emotional needs of others that they struggle to recognise their own needs at all. What begins as kindness can slowly evolve into a pattern where somebody's value becomes tied to being needed, useful or emotionally available at all times.

For many, this role feels less like a conscious choice and more like a default setting.

"People who grew up in environments where their own emotional security depended on monitoring a parent's emotional state often develop nervous systems that are highly attuned to the distress of others," says Dr Touroni. "What served as protection in childhood can become an exhausting default in adult relationships."

Kendall Maloof, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, says there are several signs that somebody may have slipped into therapist-friend territory.

"You receive a call, and within five minutes you find yourself carrying somebody else's problems," she explains. "You lie awake at night replaying somebody else's trauma and wondering why you cannot stop. Everybody knows how good you are at listening to people, but what is the price you pay for that?"

According to Maloof, warning signs may include feeling emotionally drained after conversations, experiencing guilt when unavailable, regularly cancelling your own plans to support others, or feeling responsible for fixing another person's distress.

The biggest clue, however, may simply be imbalance. If you know everything about your friends' inner worlds but struggle to remember the last time somebody asked how you were - and truly listened to the answer - it may be worth asking whether your relationships have become reciprocal in practice, rather than simply in theory.

What role does empathy play in a friendship?

Empathy is, in many ways, the glue that holds friendships together.

It allows us to step into another person's world, understand their perspective and communicate one of the most powerful messages another human being can receive: you are not alone in this.

"Your sensitivity isn't the problem," says Maloof. "It is your greatest strength and, in many ways, it makes you invaluable to people in your life." But while empathy is often discussed as though it's a single quality, psychologists say the reality is far more complex.

"What the research reveals is that empathy is not one thing," explains Dr Touroni. "It involves at least two distinct processes: emotional contagion, which is the automatic mirroring of another person's feelings, and empathic concern, which is a more conscious awareness of another person's distress."

That distinction matters. Empathic concern allows us to support somebody while maintaining a sense of separation between their experience and our own. Emotional contagion, on the other hand, occurs when we begin to absorb another person's emotional state as if it belongs to us.

For highly empathetic people, that boundary can become blurred.

"Some people have a significantly more permeable boundary between their own nervous system and others'," says Dr Touroni. "Their body generates a version of another person's distress, not just an understanding of it."

This is why many self-described empaths report physically experiencing other people's emotions. Rather than simply understanding that a friend feels anxious or heartbroken, they may notice changes in their own body: tension in the chest, headaches, nausea or a lingering sense of unease.

The challenge is that while empathy strengthens connection, over-identification can slowly erode it. When we become overwhelmed by another person's emotions, we can move from compassion into distress - and that's where problems often begin.

What does the science say on being an empath?

The concept of the 'empath' has exploded in popularity online, but psychologists are cautious about treating it as a fixed personality type.

Instead, experts increasingly view empathy as a collection of traits, experiences and learned responses that exist on a spectrum.

"The piece that most people haven't considered is that feeling like 'I've always been this way' is itself part of the pattern," says Dr Touroni. "It usually reflects a learned response rather than a fixed character trait, and that means it can be worked with in therapy."

Neuroscience may offer part of the explanation.

According to Maloof, highly empathetic people appear to experience stronger activation in brain systems involved in emotional processing and social understanding. Mirror neurons - brain cells thought to play a role in understanding and simulating the experiences of others - have become one possible explanation for why some people seem particularly sensitive to the emotions around them.

"If a person standing in front of you is experiencing pain, your brain does not simply observe," Maloof explains. "It simulates the experience. Your nervous system reacts as if the experience is yours."

Therapist and social worker Rebecca McBride says this process can have profound consequences for wellbeing.

"When we hear about something painful, we do not just understand it; our body physically responds to it in our chest, stomach and throat," she says. "Many empaths report headaches after difficult conversations, tightness in their chest after being around anxious people or a heavy body after spending time with somebody experiencing depression."

Over time, repeatedly absorbing the distress of others can become exhausting. Psychologists refer to one consequence of this as compassion fatigue. While traditionally associated with healthcare professionals and carers, experts say it can emerge in personal relationships too.

"Compassion fatigue is a recognised clinical response, developed from ongoing and sustained exposure to others' suffering," says Dr Touroni. "Eventually, over time, that sensitivity you have for others can begin to dull, and irritability or a sense of disconnection from the people we care about most can appear."

Importantly, she stresses that compassion fatigue isn't a sign that somebody cares too little. "It tends to show up in people who have been giving care without any equivalent replenishment for a very long time."

Research suggests that prolonged emotional labour can also increase vulnerability to anxiety, low mood and emotional exhaustion. Maloof believes many highly empathetic people unknowingly exist in a state of chronic hypervigilance.

"You're always scanning," she says. "Always detecting what's going on in the room. Always trying to predict what other people need from you. Many empaths have experienced this for so long that they believe it is normal. It isn't normal. It's hypervigilance pretending to be thoughtfulness."

How can you set healthy boundaries in your friendships, according to the experts?

The good news? Experts are clear that boundaries don't mean caring less.

If anything, they make sustainable care possible.

"The framing of 'setting boundaries' can sometimes miss what's actually needed because it positions the problem as external, as though someone is simply taking too much," says Dr Touroni.

"What I see clinically is that the more important shift is internal: recognising that your availability is not limitless and pretending otherwise doesn't make you more caring - it makes you a depleted version of yourself."

According to the experts, healthier boundaries may look like:

1. Check in with your own emotional capacity first

Before saying yes, ask yourself: What do I realistically have to give right now?

"A more useful question than 'How do I say no?' is: 'What do I actually have to give right now, and can I offer that honestly?'" says Dr Touroni.

"This might look like saying, 'I want to be properly present for this conversation - can we speak Thursday when I'm not carrying something difficult myself?'"

2. Remember that support doesn't equal responsibility

Being a friend doesn't mean becoming someone's sole emotional regulator.

"Feeling someone's pain doesn't imply that you need to carry everything you feel with you," says Maloof. "Learning how to distinguish between feeling someone's pain and carrying that pain with you isn't selfish."

3. Stop self-silencing

Therapist friends often minimise their own experiences because others' problems appear "bigger".

Yet reciprocal vulnerability is essential for healthy relationships.

If you notice that friends know very little about your inner world, consider this an invitation to gently begin sharing more.

4. Develop rituals that help you emotionally separate

Experts recommend consciously transitioning out of emotionally intense interactions.

This could mean going for a walk, journaling, exercising, taking a shower or simply naming what feelings belong to you and what belongs to someone else.

5. Seek support for yourself

If you consistently feel overwhelmed by others' emotions, therapy can be transformative.

"The piece that most people haven't considered is that feeling like 'I've always been this way' is itself part of the pattern," says Dr Touroni. "It usually reflects a learned response rather than a fixed character trait - and that means it can be worked with in therapy."

Ultimately, being a therapist friend isn't something that needs fixing. Your empathy is a strength. But as every psychologist I spoke to emphasised, compassion cannot flow endlessly in one direction. Because showing up for everyone else should never mean disappearing from your own life.

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Want to know the secret to healthier ageing? Spoiler alert: it's not found in an eye-wateringly expensive bio-hacking clinic, the latest health-optimisation tracking device, or even (don't shoot the messenger) a daily supplement ritual - it's actually far more attainable than that.

Put simply, it's movement. According to studies, exercise is one of the best ways to slow cellular ageing, extending both lifespan and healthspan (check out this review of research, published in the journal Ageing). Further research adds to the evidence: this 2025 study (published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine) shows that consistently active adults have a 40% lower risk of all-cause mortality.

The good news is we're not talking marathon-level session, here - anti-ageing movement is about consistency over intensity. Think walking, strength training and workouts that boost flexibility, mobility and balance in particular.

And you know which activity ticks all these boxes? Pilates. Touted by experts as one of the best forms of movement for longevity,

"Pilates is an excellent form of exercise for healthy ageing because it addresses many of the physical changes that occur as we get older," explains Pilates instructor and founder of East of Eden, Abby McLachlan. "It helps maintain muscle mass, supports joint mobility, improves posture, enhances balance and strengthens the core, all of which contribute to better movement and function in everyday life."

Convinced? Us too - so, when I was asked to try out some simple moves to support healthy ageing for two weeks, I was well and truly sold. As I head into my late 40s, I'm a prime candidate for both osteopenia (loss of bone density) and sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass - midlife is a real ride), both of which can be staved off with resistance training like Pilates.

To find out how I got on, keep reading, but in the meantime, you might want to check out all things Pilates, from the best Pilates moves of all time, our expert guide to the best Pilates workouts and the different types of Pilates to the Pilates moves every runner should be doing, here.

Pilates is the ultimate workout to support healthy ageing - here are the 5 moves to try today

Why is Pilates so good for healthy ageing?

So, what is it about Pilates that makes it so good for supporting healthy ageing? Let's take a look.

"I often describe Pilates as one of the best forms of exercise for healthy ageing because it focuses on the things that allow us to stay active and independent as we get older: strength, mobility, balance, coordination and body awareness," shares Pilates instructor Aleksandra Warburton. "When it comes to ageing, encourage clients to think about longevity rather than aesthetics. I feel strongly that the real goal should be maintaining the ability to move well for years to come.

"Pilates helps us move our joints through their full range of motion, which promotes both mobility, flexibility and joint health. As Joseph Pilates once famously said: 'You are only as old as your spine.'"

Additionally, when we think about ageing, we tend to focus on how our physical abilities can begin to diminish, but in fact, it's just as vital to keep our minds in excellent working order, too.

"It’s also worth noting that ageing isn’t solely a physical process. Pilates requires concentration, precision, and mindful movement, creating a strong mind-body connection," notes McLachlan. "This cognitive engagement may provide additional benefits for coordination, confidence, and overall wellbeing.

Crucially, Pilates is also highly accessible - no matter your age or ability. "Perhaps most importantly, Pilates is sustainable," agrees McLachlan. "Because it’s low-impact and adaptable, many people can continue practising it for decades, making it one of the most accessible and effective forms of exercise for long-term healthy ageing."

What are the best Pilates moves for healthy ageing?

Before I settle into my two-week challenge, I'm keen to find out which moves I should be prioritising for healthy ageing, so it's back to the experts I go.

"My favourite Pilates exercises for healthy ageing are those that move the spine in all directions," says Warburton. "A healthy spine needs to be able to flex, extend, rotate and laterally bend, yet many of us spend most of our day sitting, driving or looking down at screens, repeatedly moving through only a limited range of motion."

1. Swan

"Most of modern life happens in flexion, whether we're sitting at desks, driving or looking at our phones," says Warburton. "Swan encourages spinal extension, helping to strengthen the muscles along the back of the body while opening the chest and improving posture."

2. Mermaid

"Mermaid is one of my favourite exercises because it encourages lateral flexion of the spine - a movement pattern we often lose as we age," explains Yvette McGaffin, director of Pilates at iFit and founder of Reform RX. "Maintaining the ability to bend, reach, and move comfortably side-to-side supports spinal mobility, posture, and everyday functional movement, while also helping to keep the torso strong, supple, and resilient."

3. Spine twist

You might have noticed a theme here: it's all about the spine.

"Rotation is one of the first movements we tend to lose as we age," shares Warburton. "A spine twist helps maintain rotational mobility through the thoracic spine, supporting everyday activities such as reversing the car, reaching behind us, or simply turning to look over a shoulder."

4. Bridge

"To support the body over time, I gravitate toward movements that directly mimic and support daily function," says Pilates instructor at BetterMe, Brittni Johnson. "The bridge is a non-negotiable for me because it targets the posterior chain (the hamstrings and glutes), which are vital for walking power and pelvic stability, while simultaneously giving the front of the hips a much-needed stretch."

5. Pilates roll down

Pilates moves don't get much more classic than the roll down.

"The Pilates roll down works to combat age-related spinal mobility loss," says Pilates instructor, physiotherapist and founder of Core LDN, Claire Mills, "It promotes movement through the spine, improves body awareness and gently stretches the posterior chain, plus it's suitable for most people if comfortable rolling down to the floor."

I tried 5 simple Pilates moves to support healthy ageing for two weeks - my honest thoughts

Week one

As the first week began, I was starting from a pretty unusual position for me. I'd taken a couple of weeks off from my usual thrice-weekly Pilates habit, as a result of illness, kids' stuff and the fact that it's been just. So. Hot. Previously, I would have berated myself for this, but mid-life does bring some benefits: an acceptance that not all weeks are perfect, being one of them.

So, it was with a little trepidation that I rolled out my mat and set about some gentle movement, and I was actually surprised by how different my body felt, compared to normal. I was stiffer, less flexible, and my rotation was nowhere near what it normally is - gulp.

However, this is where the expert-approved moves really came into their own. As I worked through a roll down (always my go-to starting point, as I love the whole-body nature of the move) followed by a spine twist and swan, I could almost feel my body loosening up. It's true what they say: motion is lotion.

I tried to do some of the moves on most days, either as a warm up before a workout session, or on their own as a gentle flow to start the day, and by the end of the week, I was already reaping the benefits: I felt better mentally for moving again, and I definitely noticed some slight achiness in my hamstrings - always proof that a move is doing it's job.

I didn't push myself for the first week: as someone with hypermobility, I can be guilty of over-extending and rotating, which can cause issues (hello, slipped ribs). I was also conscious that I was a little out of practice, so I played it safe in the hope of laying the foundations for a slightly more challenging second week.

Week two

As week two rolls around, there's a heatwave in the UK. Let me tell you, I'd never been so thankful for a low-impact challenge. Even in pushing 30-degree heat, I could just about motivate myself to wake up and move: a Pilates roll down is my new favourite way to begin my day.

And my prediction was correct: I felt so much more flexible this week. I noticed in particular that my side flexion was improved: my mermaid felt deeper and more fluid than the previous week.

Nevertheless, I was determined not to overdo things - something I've absolutely been guilty of in the past - taking heed of the experts' warnings of consistency over intensity.

"The goal isn't necessarily to perform the most advanced variation," cautions Warburton, "The goal is to continue moving well, challenging the body appropriately and maintaining strength and mobility throughout life."

Can I legitimately say that I've supported healthy ageing? Well, there may not be definitive proof, but I will say this: my Oura ring tells me I've been more relaxed than usual, meaning my resilience score has improved. The pros were right - Pilates is about far more than physical ageing. We know that stress directly impacts longevity, so I take comfort in the fact that even if my body is slow to show signs of progress, my mind is already reaping the rewards.

As for whether I'll continue with my healthy ageing Pilates protocol, it's a firm yes from me. I love waking up to some holistic movement, and anything that supports my mental resilience as well as my physical wellbeing is a win for me.

Shop MC UK's go-to Pilates essentials now:

We might be moving away from the "clean girl" aesthetic, but it will forever be my go-to look—and naturally, I've always loved Refy for it. The brand has built its name on minimalism and healthy, natural-looking skin, and its new Water Blush is the latest proof of that ethos: a lighter, skin-like flush of buildable colour, inspired by K-beauty's cushion compacts and packed with skin-loving ingredients. I was instantly sold on the concept.

The Hype

These aren't Refy's first foray into blush—they launched Cream Blush previously, and the difference is telling. Cream Blush is buttery and radiant; Water Blush is thinner, more like watercolour paint, delivering a fresher, dewier, more natural finish. It's the formulation I'd call genuinely universal—it suits pretty much every skin type and looks the most like real, flushed skin, whereas Cream Blush isn't necessarily one for oily skin types.

What's also special about the formulation is the skincare credentials baked in—it's designed to refresh, hydrate and fortify the skin as you wear it. In an independent study, 94% of users said their skin felt instantly hydrated after use. Green tea water brings the cooling, refreshing hit of hydration, while ceramides lock in moisture and strengthen the skin barrier, keeping the blush looking fresh all day long.

The Application

REFY recommend that you use their Duo 2.0 Brush to apply this, or your fingers. I have, of course, tried it multiple different ways, including with a beauty blender sponge, and I can confirm that using the REFY Duo 2.0 Brush does make the blushes look their best and gives the most diffused finish. It’s also the easiest way to apply them. Having the two ends means that you can apply the colour with the angled end, then use the larger, fluffier end to spread it out and blend (without accidentally adding more colour). Very little blending is required with these, and they almost fuse with the skin to look seamless.

The Verdict

I can't fault the formulation. It's a proper skincare-makeup hybrid (all the best products are), and the cushion delivery means that watery texture gets dispensed and applied in a controlled way, rather than ending up everywhere at once. The result is a flattering, soft-focus finish with just the right amount of dew.

That's backed up by the data: in an independent study, 94% of users said their skin looked dewier and fresher after use. Mine certainly did. They're also brilliantly buildable, so you can layer on as much as you like without tipping into overdone territory.

As someone who works out daily, I appreciate how breathable these are—I've exercised with just this and a concealer on, and my complexion looks brighter and more even without any worry about clogged pores. They're so lightweight and natural-looking, yet surprisingly long-lasting—you can wear these all day, and when they do fade, they fade evenly.

As humans, we're literally hard-wired to keep ourselves alive. As our understanding of health, wellbeing and ageing has improved, alongside advances in technology and scientific testing, human longevity has increased exponentially - and we're now living longer than ever before. According to research, we've hit an all-time high, life expectancy-wise, with the average UK adult living to 83 years (women) and 79 (men).

But there's a catch: our general health hasn't quite caught up, and we're now living in poor health for longer, with Government figures suggesting we're surviving in poor health for an average of 20 years - not an inconsiderable portion of our lives.

It makes sense, then, that the trends of longevity, biohacking and self-optimisation have exploded in popularity, with us all low-key obsessing over our metrics, sleep, cold plunges and more. It's safe to say there are some wild trends doing the rounds (blood plasma exchange - we're talking about you), and it can be tricky to circumvent the noise and work out what really, well, works.

To be clear, it seems that longevity has a price tag attached, and it's not pretty. The industry is touted to be worth upwards of USD 740 billion, according to recent figures, with legitimate fears that the longevity industry will only serve to widen the health gap.

But recently, there's been some backlash, as experts and consumers alike start to question whether we can really spend and supplement our way to improved health and wellbeing (spoiler alert: we can't). So, with this in mind, we asked longevity researchers and experts for their take on the trends that really aren't worth our time. energy or money.

Find out more below - but while you're here, do check out our guides to the simple habits to boost longevity, the habits of the world's longest living people and the best forms of exercise for longevity, here.

5 Longevity Trends Experts Say Aren't Worth Your Time or Money

What are longevity trends, and why are we so focused on them right now?

We've all heard of them: NAD+ boosters, tracking devices, personalised medicine, IV drips - you name it, someone has tried it in the name of longevity. But what's driving this obsession with spending exorbitant amounts of money on quasi-scientific supplements, treatments and tech?

"The current popularity of longevity is driven by the confluence of rapidly improving science, improved testing, and a cultural shift where people are refusing to accept decline as being inevitable," explains Dr Hugh Coyne, GP and co-founder of Coyne Medical. "The field has taken off because we now have powerful diagnostic tools. We can test blood biomarkers, image the heart and arteries, profile genetic risk, and measure physical fitness in ways that reveal a great deal about someone's health trajectory long before they experience any symptoms.

"The goal is not just more years of life. It is more years in which you are sharp, strong, and free from the conditions that erode quality of life long before they become life-threatening. We call this healthspan, and closing the gap between healthspan and lifespan is a cornerstone of longevity medicine."

Sounds good, doesn't it? And where there's a lure, there's plenty of money to be made. "In addition, the wellness industry has also moved heavily into prevention, healthy ageing and optimisation, with longevity now one of the major growth areas in consumer health," continues Dr Coyne. "This consumer shift has been met with an almost dizzying array of longevity products and services."

How can longevity trends actually benefit us?

Despite the hefty price tag and questionable efficacy, there's no doubt that it is, by and large, a good thing to invest in our health and wellbeing, from a longevity perspective.

"The truth is that longevity trends can benefit us significantly, and across almost every system in the body," advises Dr Mohammed Enayat, GP, longevity expert and founder of longevity clinic HUM2N. "The evidence supports meaningful improvements in heart health, metabolic function, cognitive performance, immune resilience and the preservation of muscle and bone. At a population level, these translate into lower rates of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia and the kind of physical frailty that erodes independence in later life.

"In the shorter term, many people notice the benefits far sooner than that. Better sleep. Steadier energy. A clearer head. Greater capacity to handle stress. These are not small things, and they tend to arrive relatively quickly when the right habits are in place. I often tell patients: the long-term gains are the reason to start, but the short-term gains are what keep you going."

However, this doesn't mean we have to be financially invested in longevity: often, the most beneficial habits are entirely free.

"The most effective longevity plan rarely looks dramatic," notes Dr Enayat. "Move regularly, build strength, sleep well, manage stress, eat in a way that supports your metabolism, and stay connected to other people. These habits have the deepest evidence base of anything in this field. Most of what generates headlines does not come close."

Who are longevity trends best for?

Quite honestly, if you can get past all the noise, we can all be well served by some sensible lifestyle tweaks.

"Lifestyle longevity trends are useful for anyone who would rather understand their health than wait for something to go wrong," shares Dr Coyne. "The earlier you start, the more time you have to act on what you find. I see real value in people engaging in their thirties and forties, before cardiovascular disease and cancer have had decades to develop quietly.

"Women in particular are underserved. Coronary heart disease kills more than twice as many women as breast cancer. Yet, cardiovascular risk in women is consistently undertested and undertreated."

The 5 longevity trends to skip, according to experts

All this being said, there are absolutely some longevity trends that don't deserve our focus, time or money. As a largely unregulated market, it's like the Wild West out there - and you can spend a lot of money without gaining very much (if anything) in the way of wellness.

"The biggest mistake is thinking longevity is something you buy online," cautions Dr Coyne. "The bottom line is you cannot yet out-supplement poor sleep, poor fitness, high blood pressure, excess alcohol and low muscle mass."

1. NAD+ supplements

Ready for some science? NAD+ is a co-enzyme (molecules that facilitate biochemical reactions in the body) that's been linked to a delay in ageing, DNA repair, longevity and improvements in longevity, among other benefits. NAD+ supplements - known as 'precursors' - increase the amount of NAD+ in the body.

Tempting? Absolutely. Legitimate? Not so much. Healthy lifestyle habits such as exercise, a healthy, balanced diet and a consistent sleep habit are all thought to be as (if not more) effective as NAD+ supplements for boosting longevity.

"NAD+ precursors are among the most heavily marketed supplements in the longevity space," says Dr Coyne. "They do safely raise NAD levels in the blood, and the mechanism is plausible. But a 2026 systematic review of 33 human studies found that effects on meaningful health outcomes were inconsistent and often absent. No randomised trial has shown that NAD precursors help humans live longer or healthier. They make great social media content. The clinical evidence does not yet justify the price tag."

2. Wearable tech

We hate to break it to you, but sporting the latest shiny new health tracker isn't suddenly going to make you any healthier: in fact, it might do the exact opposite.

"Something that does not get discussed enough is the risk of over-monitoring," cautions Dr Enayat. "Wearables and health trackers can be useful tools, but I regularly see patients who have become so focused on their metrics that the tracking itself is generating stress. If checking your sleep score is making you anxious about your sleep, the tool is working against you. Data should inform your habits, not dominate your attention."

3. Peptides

Peptides are having a moment, right now, fast becoming a go-to for influencers keen to showcase wellbeing benefits. In a nutshell, peptides are short-chain amino acids (proteins) produced naturally by the body, such as hormones. Recently, there have been claims that peptides might help slow the ageing process - but the experts remain sceptical.

"I would be cautious about unregulated peptides, NAD drips, routine IV vitamin infusions, most detox programmes, extreme fasting, very restrictive diets, and supplement stacks that cost hundreds of pounds a month," warns Dr Enayat. "Some peptides have legitimate medical uses, such as GLP-1 medications prescribed for obesity or diabetes, but the wider online peptide market is poorly regulated and often far ahead of the evidence."

Our advice? Pocket your pennies and get an early night instead.

4. IV drip therapy

Scroll a minute on social media, and you're sure to find an influencer visiting an IV drip clinic in the hopes of leaving with a hydrated, glowy complexion and a rejuvenated, replenished body (nobody mentions the lighter wallet).

"IV clinics have proliferated rapidly, but they are completely unregulated in the UK, meaning anyone can administer a drip without medical oversight," warns Dr Mica Engel. "For the average healthy person, the evidence that they outperform a good diet and quality oral supplements is thin. The 'glow' people report is often simply rapid rehydration. When administered incorrectly, risks include infection, vein damage and allergic reactions, and that is not a risk worth taking for something with limited proven benefit."

You have been warned.

5. Anti-ageing supplements

We all love a supplement, right? In some cases, a high-quality supplement can be helpful (omega 3s, vitamin D - we're talking about you), but when it comes to longevity, the jury's out.

"Many supplements with anti-ageing claims have shown interesting results in animal studies or in laboratory settings, but have not yet been validated in the kind of rigorous human trials that would make them recommendable," cautions Dr Enayat. "The gap between a promising early finding and a proven intervention is significant, and that gap is frequently glossed over in the marketing."

Shop MC UK's go-to longevity essentials now:

There are moments when the climate crisis stops feeling like something that belongs to the future and becomes horrifyingly immediate.

Last week, the heat-struck UK got a dose of climate reality. Because the universe evidently loves irony, record-breaking temperatures coincided with London Climate Action Week. By mid-morning, day one, the Met Office issued its second-ever Red Warning for extreme heat and London Climate Week announced that several events on extreme heat would be cancelled due to… extreme heat.

To reflect the new reality, Greenpeace updated iconic tube station signs. Baker Street to Baking Street and London Bridge to London’s Burning. But many clung to the idea that heatwaves are joyous occasions, and all issues can be remedied with a Mr Whippy ice cream in the park.

"Heatwave Delusion" and the deadliest form of extreme weather

I call this the Heatwave Delusion. We can trace it back to the summer of 1976, when the UK saw two weeks of temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and drought conditions, where it became normal to queue for water in the street.

But in time, the bad bits seem to have been forgotten, leaving a memory of the time Brits had fun in the sun and displayed true grit from their deckchairs. It’s so deeply embedded in our collective culture that even if you weren’t born (and I was only two), it has likely affected the way you think about heat, almost as a rare gift.

But what would that same heatwave look like in today's warming world, and in the Britain of 2056? Well, to open London Climate Week, I went to an event built around that one provocative idea.

Escaping into the cool basement of the Lightroom in King’s Cross, we congregated to watch three familiar faces - Laura Tobin, Clare Nasir and Peter Gibbs - deliver a weather forecast for 2056, modelled by scientists at the University of Reading working with the Met Office.

While the map looked reassuringly ordinary, the temperatures did not. In 2056, it showed London reaching 45 degrees Celsius. Scotland climbed into the high 30s. It showed a two-week heatwave in which somewhere in Britain would exceed 40 degrees Celsius for nine consecutive days.

Experts from climate science, food, agriculture, the ambulance service and a top surgeon from London Hospital, Great Ormond Street also took to the stage. They explained that heat isn't just uncomfortable; it’s the deadliest form of extreme weather, placing pressure on hospitals, transport, food systems and the people least able to keep cool. We were left in no doubt. Those summers regarded by previous generations as exceptional - including 1976 – are now becoming the baseline reality. In the future, we may look back on this as one of the cooler summers.

Science colliding with everyday life

Outside, it felt as if the science was colliding with everyday life. As the week wore on, London broke all heat records. London Ambulance broke callout records. At points, emergency call handlers were answering over 500 calls an hour, more than during Covid. Schools closed, and rail services faltered.

It became clear that our infrastructure is built for the past, not the present. I wanted to understand how we can adapt. Luckily, Climate Week was full of people who spend their time thinking of solutions. Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the London Climate Resilience Review, told me how we need to redesign our lives for the climate we now have (not the one in 1976). That means more trees, less concrete paving, homes that stay cool naturally, neighbourhoods where shade is treated as essential infrastructure and public buildings that double as cool refuges.

Fighting for what you love

I discovered Cool off in Culture, a programme involving the BFI and Arts Council England, among others, that encourages us to use cinemas, theatres and museums as cool refuges during extreme heat. I like the idea of our cultural institutions offering not just escape into another world for a couple of hours, but escape from the heat too. Only three per cent of UK homes have air conditioning, so it makes sense for us to look differently at the shared resources we already have.

I learned about the emerging ‘shade-first’ movement, advocating for the cooling power of mature trees, awnings and green spaces (especially in our towns and cities, many of which act as heat islands – driving temperatures up). In a hotter Britain, shade can’t be a luxury. It becomes essential.

I caught up with influencer Nairn King. Originally from Arbroath in Scotland (which could experience temperatures in the mid 30s by 2056), Nairn's content is based on a passion for London life, especially weekend brunch. Looking at the 2056 forecast, I asked, ‘What are you thinking?’ Nairn paused. ‘The London summer is the point,’ came the reply. ‘And that won't be happening in 45-degree heat.’ A reminder that whatever it is we love, we need to fight for it.

Few products have found continued virality quite like La Roche Posay's Cicaplast. But as someone with a history of severe acne, I've always shied away from more occlusive products for fear of provoking blemishes. After putting Cicaplast Baume SPF 50 to the test, I realise just what I've been missing out on with this product.

Touted as a nourishing balm that soothes and protects irritated skin and even minor injuries, the original Cicaplast balm can be used for everything from moisturising to helping to reduce sebaceous filaments on the nose. The SPF 50 version offers all this, with the added benefit of sun protection too.

Other heroes from the Cicaplast range been staples in my daily routine for years, so it's no surprise that this is now joining their ranks. After a week of testing, these are my honest thoughts on Cicaplast Baume SPF 50—and exactly why it's joined the ranks of my long-standing sunscreen favourites for dry areas.

Cicaplast Baume SPF 50: My review

I've long been aware of the original Cicaplast and its benefits, particularly for healing ultra-dry and damaged skin. However, it never really felt like something I needed. I'm more on the oily side, and my aforementioned fear of clogging my pores and inviting acne into my life was enough to put me off. But after discovering the SPF 50 formula, I was suitably intrigued.

My number one question was how this product could possibly function as a sunscreen. I was under the assumption that it was extremely thick and not all that easy to rub in, so the thought of applying it over my face? A no-go. But after swatching on my hand, I realised just how easily the formula sinks in and dries down.

Although it's designed to be applied on specific problem areas rather than all over, I wanted to see if it would work across my face. The swatch made me confident enough to apply it in a thin layer, to see exactly how it would fare throughout the day and whether it would agree with my skin.

I'm pleased to report, I was extremely pleasantly surprised. It smoothed over my skin nicely and sank in much quicker than I was expecting. I was prepared for a greasy, shiny finish due to the creamy formula, but it didn't take long to settle and leave a skin-like texture.

I used slightly more around my nose and on dry patches, and it did a brilliant job at soothing those areas and helping with the texture that appears.

It also sat comfortably on my face all day with noticeable hydration. However, owing to the fact that it isn't intended as a full facial SPF, I did find that it caused some pilling with makeup towards the end of the day.

Moving forward, I combined it with my regular SPF—applying a base of my everyday sunscreen and topping it up with Cicaplast SPF 50 around my nose and on any dry, itchy patches that cropped up. This method is definitely the key to success. It allowed me to fully protect my skin from UV rays whilst tackling dry patches and texture where needed.

Who should use Cicaplast Baume SPF 50?

Now, it's important to note that Cicaplast Baume SPF 50 is not designed to be an all-over suncream that you'll wear every day—unless you have very damaged or fragile skin. Rather, it's a soothing treatment that can be applied to problem areas and irritations to help to soothe, heal, and protect from the sun.

It does a brilliant job at protecting and nourishing difficult areas of the skin without compromising on SPF protection. It instantly calms the skin once it's applied, making it a very welcome balm to have on hand for any issues that may crop up.

My favourite way to apply it has been around my nose where I get very dry, and on places like my shoulders, elbows, and knees where I'm prone to dryness or suffer with some peeling after being in the sun. It can also be used to nourish tattoos and protect them from the sun, or on grazes that are healing.

But, if you are someone who feels as though you could benefit from using it across your face, I can confirm that it's fit for purpose—and will relieve discomfort whilst keeping UV at bay.

When news broke that Anne Hathaway is expecting her third child in her forties, it reignited a familiar debate. Do celebrity pregnancies create unrealistic expectations around fertility? Offer women hope–or false hope?

After speaking to four women who became mothers in their late thirties and forties, I'm convinced we've been asking the wrong question. Because while fertility is undeniably part of the story, it isn't the whole story.

Instead, the women I spoke to wanted to talk about finances, careers, childcare, identity, birth, emotional readiness and the invisible calculations that many women tot up before becoming mothers in the first place.

Their fertility journeys couldn't have been more different. Bestselling author Catherine Gray conceived naturally within two months of trying at 41, despite assuming she'd need IVF. Jainnie Cho, meanwhile, spent five years and underwent ten rounds of IVF before welcoming her daughter at 46, describing the process as "my dark years".

Journalist Lisa Oxenham says becoming a solo mother in her forties was "deeply conscious and powerful", while Eleanor Willock believes one of the biggest realities we ignore has nothing to do with biology at all. "I was enraged to find out that you actually can't have it all," she tells me, describing how raising young children collided with the most demanding years of her career.

Fertility can, of course, become more uncertain with age, but waiting also brings financial stability, emotional resilience and a stronger sense of self for some women. Again and again, women describe feeling calmer, more intentional and more certain of the lives they wanted to build for their children. At the same time, they spoke candidly about IVF, birth interventions, childcare costs, career sacrifices and the emotional toll that often goes unmentioned.

Perhaps that's why reducing later motherhood to a conversation about fertility alone does women a disservice. Celebrity pregnancies can be inspiring; they can also be misleading. Both things can be true.

The reality is that there is no single story of motherhood after 40, only a series of trade-offs that deserve a more honest conversation.

Read four of those stories below.

I Thought I'd Need IVF To Become A Mother At 40.

Catherine Gray, 46, had her daughter Mia naturally at 42 .

My partner and I met when I was 40 and started trying on our first anniversary. We both assumed it was going to take a really long time to get pregnant and were braced that we'd need fertility treatment. So when I got pregnant within two months, we were stunned and not at all prepared.

I assumed I was one of a privileged few, but when I said to my midwife, "We're just so lucky that it happened naturally for us," she replied, "I wish more fortysomething mothers knew that that's actually the norm."

My heart truly goes out to those where that isn't the case—it must be utterly agonising—but the scientific reality of fortysomething fertility is much more hopeful than I had always believed.

The other challenge is that fortysomething mothering can mean the early years, that 0–3 gauntlet, collides with perimenopause. I went through a phase of intense rage, which I self-diagnosed as postnatal rage. As soon as I started HRT aged 45, I descended back down to my usual good-natured semi-irritability, with no surges of rage. That dovetail never directly affected my parenting, but it did affect my relationship, and I wish more women knew to watch out for that almighty collision.

Despite all of that, I think there were huge advantages to becoming a mother in my forties. I'm sincerely OK with leaving the party at 9pm, travelling being a distant memory, and spending my Sundays at National Trust properties. I've done enough partying to last a lifetime, and I satisfied my travelling bug hugely in my thirties by island-hopping, living abroad and diving with sharks.

Nowadays, give me a cream tea and some forest-bathing, followed by pyjamas with a cosy murder boxset. I think I'd be making those lifestyle choices anyway, now that I'm 46, so they don't feel like a sacrifice. Personally, I think I would have felt much more hobbled by motherhood in my thirties.

Finances played a huge part, too. I didn't buy my first property until I was 40 and, unlike most of my friends, I had no parental help. People have babies in rented accommodation all the time, of course, but I didn't feel secure enough when I was ping-ponging between rentals with a one-month notice period.

The "you just manage" truism is frequently trotted out by older generations, but we also have no regular familial help. There's no way on earth I could have afforded a £750–£950 a month childcare bill in my thirties.

When I see celebrity stories about women having children in their forties, I wish they'd tell women that it's not just something A-listers with outrageous incomes get to choose and that it can happen for us muggles too, even if we don't have endless IVF budgets.

I also wish we'd stop calling it selfish to have a baby later, when you feel more rooted emotionally, logistically and fiscally. Oftentimes, it's just not possible in our thirties. For many, including me, if forty-something parenting does work out, it could be the absolute best timing.

It Took Me Five Years And 10 Rounds Of IVF To Become A Mother At 46

Jainnie Cho, 46, got pregnant with her daughter Frankie via IVF at 45 and gave birth to her at 46.

I knew getting pregnant in my forties would be difficult, but there was also a part of me that mistakenly thought I might be an exception. When I started the IVF process at 41, I was in good physical condition, and all the fertility tests came out better than average for my age. However, the reality was that it ended up taking five years, ten excruciating and expensive rounds of IVF and what I now call "my dark years".

One thing that really surprised me was that, at 46, I'm able to do it. That includes breastfeeding for five months, which was painful, intense and nothing like what I expected. Practically, I'm in the most stable and affluent stage of my life in terms of my finances, so that's a huge advantage. Emotionally, I think I'm the most stable and at peace with myself in this decade than any other, which is a big help when you're faced with mini battles and constant newness with a baby.

There's a lot of media attention these days given to celebrity mothers in their forties and beyond. I think that can be misinterpreted. It can make it seem as though, with medical advances and increasing life expectancy, it's "easy" to get pregnant and give birth later in life. At least in my case, that definitely wasn't true.

Becoming A Mother In My Forties Was The Most Intentional Decision I've Ever Made

Lisa Oxenham had her daughter Eliza at 40 and her son Wolfgang at 49 last year.

Before I became a mother, I didn't think I fully understood how narrow the fertility window really is. Like a lot of women, I'd absorbed the idea that if you're healthy, fit, eating well, and still feel young, your body will somehow cooperate.

I knew fertility declined, but I'd never really looked into the science of it. It's very different when you're actually sitting in the clinic. It's very difficult to understand unless you're in it. The reality was completely brutal.

When I was doing IVF, it asked everything from me—physically, financially, emotionally and mentally. There were injections, scans and medication schedules. There was hope, then disappointment. I had to make all of these decisions alone and keep going even when things went wrong. It was financially crippling.

But I've always been someone who's up for a challenge. I'm a very determined person, and I kept going. The other side of that story is that I absolutely loved pregnancy, and I knew I would. I loved the raw physicality of it. I loved giving birth, even though it's really hard. I loved early motherhood. I loved the preparation. I loved everything about it.

While it was incredibly difficult to get there, the experience of becoming a mother later in life felt deeply conscious and powerful. I'm really proud of myself for doing that.

One thing that surprised me most was how much energy and love I still had for it. People talk about later motherhood as though it's only about tiredness and risk. But I have this enormous sense of purpose and joy. I literally don't think about my age at all. I feel more vital than I ever have.

I also think becoming a mother later means you know what you're choosing. You know the life you're giving up or changing. You know the cost, the responsibility and the loss of freedom—and you still choose it. That is incredibly intentional.

Looking back, I'm much more grounded than I would have been ten years ago. I know myself much better. My life is about going with the flow and being present. I don't stress about the small things. Everything is in perspective.

I didn't just choose solo motherhood. I built a business, a support structure and a new professional life around it. I had to think about money, childcare, work, home, health and support in a very practical way. When you've fought so hard to have a baby, you don't take any of it for granted. I feel ecstatically happy.

That doesn't mean I want to romanticise it. The financial side of later motherhood is hugely overlooked. People often talk about it as though it's simply a lifestyle choice, but fertility treatment can cost tens of thousands of pounds. Doing it alone means there's nobody sharing that financial burden. Then there's the stamina you need, and the emotional loneliness of solo parenting.

I'm lucky to have incredible friends and my mum around me, but I am still the emotional centre of my family, and the breadwinner. Sometimes it would be nice to have another adult there to say, "I've got this."

When I see celebrity pregnancies in women in their forties, I think they can be incredibly inspiring because they make later motherhood visible. For so long, women have been made to feel that once they reached a certain age, the conversation was over. But for ordinary women, later motherhood can involve fertility treatment, huge financial costs, uncertainty, grief, physical strain, emotional strain, work pressure and loneliness.

We see the beautiful photograph. We don't always see the years of trying, the injections, the miscarriages, the money or the privilege that make certain options possible. I don't think the answer is to be negative about later motherhood; I'm proof that it can be absolutely wonderful. I just think we need to tell the whole story.

I Was Told I'd Never Get Pregnant Again. Then I Conceived At 40

Eleanor Willock, 50, had her daughter at 38 and her son at 41.

My kids are now 13 and 9, and I'm 51 this year. We had failed IVF to get the first one, and then a surprise pregnancy the month after IVF finished. Our son was a complete anomaly. We weren't trying to get pregnant; we'd been told I'd never get pregnant again, and I conceived about four months after my 40th birthday.

The reality of that was very bleak. I was completely underprepared for a second child. We'd made a lot of lifestyle changes because we thought we were only going to have one. I became chronically depressed to the extent that I didn't tell my husband I was pregnant until I was 15 weeks gone. I went for eight private scans before that without telling him because I was so sure it was a mistake, or that I would lose the baby.

When I found out we were having a boy, I became even more depressed because my depressed brain was telling me that a boy would be difficult, and that I would never be able to love another child as much as I loved my first one.

The reality was that my age didn't make too much difference in terms of recovery from childbirth. I knew what I was doing the second time around, which really helped, and the depression lifted almost immediately.

Practically, though, having children later affected my career irredeemably. There are various reasons for that, but I underwent a complete career change four years ago because your children need you more, rather than less, as they get older.

As a woman born at a certain time, I had the advantages of a university education, a really great corporate career and, in general, access to everything I needed. I was enraged to find out that you actually can't have it all.

You can't be the managing director of a very successful PR company and expect to be there for your children on the same level. I believe that's one of the biggest challenges of later motherhood that people can't ignore. Being in a management position in any industry with young children, as women in their forties are more likely to be than women in their twenties or thirties, makes it extremely difficult. For men, it is not the same at all.

When I see stories about women like Anne Hathaway becoming mothers later in life, I don't think they reflect the reality for most women. Stories about older women using surrogates, egg donation and other routes to parenthood can make those options seem very accessible. They are if you have money. They're not if you don't.

As usual, so much comes back to the cost of childcare and the cost of raising a family. But fundamentally, if you'd asked me during the years when having children felt incredibly hard to come by, I would have looked at every single story of a woman becoming a mother and absorbed the drops of hope it gave me—that cannot be underestimated.

Stories like Anne Hathaway's should be celebrated, especially by other women, rather than criticised for being unrealistic or irresponsible. For me, they're a reminder that hope matters too.

‘Why we should sit less’ reads the headline on the NHS website. My cursor moves across the screen, scanning the myriad reasons, which range from slowed metabolism to dysregulated blood pressure, that I should be spending less time in my current position.

It’s a quandary many of us face. Research has suggested that sitting down for long periods may be as harmful to our health as smoking, but by and large, modern life makes it unavoidable. The majority of jobs these days require us to be on a screen for upwards of nine hours at a time, and while, sure, we can get a standing desk or squeeze in a quick walk at lunch, the reality is that our bodies will still be feeling the pinch.

It’s why Pilates, championed for its postural correcting, muscle strengthening and mobilising effects, is one of the best practices we could be incorporating into our weekly routine.

Ahead, I ask two world-leading instructors for the ride-or-die moves they’d recommend to every desk worker, whether you choose to go to studio classes or work out from the mat at home. Then, ever the willing guinea-pig, I put each and every one to the test, religiously practising them every day for a week, to find out how different my body would really feel.

For my thoughts, read on. And for more Pilates inspiration, check out our guides to the best Pilates moves for runners, the best 30-minute Pilates workouts for when you’re in a rush, and the home Pilates accessories which are actually worth your money. Plus, discover how one writer got on when she tried out the BetterMe Pilates workouts on her busy WFH days.

Calling All Desk Workers: These 7 Pilates Moves Come Instructor Recommended

What are the benefits of Pilates for desk workers?

Research has established that Pilates is a good idea for most of us, but for those who sit at a desk all day, it’s particularly important. Below are just some of the reasons to add the practice to your routine if you find yourself glued to a laptop for most of the day.

1. It helps to protect muscle mass

“Extended periods of inactivity, especially seated, can lead to muscle atrophy,” explains Marsha Lindsay, classical Pilates instructor and founder of Nobu Pilates. Atrophy, which means a loss of size, strength and mobility, can particularly affect the legs and glutes in those who spend their days desk-bound. Regular Pilates can counteract this, says Lindsay, by “strengthening your muscles, increasing blood flow and ensuring you move well.”

2. It supports posture and spinal health

“When we sit at a desk, our neck can tilt forward, which is unnatural and incorrect,” explains Lindsay. “Over time, that position becomes second nature to the body and the muscles supporting an upright posture become both weak and tight.”

Pilates, she says, “trains those muscles to fire up correctly and reminds them to maintain an uplifted posture.”

3. It increases mobility and flexibility

Sitting at a desk puts our hip-flexors and hamstrings into overflexion, which, over time, causes them to become tight, says Lindsay. “This, along with poor mobility in the spine, can lead to pretty serious disc issues if not addressed.”

Eloise Skinner, Pilates instructor, author and therapist, agrees. “Pilates improves flexibility in the hamstrings and creates mobility for the major joints of the body, which will help with the aches and pains of sitting for too long, as well as helping to prevent injury in other parts of life.”

4. It builds mind-body connection

When we’re at a desk, absorbed by the distractions and demands of work, focusing on how our body feels can fall pretty far down the agenda. This is exactly where Skinner says Pilates can provide benefits beyond the physical.

“The ability to focus on one's body and breath is especially important for those who spend long periods of time disconnected from their body,” she explains. “Bringing a sense of attention and awareness to one's movement is central to moving well, correcting alignment, and reducing the risk of injury or long-term aches and pains that come from poor posture or strength.”

“The breathwork in Pilates can also be used as a tool to reduce stress and anxiety,” she adds, “helping a practitioner feel more calm and grounded.”

How often should desk workers do Pilates?

The beauty of Pilates is that it’s very difficult to overtrain, which means that both trainers are fairly relaxed in their recommendations. “It really depends on personal choice, lifestyle and other fitness preferences,” says Skinner, who notes that keeping a diversity of exercise in our routine is a good idea. “Research shows that a variety of fitness practice is great for the body and development of skills,” she explains, recommending that we also incorporate resistance training, sports or dance into a weekly schedule.

Pilates, she says, can complement all these practices, meaning it can be flexibly built into your week. Lindsay agrees, reminding us that whilst in theory we can do as many Pilates sessions as we like, many of us are juggling commitments that enforce their own limitations. “Time is always going to be a constraint, but two regular sessions will still be extremely beneficial. Ultimately, it’s consistency which is key to results.”

7 Pilates moves every desk worker should try - according to world-class instructors

1. Standing roll down

If you work at a desk, the chances are you’re familiar with back, neck and shoulder tension. It's why the first move Skinner recommends is the standing roll down, which she says relieves tension whilst creating mobility and alignment in the spine.

“From standing in neutral, bring your chin to your chest and roll down slowly,” she says, adding that we should try to “move each bone sequentially and individually, allowing your back to round down.” She also reminds us that it’s perfectly ok to bend our knees if needed, and that moving slowly is crucial. “Take a few deep breaths into the sides of your ribcage at the base of the stretch before rolling back up the same way,” she says.

2. Seated roll up

From rolling down to rolling up, the seated roll-up is one of Lindsay's top picks.

“The roll up is brilliant for desk workers because it works on both strength and stretch,” the instructor explains. “On the way up and down, you access full-body strength while the stretch forward lengthens the calves, hamstrings, glutes, and lower back muscles.”

For beginners to perfect this move, she advises starting “with knees bent and feet flat on the mat or, with your feet anchored under a strap. Once the abdominals get strong, you can upgrade to straight legs with no assistance anchoring.”

3. The Saw

Our ability to twist is a key marker of mobility; one which Lindsay says can become weak when we sit for long periods of time, or rely on a swivel chair to turn. It’s why she recommends The Saw, which teaches spinal rotation, for all desk workers.

“The Saw recruits the obliques, spinal flexors and extensors to find the twisting action,” explains Lindsay, who says it can be helpful to get the assistance of an instructor to perfect the move. “If you’re self-practising, perform this with the soles of your feet pressed against a wall,” she suggests, “and try to maintain the feet-to-wall connection as this indicates that your pelvis isn’t shifting.”

4. The Mermaid

Lindsay describes this move as a real treat for desk workers, and she’s not wrong. “It’s a perfect side bend stretch for the upper body,” she explains, “as it safely puts the spine into lateral flexion.”

It’s also refreshingly easy to get right, but if you find it uncomfortable to sit with your knees tucked, Lindsay does have a modification. “Either open the angle to place your feet further from your hips or find a chair to practice the bend from a seated position.”

5. Shoulder Bridge

A perfect postural move to counteract the one we sit in all day, Skinner has the shoulder bridge listed amongst her favourites for desk workers. “This exercise allows for a strengthening of the back of the legs, which is great if you haven't had a chance to move around much during the day,” she says. “It also provides a good stretch for the spine, allowing you to focus on alignment and to feel more embodied by moving slowly and with intention.”

Her top tip? “Try to avoid flaring the ribcage or placing pressure on the lower back. Instead, think of engaging your glute muscles and lower abdominals to stabilise.”

6. Single Leg Circles

“This is an absolute must,” says Lindsay, who rates the move for the improvements it makes to our hip mobility. “Sitting creates stiffness which eventually leads to limited range of motion,” she explains, “which makes this circular motion very healthy.”

She warns that it’s easy to skimp on form, however, which is why she recommends starting small. “Concentrate on stabilising the torso against the leg movement,” she says. “The circles can gradually increase in size once this foundation has been achieved.”

If your hamstrings are too tight to keep your leg straight at first, Lindsay says not to worry. “Keep the knee slightly bent and externally rotate the thigh bone to reduce any restriction caused by tightness,” she advises. “In time, you’ll be able to start straightening the leg.”

7. The Swan

“Most desk workers sit in flexion,” explains Lindsay, “so moving the spine in the opposite direction is beneficial. It builds strength in the posterior chain and strengthens the abdominal connection needed to achieve the lift.”

She’s clear that this move requires us to concentrate on our core. “You must work on your abdominal strength,” she emphasises, explaining that a common issue is overextending the neck to achieve the arch. “The best tip is to keep your neck in line with your spine and focus on lifting your chest away from the mat.”

I practiced these 7 Pilates moves every day for a week, and saw huge improvements to my posture, strength and mobility

Days one to three

You should know, I’m a committed morning exerciser - if the workout doesn’t get done before I sit down at my desk, it’s not happening. I’m notorious for promising myself I’ll workout during the 3 pm slump, and by the time it rolls around, I’m making excuses.

But given that the purpose of this experiment is to counteract the effects of sitting all day, I thought it could be the perfect chance to build a new habit. I still chose to run, walk or do yoga first thing (such is my devotion to routine), but I made it my mission to step away from my desk to complete these seven moves every day between 2 and 5 pm.

The beauty is, they don’t take long. Collectively, this whole sequence can be completed in under 20 minutes, even when moving mindfully. From the outset I committed to 10-12 reps of each exercise (6 on either side for the unilateral movements) and made sure not to rush through any of them.

They’re all already familiar to me, so I had a head start, but if you’re new to Pilates I recommend following the above YouTube tutorials before practising each movement. Form really is everything to getting the most out of Pilates, especially for a move like The Saw, where it’s all too easy to move from the pelvis rather than the torso.

The biggest thing I noticed in the first couple of days was how little mobility I had, especially in my spinal rotation. My hamstrings, too, were super tight, and I needed to bend my knees generously in the roll down. To be clear, this isn’t cheating and actually is the best way to start when your hamstrings are screaming at you. The improvements are quick, too - by day three, I could get my legs virtually straight, which was a huge transformation from how the week started.

Days four to seven

By the latter half of the week, I was noticing huge improvements. Not only did I feel stronger practising the moves themselves (my core switched on more readily than it had on day one or two), but I was also much more aware of my posture in the many hours I was at my desk. It felt more natural to sit taller, to regularly twist to release my spine, and I found myself wanting to stand up more to maintain my new mobility.

The roll-up will always be one of my hardest Pilates moves - I have tight hips that always want to take charge when I should be recruiting my core. But the opportunity to practice it daily, within the context of just a few reps rather than a full class, was really rewarding. Being able to focus on form without overloading on volume meant I saw big improvements, especially when I concentrated on my breath. By day seven, I felt much more in control of the move, and my hips were noticeably less overpowering.

In short, this quick sequence really doesn’t invade your life much at all, but punches well above its weight in benefits. I felt stronger, taller and more mobile by the end of the week, and really enjoyed how the combination moved my body in a variety of directions. It feels well-rounded, challenging without being overwhelming, and there’s no doubt it will stay a regular feature in my exercise schedule.

Shop MC-UK approved Pilates essentials now:

You sleep for eight hours. You haven’t pulled an all-nighter since your university days. Your blood tests are fine. And yet, by mid-afternoon, you’re staring into the fridge hoping a Babybel might somehow change your life.

​If that feels uncomfortably specific, the problem may not be what you’re missing; it’s what you’re unknowingly spending.​

You see, I’ve reached the point in adulthood where I assess my social plans less by whether I want to go and more by whether my battery can handle it. Drinks after work? Depends. Dinner on a Thursday? Ambitious. A weekend with back-to-back plans? Let’s not get carried away.

​For a long time, I blamed persistent fatigue on the usual suspects: poor sleep, stress, not enough water, too much coffee. I recently started wondering whether the issue wasn’t what I was lacking, but what I was repeatedly giving away.

​When you really think about it, many of us spend our days in a constant state of low-level output. Before we’ve even got out of bed, we’ve checked WhatsApp, scanned our emails and caught up on the latest headlines. We fill commutes with podcasts, lunch breaks with life admin and evenings with scrolling.

​I hear you - none of these habits seems particularly exhausting in isolation, and I think that’s what makes them so easy to miss. But together, they create what some experts describe as an “invisible energy tax” - a steady stream of micro-demands on our attention, decision-making and nervous system that can leave us feeling surprisingly shattered.

​Thankfully, this isn’t an invitation to optimise every corner of your life. With the help of psychologists, behavioural scientists, medical experts and burnout specialists, below, I'm uncovering seven everyday habits that could be quietly draining our energy. Chances are you’ll recognise a few, and that’s exactly the point. Don't miss our expert-backed guide to how to boost energy, the tell-tale exhaustion symptoms to watch out for, and how to beat fatigue, here.

The 7 Modern Habits Quietly Preventing True Rest

Habit 1 - Checking Your Phone Before You’ve Even Got Out of Bed

A habit I can safely admit - and I suspect most of us can - is reaching for our phone first thing. Harmless enough in the moment, but according to behavioural scientist India Lesser, the reason it becomes so automatic comes down to a simple behavioural design.

​As she explains, for many of us, the phone is also our alarm clock, meaning we physically start the day by picking it up. “From there, the next step requires almost no effort: notifications, messages and emails are already waiting. That lack of friction makes the behaviour almost inevitable, especially when the brain is still half-asleep.”

​There’s also the reward factor.“When checking our phone first thing, we get information coming in that we often then need to respond to,” says Lesser. “It can lead to information overload,” particularly when some of those inputs feel urgent or emotionally charged. “Add in variable rewards: messages, updates, surprises - and the urge to check becomes even harder to resist.”

​But it’s not just behavioural. According to Psychologist Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo, there’s a psychological cost. “When we check our phones first thing, we wake up more abruptly - It’s all more data to process. Meaning, this action can trigger a mild stress response rather than a gradual waking state.”

Another reason that first-thing scroll is leaving you feeling sluggish: light. It's one of the strongest signals for our body clock, and emerging research continues to show that the quality and timing of light exposure after waking can influence how alert you feel. That’s why sleep experts recommend prioritising natural daylight in the first hour of the day, rather than immediately staring at a screen.

TLDR? You’re already responding to everyone else’s demands before you’ve even decided what you need from the day.

Habit 2. Treating Every Notification as Urgent

A familiar habit for many of us: being a little too available. The problem isn’t necessarily the notifications themselves; it’s what they do to our attention. As Ciriloo puts it, “constantly responding to phone pings disrupts our ‘present moment awareness’, repeatedly pulling us away from whatever we're doing.” Before you know it, it can start to feel like your phone has your attention on retainer.

​From a cognitive perspective, switching between tasks relies on working memory, and this could be where the energy leak starts: “When we constantly jump from message to email to app, the brain has to hold onto previous information while processing new inputs, increasing the risk of cognitive overload and fatigue. This doesn’t just reduce efficiency, it can also impair our ability to process, weigh up and retain information accurately.”

On their own, these costs are almost imperceptible. Together, they pile up into a quiet, ongoing disruption - like your mind being gently knocked off course all day long. Cirillo warns the result isn’t panic, but a slow build of friction that leaves us more irritable, less steady, and quietly drained.

Research on task-switching suggests that every time we switch, the brain incurs a small “switching cost” as it resets attention. On their own, these costs are almost unnoticeable. Together, they accumulate into a quiet, ongoing disruption - like your mind being gently knocked off course all day long. Cirillo warns the result isn’t panic, but a gradual buildup of friction that leaves us feeling irritable, less steady, and yep, you guessed it, quietly drained.

Habit 3. Filling Every Quiet Moment With Content

I am, admittedly, guilty of all the habits thus far. As for this one, well, this is my personal kryptonite.

The issue, according to Cirillo, is that this kind of constant stimulation doesn't really support "rest and digest" mode - the nervous system's calmer counterpart to fight-or-flight. Instead, we stay busy enough to never fully downshift.

"It also quietly keeps us from being fully present in the moment. And that includes the less comfortable parts: thoughts, emotions, or sensations we might otherwise notice.”

Could this habit be a very elegant form of avoidance? I think so. One packaged up like productivity, but often delays proper processing.

The problem? Biologically, our brains aren't designed for uninterrupted input all day. "We need natural pauses and intentional downtime to process what's going on." With that being said, Cirillo warns that “decompression time” is essential to help regulate emotions, memories, and stop everything from feeling like it's happening on a loop. Without it, we stay in a kind of low-grade mental buffering state, one where the wheel doesn't stop spinning, and nothing loads.

Habit 4. Working Through Lunch Without Really Stopping

Now for a break in theory, and a lesson in practice. I’m a firm advocate for taking a lunch break - and no, I don’t mean unhaling a sandwich while replying to “urgent” emails and convincing yourself that counts as rest. I’m talking about actually stepping away. Radical, I know.

Without real pauses, your system never properly resets across the day. There are no recovery gaps - just one long, unforgiving stretch of output.

Which is where Burnout Specialist Dr Claire Ashley’s concept of “working with your biology, rather than against it” comes in. “Our energy naturally rises and falls in roughly 90-minute cycles known as ultradian rhythms. When we push through those dips, we’re effectively overriding the body’s built-in signal to recover before the next cycle begins.”

Breaks matter physically, too. Ashley notes that without them, stress hormones like cortisol can build up across the day - a pattern linked to poorer sleep, reduced immunity and burnout. And crucially, stepping away isn’t inefficiency; it’s performance support. “Proper breaks improve focus, reduce errors, and often mean you actually get more done, not less.”

Habit 5 - Overcommitting Your Calendar (Even to Things You Enjoy)

I dedicate this habit to my people pleasers in the room. We all know the background hum of pressure that a packed schedule creates - and what this translates to is that there’s always something to prepare for or recover from. Even the “nice” things don’t quite land as rest when there’s no space between them.

Ashley explains this through the concept of ‘allostatic load,’ “the cumulative physiological wear that builds when the body is under sustained demand without enough recovery. Crucially, even positive experiences contribute to this load, because your system still has to mobilise energy, even for things you enjoy.”

​The picture is clear: when that builds without relief, you stay subtly switched on in the background, and over time, it quietly becomes your baseline.

Which brings us to the part that people pleasers won’t enjoy hearing. The antidote: "learning to say no - and permitting yourself to mean it."

Habit 6. Turning Downtime Into Productivity

Ah, optimisation - our new favourite personality trait we’ve invited in under the guise of “getting our lives together.” For the overachievers, especially, this one is simple: rest starts to look like performance. Hobbies become goals, workouts become metrics, weekends become projects.

​As Ashley puts it, “Overcommitting your calendar fills your time with external demands. Turning downtime into productivity does the same thing internally, and the effect on your nervous system is the same.”

Researcher Sabine Sonnentag has spent decades studying recovery, and her 2024 findings are consistent with this: real rest only happens when we psychologically detach - when we mentally step away from doing, improving and achieving.

​Otherwise, we stay in “pursuit mode”, and the nervous system stays firmly on. The key to recognising this habit, understanding the difference between restorative and simply busy, usually comes down to feeling. As Ashley gently reminds us, “restorative activities absorb you rather than evaluate you, often creating flow - where stress responses actually switch off, and you emerge feeling lighter than you expected.” The irony, of course, is that the moment you try to optimise that feeling… you’ve kind of lost it.

Habit 7. Mistaking Distraction for Actual Rest

Personally, I think this habit is all six rolled into one. We’ve become so used to filling every spare moment that we’ve started confusing distraction with recovery. If we’re not working, we’re scrolling. If we’re not scrolling, we’re streaming. If we’re not streaming, we’re online shopping, listening to a podcast or half-watching TV just because. All feel restful because they're “helping” us switch off from something. But often, they're simply helping us avoid something else.

As psychotherapist David Cornwell points out, many of us now find it increasingly difficult to sit with uncomfortable thoughts or emotions. “Instead, we gravitate towards activities that either make us feel productive or numb us to our experience. The problem is that while these distractions may provide temporary relief, they don't necessarily leave us feeling restored.”

In Cornwell’s view, genuinely restorative activities tend to bring us back into the present moment and leave us feeling more connected, grounded and energised afterwards. Distractions, on the other hand, can keep us disconnected from what we actually need - whether that’s rest, movement, reflection, connection or simply a break from stimulation.

If writing this piece has taught me anything, and in hopes of leaving you with something, it’s that exhaustion isn’t always the result of doing too much. Something is the result of never quite stopping. Of filling every quiet moment, answering every ping, treating rest as something we should be justifying.

So, if you’ll excuse me, I have some absolutely nothing to do.

MC UK's Recharge Recommendations

We're spoilt for choice when it comes to hotel spas in the capital, with some of the most prestigious wellness spaces in the world residing in London's landmark hotels. The Peninsula Spa and Wellness Centre, housed in the Belgravia hotel, is a welcome addition—a subterranean oasis that instils a sense of calm with its nature-inspired interiors.

Dreamed up by world-famous architect and interior designer Peter Marino, it's a haven of tranquillity inspired by the surrounding nature found in Hyde Park, Green Park, and Buckingham Palace Gardens, with beautiful mosaic tiling creating abstract motifs inspired by local landscapes.

As with the rest of the hotel, which is known for its high-tech amenities (including 'spa mode' lighting in the bathrooms and wireless charging points), technology plays a significant role, with light panels that mimic natural light in the basement space and twinkly underwater music.

The Peninsula London first opened its doors in September 2023, with the spa opening following in December of the same year. This hotel is the first from the Peninsula brand in the UK, following properties in Hong Kong, New York, and Paris. It has quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious hotels in the area—a notable achievement, considering that historical icons The Berkeley and The Goring are its Belgravia neighbours.

This is everything you need to know about booking a luxury spa day at The Peninsula Spa and Wellness Centre, including the treatments to look out for and the most luxurious packages for a day of indulgence (or a lavish UK staycation).

THE SPA

Celebrated architect and interior designer Peter Marino designed the space, in collaboration with Hopkins Architects, taking into consideration the nearby green spaces. Lighting is considered, with overhead panels that stimulate natural light. Cleverly, the lights dim to an ambient glow as night falls. The spa is situated in the basement of the hotel, which is a commonplace for big London hotels. But rather than opt for the dark, cocoon-like atmosphere of, say, The Corinthia, which leans into its underground location with black marble and fire pits, the spa creates an illusion of space and light to complement its natural theme.

At the centre of the spa is a tranquil 25-meter heated pool, surrounded by intricate mosaic-tiled walls in shades of green and blue depicting abstract landscapes. Like the rest of the hotel, the spa is spacious, with the facilities spanning two floors. There are four thermal cabins with varying degrees of heat, as well as a sauna and steam room, located in the changing rooms.

The Peninsula Spa and Wellness Centre is available to guests staying at the hotel, but Londoners and tourists can also book a spa day or treatments to experience this serene bolthole in one of London's most desirable areas. For those staying at the hotel, there's an in-room Wellness Portal where guests can take yoga classes or try a meditation session from the comfort of their own rooms.

THE TREATMENTS

There are seven, cocoon-like treatment rooms, including a couple's room. The treatment menu is broad, with some lovely add-on treatments to tailor each experience, with beauty brand partners of Subtle Energies and Margy's Monte Carlo, as well as hair royalty Errol Douglas, who heads up the hotel's salon, The Atelier.

The holistic facials are a highlight, using products from Ayurvedic aromatherapy brand Subtle Energies. Visitors to the spa can add a guided meditation or Shirodhara, an Ayurdevic treatment that involves pouring warm liquid over the forehead for relaxation. The spa is the first in the UK to partner with the Swiss brand Margy’s Monte Carlo, offering the Ultimate InSkin Elixir Facial. This high-tech facial begins with a personal diagnosis, allowing the facialist to select an elixir and mask tailored to the individual's skin type.

There are also some sumptuous body treatments available, including chakra-balancing massages, detox body wraps and an exfoliating body polish that utilises mineral-rich Himalayan crystals. Guests can also opt for traditional Chinese medicine treatments, such as acupuncture, performed by one of the specialist practitioners-in-residence.

COLLABORATIONS

The Penisuala Spa introduced two new wellness packages this summer to further enhance their wellness offering—and they're worth getting excited about.

Cult LA-brand Ricari Studios brings its one-of-a-kind ‘Ricari Method’ to the hotel, which uses a combination of technology and human touch to sculpt and tone the body. 'Ricari' loosely means 'to re-charge' in Italian and works on the concept that we can rejuvenate the body through stimulating blood flow and boosting lymphatic drainage—a philosophy rooted in ancient wellness that's also very on trend right now. Devised by Anna Zahn in Los Angeles, this partnership marks the first time the method has come to the UK.

ONE: Personal Training, founded by former professional athlete Henry Barratt, offers personalised one-on-one sessions including strength and resistance training, functional movement, boxing, and Pilates.

PACKAGES

The Indulgent Relaxation package (£560)

• Personalised Holistic Massage (1 hour)
• Anti-Pollution Facial (1 hour)
• Body Wrap (45 minutes)
• Two hours of spa facility access, including our indoor 25m swimming pool, vitality pool and sauna

Holistic Escape (£450)

• Personalised Holistic Massage (1 hour)
• Holistic Age-Defying Facial (1 hour)
• Two hours of spa facility access, including our indoor 25m swimming pool, vitality pool and sauna

Time for tea (£535)

• Personalised Holistic Massage (1 hour)
• Holistic Age‑Defying Facial (1 hour)
• Afternoon Tea in The Lobby
• 2 hours facility access (pool, vitality pool, sauna)

NEED TO KNOWS

Spa days at The Peninsula London start at £250 for use of the facilities for three hours, and you can book through the spa's website. Alternatively, you can use the facilities free of charge if you book a 90-minute treatment.

You can view the full treatment menu and prices here.

Address: 8/F, The Peninsula, 1 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HJ

Phone: 020 3959 2888

On safari, you spend a surprising amount of time waiting. It started the moment I stepped off the plane, waiting for my luggage.

After three increasingly desperate circuits of the baggage carousel, it became clear that while I'd made it to Kilimanjaro Airport, my suitcase had not. Around me, a gaggle of befuddled travellers formed. Rumours spread, predictions were made (the winning guess being that yes, our luggage wouldn't arrive for at least another 72 hours). As more disgruntled passengers joined our little union, I became something of an authority on the situation. I knew nothing, but why let a lack of knowledge get in the way of a leadership position?

At the time, losing my luggage—or rather, KLM losing my luggage—felt irritating, but in hindsight it seems like an appropriate introduction to safari, which, I'd learn, involves an astonishing amount of waiting. There's waiting for luggage, waiting for weather, waiting for movement, waiting for animals; waiting for something to happen.

I didn't know it yet, but I arrived in Tanzania needing exactly that lesson.

I wanted Tanzania to change my outlook on life, broaden my horizons. Ultimately, I wanted it to make me happier. That's an enormous burden to place on a holiday, but perhaps a distinctly modern one. Increasingly, we don't simply want experiences to entertain us; we want them to transform us. We want our holidays to return us to our lives as better versions of ourselves.

At Gran Meliá Arusha, each morning began with the aroma of coffee harvested on the estate, poured into mottled glass coffee cups handblown by artisans from Sanaa—a pioneering on-site social enterprise that teaches traditional crafts to disabled locals. On the rooftop, we’d gorge on fresh pastries, tropical fruit, eggs cooked to order, and uji, a warm millet porridge lightly spiced with cardamom and cinnamon as Mount Meru hovered in and out of the misty view. It was the last place where my usual pace made sense. I was in Tanzania, but mentally still in London, refreshing emails, thinking about deadlines and wondering what I was going to do with all these experiences—how I might turn them into something.

Even on the drive from Gran Meliá Arusha to Ngorongoro, I found myself caught between observation and expectation. Outside the window were flooded roads, livestock, motorbikes and Maasai children shepherding cattle through impossibly vivid landscapes. I was in awe, but overwhelmed by the desire to capture everything.

Our next stop was Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera and a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to around 25,000 animals, including the Big Five. Perched on the edge of the ancient crater, Ngorongoro Lodge Meliá Collection reopened in 2023 following an extensive renovation that has integrated the sprawling, open-plan property with both the landscape and Maasai culture. Inspired by local traditions, the lodge blends earthy textures, traditional patterns and artwork from Sanaa with expansive windows that pull your attention to the caldera below.

Built in 1969, Ngorongoro Lodge was the first permanent lodge on the crater rim. More than half a century later, it remains one of only a handful in the conservation area, its unrivalled position making even its design-led interiors feel secondary.

The crater itself changes by the minute as light shifts across the floor and clouds roll in and out. On our first evening, we watched local Maasai leaders stop mid-performance and simultaneously crane their necks towards the caldera.

"Wildebeest," they whispered. "How on earth do they know?" we wondered. A fellow guest pulled out a pair of binoculars and... nothing. The binoculars were passed around to no avail until one of the Maasai men, playfully despairing of us, directed our eyes towards a clearing beside the softly shimmering water far, far below. Even with binoculars, we could barely make out the animals, yet every Maasai man had heard them.

Later, back in my room, staring out over the crater, I found myself unexpectedly teary. Sure, the cynic in me could've put it down to the generous pours of South African red I'd enjoyed over a long dinner built around local ingredients—smoked fish, grilled meats and dishes that fused African flavours with Mediterranean influences—served against a backdrop of crater views. But beyond the jubilations of the staff greeting us in song and the awesomeness of the landscape before me, I suspected something else was at play.

The world seemed both thrown into sharp perspective and a million miles from what I thought I knew it to be. I had the sudden feeling that life here is what it should be—not so much living in a luxury hotel, but living in symbiosis with nature and the other animals we share this planet with. I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd been getting everything so far wrong.

And yet even as I stood in front of one of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth, part of me remained tethered to the life I'd left behind. Perhaps that was the first clue that this trip wasn't just going to teach me how to slow down; it was going to show me how difficult I found it.

The following morning, we descended into the crater itself. What struck me first wasn't just the wildlife, which I'd spent months anticipating, but the scale. Looking down from the rim the night before, the crater had seemed almost abstract, too vast to properly take in. On the ground, however, it was alive with the weight of 2.5 million years of history.

Lions lounged in the grass, post-coital. Our guide explained that during mating season, they'll—to quote Bloodhound Gang—"do it like they do on the Discovery Channel" every 15 to 20 minutes, 24 hours a day. We stayed for a few performances, but once the claim had been confirmed, we began to feel oddly predatory. It’s an uneasy contradiction when an apex predator seems to occupy the moral high ground, so on we drove.

Elsewhere in the crater, hippos surfaced briefly before disappearing beneath the water again like shiny boulders we'd easily have missed were it not for our eagle-eyed guide, Alex. Herds moved slowly across the landscape, and even the migration we were so fortunate to witness didn't seem hurried. Nothing seemed concerned with efficiency; the animals weren't performing for us, and the landscape was indifferent to our presence.

The wild operated entirely independently of our expectations; there was no app to track a leopard sighting, no shortcuts. Back home, waiting is something to be eliminated. Here, it was the experience.

The lesson seemed baked into life at Ngorongoro Lodge itself. Having finally been reunited with our luggage, we were due to head for dinner when a member of staff suggested we delay it. The weather forecast had predicted clouds, but there was a chance the sunset might be worth sticking around for. So we waited.

When we returned to the rooftop, a crescent moon of chairs had been laid out facing the crater. Apricot gave way to orange; orange deepened into a moody shade of pink. Then, just when it seemed the sunset was over, the clouds cracked open like a hard-boiled egg, hairline fractures spreading across the horizon as lightning flickered through the distance. Not for the first time, as a storm rolled across the crater, I found myself thinking how Lion King-like it all felt.

The feeling followed me into the Serengeti. Built into the naturally terraced slopes of the Nyamuma Hills, Meliá Serengeti Lodge seems to follow the contours of the landscape; rooms spill out towards sweeping views of the savannah, while neutral colours, natural materials and Maasai-inspired details (again, by Sanaa) ensure attention remains firmly fixed on the plains beyond.

I’d wake before sunrise with every intention of sorting through yesterday’s photos, driven by a familiar urge to document and distil the experience before it had even finished unfolding, only to find myself distracted by the view instead. From the balcony, the Serengeti looked different every morning as light shifted across the grasslands. The landscape was never static, yet nothing about it felt rushed.

The lodge seemed to operate according to the same rhythm. Time was measured not by meetings or notifications but by game drives, meals (oh, how there were meals) and whatever wildlife happened to wander into view. Local Maasai guides patrol the grounds and escort guests back to their rooms each night.

It was on one of these walks that I learnt that a few nights ago, a leopard was headed for reception when Mompati intercepted it. "They see this red," he said, pointing to the traditional shuka he wore. "They run." I was glad to have Mompati’s company, his spear never far from his side. After dark, the lodge sounded different. Hyenas whooped somewhere beyond the floodlit paths while insects provided a relentless soundtrack.

On our first game drive, the landscape at first glance appeared empty. We'd drive through vast grasslands beneath enormous skies while Alex scanned the horizon with almost supernatural focus. Then someone would point towards what appeared to be absolutely nothing. We'd squint, pull out the ever-ready binoculars and still see nothing. Until slowly, a tuft of grass would move just so and, impossibly, an entire cheetah would emerge from the landscape.

The Serengeti is never empty; I simply hadn't learned how to see it yet.

If modern life rewards scanning, then safari life rewards attention—and patience. The more time I spent looking, the more I noticed. Birds circling overhead, vultures gathering in the distance, grimly devouring a fallen wildebeest. Tiny movements in long grass; clues that something was about to happen. The wild refused to perform on demand, and in an age of instant gratification, that's what made it feel all the more precious.

Even conversations had slowed. Tucking into grilled lobster, served family-style beneath a smattering of stars in the bush after an especially memorable walking safari, entire discussions were dedicated to what we'd spotted that day and which animal each of us had found most enchanting.

It was hard to choose just one. That, too, forced us to slow down, to revisit days organised around game drives and meals rather than emails and deadlines. Lunch one day was served in the crater, where the hotel's head chef barbecued giant prawns and great hunks of meat while an elephant looked on, totally nonplussed.

The rhythm of Tanzania seeped into everything. On our penultimate day, long before dawn, we climbed into a hot-air balloon and rose surprisingly peacefully above the plains.

Below us, elephants moved through the grassland, buffalo gathered in vast herds looking like a colony of ants from our vantage point, and that famous horizon stretched endlessly in every direction. And yet even then, a tension emerged: I didn't want to miss anything, but I also didn't want to forget anything.

Throughout the trip, I'd found myself caught between experiencing and recording. I photographed animals, filmed the sky as it splintered with lightning, and filled pages of notebooks each morning before sunrise to the sound of cicadas and the smell of African sage.

I wanted to preserve every detail, but I also kept returning to the same question: would the experience be richer without a camera between me and the moment? I still don't know.

Today, I am grateful to have the photos and videos, but they pale in comparison to how it felt to be there, turning a corner to see a pride of lionesses, one lazily flopping into the shade cast by our jeep, offering a closeness I hadn't dared imagine was possible.

One afternoon, we watched a lone buffalo wallowing in a muddy pool while a warthog repeatedly attempted—and failed—to approach. The buffalo clearly wasn't in a rush. Why should he be?

The warthog would have to wait—it's simply part of life in the wild.

How to Book

I travelled with Meliá Collection on the Once Upon a Life in Tanzania itinerary. Packages start from US$3,000 (approximately £2,265) per person, depending on travel dates, destination split and park entry fees.

What to Pack

I've spent well over a decade working as a beauty editor, and a significant portion of that time as a willing human pin-cushion in the name of research. I've been injected, lasered, resurfaced, and sculpted by practitioners across the country, which has also given me a finely tuned radar for identifying the truly exceptional. I'm talking about the ones who are medically rigorous, artistically restrained, and utterly incapable of over-treating someone. The names below are the ones I would send my closest friends to (and have done many times), without hesitation.

But first, a note on safety: with aesthetics injectables now more accessible than ever, choosing a qualified practitioner matters more than ever, too. Always ensure your injector is a registered medical professional—a doctor, dentist, or nurse prescriber—and check their credentials via the GMC, NMC, or GDC registers. The Save Face accreditation scheme is also a useful starting point for vetting clinics.

Now, a peek inside my Black Book...

Taktouk Clinic

• Where: Knightsbridge; The Chancery Rosewood, Mayfair, London
• Who: Dr Wassim Taktouk and Dr Christine Hall
• Known for: Advanced injectables, K-beauty-informed skin treatments, laser dermatology, ethical and safety-first ethos

Winner of Aesthetic Clinic of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, Taktouk Clinic has earned its reputation through substance rather than hype. Dr Wassim—who trained in A&E before spending a decade in emergency medicine—brings a clinical precision that shows in every result; he won't treat you if he doesn't think you need it. Everything he does accentuates in an artistic and perfectly proportioned way, so that the result reads as good genes rather than good injectables.

Dr Christine Hall is the clinic's K-beauty specialist: a GMC-registered GP with South Korean heritage and a deep knowledge of the skincare ingredients and techniques that have made Seoul the world capital of skin. She's inarguably responsible for some of the best glass-skin results in London. To have both of these experts in one setting puts this clinic right at the top of my list.

Prager Clinic

• Where: Beauchamp Place, Chelsea
• Who: Dr Michael Prager
• Known for: Whole-face rejuvenation, non-surgical approaches, long-term patient relationships

One of Europe's most consistently cited aesthetic physicians, Dr Prager has been practising for over 20 years—and has been my go-to doctor for Botox for six of those years (I don't think anyone does it better than him). He treats the face as a whole rather than chasing individual concerns, which is exactly the kind of thinking that separates the great from the merely competent. The result is a face that looks holistically rested and refreshed, not frozen and filled in specific spots.

The Aesthetics Doctor

• Where: Mayfair, London; Leeds; Cheshire
• Who: Dr Ahmed El Muntasar
• Known for: Medically led aesthetics, Sculptra, advanced injectables and laser treatments

Dr Ahmed has the credentials that would make most practitioners feel slightly inadequate. He was the youngest-ever medical student admitted to St Andrews, NHS GP, MSc in Medical Leadership from UCL, over 10,000 procedures performed (and he's a judge at the Marie Claire Skin Awards). His Sculptra work, in particular, is worth a mention—Sculptra is currently the most sought-after biostimulator in aesthetics (it stimulates your own collagen rather than simply filling, which means results build gradually and last up to two years), and Dr Ahmed administers it with the same precision and restraint that defines everything else he does.

His Mayfair clinic was named Best New Clinic at the Safety in Beauty Awards 2025, and patients travel from the Middle East and beyond for his work. Plus, he's genuinely one of the nicest, warmest practitioners I've ever had the pleasure of being treated by.

Dr Sophie Shotter

• Where: 10 Harley Street, London
• Who: Dr Sophie Shotter
• Known for: Natural injectables, polynucleotides, holistic anti-ageing, energy-based devices

Dr Shotter's philosophy is that the best work should be invisible, meaning you'll leave looking like yourself, just significantly more rested and with a coveted glow. A board member of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine and Aesthetic Medical Practitioner of the Year 2023, she's as rigorous about safety as she is about results. Her inside-out approach, combining injectables with skincare, supplements, and hormone health where relevant, is what sets her apart from the crowd.

The Soni Clinic

• Where: Ascot, Berkshire; The Langham, London
• Who: Dr Ash Soni
• Known for: Surgical and non-surgical expertise, polynucleotides, Sculptra, precision injectables

Dr Ash Soni is, technically, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon—trained at Imperial College, Cornell's New York Presbyterian, Johns Hopkins, and The Royal Marsden. Which is to say: he's operating at a level most aesthetic doctors could only dream of. He literally brings surgical-level anatomical knowledge to non-surgical treatments. Plus, his aesthetic eye is renowned for being exceptional, and his clinic's London residency at The Langham is beautiful. He has also published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers, which tells you everything about how seriously he takes the science.

Dr Glyn Medispa

• Where: Chester; Fitzrovia, London
• Who: Dr Glyn Estebanez
• Known for: Facial harmonisation, bespoke injectables, a surgical eye applied to non-surgical results

Another trained surgeon and member of the Royal College of Surgeons, Dr Glyn's move into aesthetic means he approaches the face with a structural understanding most injectors simply don't have. His signature offering, facial harmonisation, is exactly what it sounds like: a whole-face approach that prioritises balance and proportion over isolated quick fixes. He has been accepted into the Mauricio de Maio global mentoring programme, which is effectively the gold standard in aesthetic education, and his work across Chester and Fitzrovia has earned him a devoted following. If you're nervous, he's also notably good at putting first-timers at ease.

There’s a fine line between awareness and anxiety, and in the past six years, that line has been closely trodden, especially when it comes to our health. The booming post-COVID longevity conversation, combined with the proliferation of AI and social media, has made medical information (and misinformation) more accessible than ever. The result? A whole new world of knowledge and, simultaneously, confusion about what ‘healthy’ really looks like.

Women’s health, and particularly our reproductive health, has undeniably been impacted. Thanks to a combined effort by researchers, government select committees, femtech brands and health influencers, we’ve seen a huge growth in awareness about the gaps in research and care for women’s bodies. At the same time, advertising for fertility services and solutions, from egg freezing to at-home hormone tests, has ramped up, with a report by the advertising regulator finding at least 9,340 ads for fertility services posted on Google and Meta between 2024 and 2025.

In one way, the conversation has been vital and enlightening. On the other, it’s contributed to a rise in cyberchondria - the phrase coined for internet-fuelled health anxiety. In fact, The Independent reported in 2024 that 22% of young adults felt pressure from social media to freeze their eggs or sperm.

It’s why I was initially cautious about covering the connection between ovarian health and longevity. As research increasingly explores the role our ovaries may play in healthy ageing, it's a difficult topic to ignore, but one that could easily create more anxiety than understanding. After years of worrying about the sharpness of your fertility cliff, the endless array of reproductive health conditions, the risks of miscarriage and many challenges of menopause, the last thing you want to hear is that the rate at which your ovaries age may influence your lifespan.

The evidence suggests, however, that the two are connected, and it doesn’t need to be bad news. In fact, as Dr Natalie Getreu, global expert in ovarian biology and co-founder of Hertility, explains, ovarian ageing isn’t something to worry about. Instead, it’s about getting curious. “The narrative that women should be anxious about egg loss, racing against a biological clock, or treating their fertility as something fragile and finite is both scientifically oversimplified and genuinely unhelpful,” she explains. “There is a meaningful connection between ovarian health and long-term wellbeing, but it’s part of a much bigger picture.”

The best news? Many of the factors linked to healthy ovarian ageing are the same habits that support overall long-term health, and the chances are you're already doing some of them. Ahead, Dr Getreu and gynaecologist Dr Charis Chambers, chief medical officer at Clue, share the daily habits they practice to protect their ovarian health and promote healthy ageing.

If you’re interested in learning more about the intricacies of your health in simple, science-backed ways, be sure to check out our guides to cycle tracking, how to tackle persistent fatigue, and what the renaming of PCOS to PMOS means for women’s health. We’ve also got investigations into medical trauma and endometriosis and the issue of misdiagnosis amongst women with PMDD.

I'm a gynaecologist - these are the daily habits I prioritise for healthy ovarian ageing

What is ovarian ageing?

A completely normal and natural part of the ageing process, ovarian ageing is the “decline in the number and quality of eggs that ultimately ends with menopause,” says Dr Chambers.

Though most of us become aware of this decline during mid-life, the process actually begins whilst we’re still in our mother’s uterus. “We’re born with our lifetime supply of eggs, which typically sits between one and two million,” says Dr Getreu.

Dr Getreu explains that the ageing process does typically speed up in our mid to late thirties so that by the time we reach menopause, only a few hundred eggs remain. But the rate at which this happens is highly individual, based on a mix of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. “Whilst ovarian ageing is universal, its pace is deeply personal, which is exactly why a one-size-fits-all timeline doesn't really exist,” she says.

How does ovarian ageing impact longevity?

The important thing to note here is that, whilst ovarian ageing has close links to our overall longevity, it’s not a cause-and-effect relationship. Going through menopause earlier doesn’t guarantee a shorter life, whilst later menopause doesn’t determine that you’ll live to be 100.

That said, it is an important relationship to be aware of and understand because research consistently shows links between later menopause and longer lifespan.

“Women who reach menopause later tend, on average, to live longer and have lower rates of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline,” confirms Dr Getreu, who explains that much of this comes down to the loss of oestrogen that occurs during perimenopause and menopause. “Oestrogen is profoundly protective for our heart, skin, brain and bone health,” she says. “The longer the body is exposed to its own natural oestrogen, the longer those protective effects appear to last.”

What this means, Dr Getreu concludes, is that our ovaries are a useful window into our wider health. “The same factors that protect your cardiovascular and metabolic health tend to support your ovaries too, and vice versa,” she says. “Think of it less as a separate concern and more as one thread in a much larger picture of wellbeing.”

How much control do we have over ovarian ageing?

It’s really important not to panic about ovarian ageing, especially because half of it is determined by your genetics. “Family history is a strong predictor of age at menopause,” explains Dr Chambers. “Many women destined for early menopause have increased ovarian reserve depletion due to a change in their DNA response pathways. This means that they don’t repair damage to their DNA as well, which results in earlier ovarian ageing.”

There are, however, things we can do to slow ovarian ageing. “About half of our ovarian ageing is influenced by modifiable lifestyle, environmental and medical factors,” says Dr Chambers, who, along with Dr Getreu, shares the things she does to protect against ovarian decline.

9 gynaecologist-approved habits for healthy ovarian ageing:

1. Avoid smoking

“Smoking is one of the most impactful modifiable risk factors in ovarian ageing,” says Dr Chambers, who explains that the degree of impact depends on the amount and duration of smoking.

“Menopause occurs up to four years earlier in smokers,” she says, explaining that this is due to a faster decline in anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), which provides “an important marker of ovarian function and reserve.”

2. Exercise regularly, without overtraining

The magic of exercise is in the balance, says Dr Getreu. “Moderate, consistent exercise supports insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammation and helps to regulate the hormones that govern ovarian function,” she explains, pointing to walking, swimming, cycling and strength training all as great protective forms of movement for ovarian health.

But, she caveats, “very high-intensity exercise without adequate recovery can suppress reproductive hormones. The sweet spot is regular, enjoyable movement rather than unmanaged extremes.”

If you’re worried or unsure about your training load, it’s always best to consult a qualified doctor or PT who can advise you on programming.

3. Eat an antioxidant-rich diet

“Oxidative stress is a key driver of egg quality decline,” says Dr Getreu. “Foods high in antioxidants, such as berries, leafy greens, nuts, olive oil and oily fish, help to counteract this.”

She recommends the Mediterranean diet, known to be high in plant-based foods, healthy fats and antioxidants, as having the strongest evidence base for better reproductive health.

4. Prioritise sleep

We all know that sleep is a superpower, and it turns out that our ovaries love it too. “Seven to nine hours of good-quality sleep is genuinely one of the most powerful things you can do for hormonal health across the board,” emphasises Dr Getreu.

On the flip side, she explains that “chronic poor sleep elevates cortisol and affects the reproductive hormones that support ovarian health,” whilst Dr Chambers says that disruption to our circadian rhythm can advance AMH depletion by around one year.

5. Limit alcohol consumption

It will come as no surprise that alcohol doesn’t do our ovarian health any favours. And whilst neither expert says that we need to eliminate it entirely, they are clear that moderation is essential.

“Alcohol, in excess, disrupts hormonal signalling and is linked to elevated oestrogen metabolism,” says Dr Getreu, who explains that over time, this can impair ovarian function.

NHS guidance for alcohol consumption is no more than 14 units a week, though it’s important to note there are no completely safe levels of alcohol consumption.

6. Maintain a healthy body weight

BMI is far from a perfect measure of health, but both experts are confident in their assertion that body weight does play a role in ovarian health.

“Both excess and very low body fat affect oestrogen metabolism and ovarian function,” says Dr Getreu. “Our adipose (fat) tissue produces oestrogen so extremes in either direction can throw hormonal balance off.”

7. Keep an eye on chronic stress

Women’s health issues are very often pinned to stress, which Dr Getreu says can sometimes be misleading. “Stress alone does not explain most fertility issues,” she clarifies, “but chronic stress can affect sleep, inflammation, libido, cycle regularity and lifestyle behaviours.”

The goal, she explains, is not to eliminate stress (honestly, who could?), but to build moments of recovery into our daily life. “Recovery looks like movement, boundaries, therapy, breathwork, time outdoors and social connection - whatever is genuinely sustainable for you,” she says.

8. Don’t ignore menstrual cycle changes

How many times have you groaned at the sight of your period? Too many, probably.

Our menstrual cycle gets a bad rap, but it’s actually a vital indication of health, as Dr Getreu tells us.

“Irregular, absent, very heavy, very painful or suddenly changing periods can sometimes point to underlying health issues,” she explains. “Seeking help early doesn’t mean something is seriously wrong, but it gives you information and options.”

For help, it’s always best to speak to your GP or a registered healthcare provider before turning to the internet for answers.

9. Consider environmental exposures

There’s still some grey area on this one, as research is still evolving. But whilst it’s difficult to control everything we’re exposed to, reducing unnecessary exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals is likely to be beneficial to your hormones.

“EDC's are found in certain plastics, pesticides and personal care products,” says Dr Getreu, who suggests “making sensible precautions where practical, such as choosing glass or stainless steel over plastic for food storage or opting for fragrance-free products.”

Shop MC-UK approved hormone health resources now:

When Milly Goldsmith uploaded a TikTok describing herself as “chronically single”, she thought a handful of people might relate. Instead, millions watched, and thousands of women flooded the comments to admit they'd never had a boyfriend either, confessing feelings they'd not shared out loud: that they felt left behind, embarrassed or convinced something must be wrong with them.

For Goldsmith, the response was a revelation. For years, she'd believed she was the only woman approaching 30 who'd never experienced romantic love. Instead, she’s since been called the voice of a generation and “the Gen Z Bridget Jones”.

Here, she reflects on shame, loneliness, people-pleasing and grieving the life she thought she'd have by now, and explains why she's finally stopped seeing being single as her greatest failure.

What It Feels Like To Have Never Had A Boyfriend

As told to Mischa Smith

I always thought getting a boyfriend was something that would just happen. It seemed like one of those milestones everyone reached without really thinking about it, like learning to drive or moving out. Everyone around me just seemed to find someone naturally, so I assumed the same thing would happen to me.

It wasn't until I was about 18 that I realised maybe it wasn't going to be that straightforward. By the end of school, I'd never had a boyfriend. I'd barely spoken to many boys, and all of my friends were starting relationships. At first, it was just something I noticed in the back of my mind, but over the years, that feeling slowly turned into fear.

I got to university and still hadn't had a boyfriend. I hadn't even had a situationship, and the longer I stayed single, the more it became my normal. Being independent became my comfort zone, so the idea of letting somebody into my life started to feel unfamiliar, and because it felt unfamiliar, it also felt frightening.

Even now, relationships are still this huge unknown to me because I've never experienced anything different. Love is such a huge shared human emotion, and I haven't really experienced that side of it. For something that's such a fundamental part of so many people's lives, it can feel quite isolating. There's definitely a sense of fear, but there's also a huge amount of FOMO.

I think the turning point came after Christmas in 2024. I come from a family of four siblings, and Christmas has always been loud. There are loads of people in the house, presents everywhere, food everywhere, games, and conversations. I absolutely love Christmas. But that year, all of my siblings were with their partners and for the first time ever, it was just my parents and me.

If I'd had a partner, I would've been doing exactly the same thing as everyone else. Instead, I felt like I'd been left behind. Not just within my family, but somehow in life itself. I remember sitting there thinking: why? Why does this seem so easy for everybody else? Why can't I experience something that everyone else seems to experience naturally?

I'd been going to therapy already, but I'd never really spoken about being single. I think part of that was because I hadn't fully acknowledged how much it affected me, and the moment I said it out loud, it would become real. It would stop being something I could blame on bad luck or bad dates or bad men.

Deep down, I think I knew there was something about me that I needed to understand, but I wasn't ready to face it yet. Then I started journaling. I'd never really journaled before, but suddenly I had all these emotions that needed somewhere to go. There was a lot of crying, a lot of confusion, and a lot of anger.

I kept thinking: why me? As I wrote, I slowly started connecting the dots. One of the biggest revelations was learning about attachment styles. I'm an anxious avoidant, which is probably one of the worst combinations if you're trying to build relationships. I need enough space to realise I actually want somebody, but by the time I've taken that space, I've usually pushed them away.

To someone else, it looks like I'm not interested; to me, it feels like I finally feel safe enough to let them in, but by then, they're already gone. That cycle suddenly explained so much about my life.

One of the strangest parts of all this has been talking about it publicly. When I first made a TikTok about being "chronically single", I genuinely thought people would think I was weird. I honestly didn't know anybody else who'd reached 28 without ever having a proper relationship.

I uploaded the video without overthinking it, which is unusual for me because I'm a perfectionist. I just wrote honestly about how I felt. Then it exploded. Suddenly, thousands of women were commenting, saying they felt exactly the same way, which completely changed my perspective because I'd spent years believing I was the odd one out.

The more I started understanding myself, the more I realised this wasn't just about dating, it was about the way I'd learnt to protect myself. One thing therapy made me think about was how difficult I find vulnerability.

Saying "I love you" to my parents honestly feels like saying a swear word. Everything in my body just tenses up.

It feels like I'm stripping away every layer I've built around myself. Every wall I've spent years putting up suddenly comes crashing down. They're only three words, but they carry so much weight. I just haven't had enough practice saying them to make them feel normal.

Even now, after my parents have read the chapter in my book where I write about this, my whole body tenses up knowing they know how I feel. There's still a small version of me that's trying to protect herself.

Growing up, love wasn't really expressed through words in our family; it was always through actions. My mum would cook dinner, and she'd give me a hug. My dad would give me £10 after a dance exam and tell me he'd been proud of me, that was our version of saying, I love you.

I know my parents love me; I've never doubted that for a second. It was just something that went unsaid. Now that I'm older, I can see how growing up in an environment where we didn't verbalise those feelings has shaped me. It makes sense why opening up to people doesn't always come naturally. It's something I'm still trying to unlearn.

With some people, saying "I love you" feels completely natural. One of my best friends says it to me all the time, so I say it back really easily because I know there isn't any risk. I know it'll be received in exactly the way I intend it.

The same is true with my nieces; I'm always telling them how loved they are because I want them to grow up hearing those words. Maybe there's a part of me that's trying to give them something I would've found easier to hear growing up.

I don't think I'm broken; I just think some relationships require me to unlearn habits that have been there for a very long time. The same thing happened with people-pleasing; for years, I thought I was simply being kind. I thought changing my plans to suit somebody else or making myself endlessly available was just what nice people did. I didn't even know what boundaries were. Therapy taught me that being a kind person and being a people pleaser aren't the same thing.

When it came to dating, I'd let people move dates three or four times because I didn't want them to think I was difficult. I'd convince myself it was absolutely fine. Now I realise I could've said, "No, this day works, or it doesn't." That isn't rude; that's self-respect. I think there were lots of moments where I could've respected myself more.

For a long time, I worried more about whether someone else was annoyed with me than whether I was happy. I was constantly moulding myself to fit other people. Eventually, I had to ask myself a really uncomfortable question: If I'm changing myself depending on who's in the room… Who am I?

For years, I believed being single meant I'd failed somehow, that there must be something wrong with me. Now I see being single completely differently.

It's actually the default; it's where we all begin. It's given me an incredible amount of independence: I can travel on my own, spend weekends on my own, enjoy my own company, and I know myself incredibly well. Some people joke that maybe I know myself too well now.

Of course, there are moments where I think it would be lovely to have someone to book holidays with, cook dinner with or go to the cinema with. I'm still human, I still want love. But I don't see being single as something that's wrong with me anymore.

That's probably been the biggest shift of all.

Finding your perfect mascara is a minefield. Everyone's lashes are different, everyone wants something different, and what works for one person is irrelevant to another. But I've tried enough of them to know a gem when I see it—and with thoroughly average lashes, I'd argue I'm a reliable test case.

Merit has a habit of launching things that actually deliver, so when Clean Volume landed on my desk, I was already half-convinced. It's a tubing mascara, which is my preferred formulation, and if you haven't tried one yet, I'm not sure what you're waiting for. They don't smudge, they don't budge, and they slide off with warm water at the end of the day. The only mascaras I'll actually wear in real life are tubing ones—panda eyes simply aren't a risk I'm willing to take.

The Hype

There was a lot of buzz around this launch in beauty circles, and it wasn't hard to see why. The clinical stats were impressive—100% of participants showed increased volume, length and lift, while 96% agreed it volumised without clumping—and the formula sounded genuinely innovative. A Japanese-made tubing mascara that promises precise, buildable volume without any heaviness or smudging is, on paper, a difficult problem to solve. Add in a first-of-its-kind petite precision brush designed to lift and separate each lash individually, a 16-hour wear claim, and easy warm-water removal, and the excitement starts to make a lot of sense.

The application

The fact that this is a tubing mascara doesn't change how you apply it. The difference is that tubing mascaras wrap your lashes in a film-like tube, rather than just coat them in colour that can run and smudge. When it comes to removal, the tubes just glide off without any rubbing required.

So, as normal, you comb the wand through your lashes from root to tip. It’s a buildable mascara, as long as you keep combing it through while they’re still wet. Then all you have to do is wait for the film tubes to form around your lashes as they dry.

The Verdict

Merit is all about minimal, clean-looking, uncomplicated beauty, and this is reflected in the new Clean Volume Mascara. You are not going to get a false lash look with this. It’s for people who want increased length, volume and lift in a natural looking, but still defined, way. This mascara focusses on defining each lash individually with a precision wand, rather than just packing on product. It gives me exactly the look I want – natural lashes that look better all-round, with no clumping in sight.

When you compare one eye with this mascara to one without, you can clearly see how it makes my lashes more impactful, defines each lash, and visibly boosts length, volume, and lift. But the key fact is—they still look like my lashes, i.e., they look light and not like I am wearing much mascara.

I can wear this mascara from breakfast to bed at night, with no signs of flaking or smudging. Even in the sweaty hell of a spin class, I’ll only see a few flecks under my eyes when I leave—the little tubes that can be just swiped away in one motion.

I have very sensitive eyes, and I love how this mascara is effortless and gentle to remove too, without any rubbing to the eye area. It’s a mascara that I can rely on completely, to stay in place and look great all day long, taking seconds to remove at bedtime. You need this mascara in your life. You won’t be disappointed.

Welcome to What Lily Loves, a personal edit of the pieces, places, and ideas currently inspiring me. Think of it as your insider guide to what’s shaping my wardrobe and daily rituals. From standout finds and under-the-radar designers to shopping destinations, cultural hotspots—from restaurants and theatres to podcasts—here are the latest discoveries I’m loving.

The Designer Drop

New Balance X Miu Miu With Coco Gauff

New Balance and Miu Miu are once again joining forces with tennis star Coco Gauff, unveiling a new collection and campaign ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which get underway on 30 June. Among the most coveted pieces in the collection are the cult New Balance 530 SL trainers, available in both brown and white leather. The styles have only just landed, but they're already selling out fast—so if you're hoping to get your hands on a pair, you'll want to act quickly. Shop the collection in full here.

Spotlight On

Tory Burch

American designer and entrepreneur Tory Burch founded her eponymous fashion brand in 2004 in New York. While the brand is widely known for its signature gold buckle ballet flats, polished everyday handbags, and timeless eyewear, it is her clothing that has become one of my personal highlights each season. For summer, whether it’s an anything-but-ordinary white vest paired with a pleated skirt or a chic carryall for work, it’s her ability to turn the everyday into something fun and unexpected while always maintaining that polished uptown aesthetic New Yorkers are known and loved for. With my wishlist growing longer every day, here are some of my favourites right now.

Shop the edit:

New In This Week

Summer Workwear Skirts

Finding something to wear in the heat that is comfortable enough for the school run, comfortable for navigating public transport on the commute, yet still smart enough to look office-ready by the time you arrive can sometimes feel like a real challenge in summer. Which is why I have been gravitating towards skirts that are either midi in length or fall just to the knee. The colour, fabric and print options are endless, which means this wardrobe classic need not be boring. From pleated linen in soft, buttery shades to more structured printed styles, simply pair with a vest top or a crisp shirt and your favourite sandals and you’re good to go.

Shop my edit:

On My Radar

The Ralph Lauren Clubhouse at Sloane Square, London

To celebrate the start of Wimbledon, Ralph Lauren is bringing Sloane Square to life this summer with a four-week immersive takeover. There are giant Polo Bear sculptures dotted around the square, plus The RL Clubhouse hosting everything from workshops and talks to family games and kids’ activities. From 29 June, it even turns into a Wimbledon screening spot, so you can catch the tennis live outdoors. Ralph’s Coffee returns with a summer menu of iced matcha, soft serve and Wimbledon-inspired favourites like strawberries and Pimm’s. There’ll also be shopping, gifting and eyewear, with proceeds supporting The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

In Case You Missed It...

Here in the UK, women live on average 3.9 years longer than men. I can’t decide if that fact surprises me. I mean, sure, we always knew we were resilient, but no one could argue we don’t have a lot to contend with. PMOS, endometriosis, PMDD, biological clocks, childbirth, the second shift, I’m looking at all of you…

Either way, research suggests that it’s true, and that a lot of the reason for this phenomenon is a biological difference in the rate our tissues age. In fact, by the time we hit mid-life (generally regarded as the years between 40 and 65 years old), studies show that our tissues tend to look biologically younger than men’s.

It’s at exactly this point in our lives, however, that we hit a gender-specific challenge: one which has the potential to impact our overall lifespan, but also our healthspan (aka the years we spend living in good health).

I’m of course talking about the transition through perimenopause and menopause - a subject long underdiscussed, but which is now finally getting the attention it deserves. Menopausal symptoms are not necessarily associated with poor health outcomes, but they are life-changing, and they can provide a strong indication of the direction our health will take for the rest of our lives. It’s why we recruited the help of a leading trainer, nutritionist and psychologist, all specialising in midlife health, to unpack the essential habits to help us unlock longer, healthier lives.

To pick their brains, read on. And to uncover more women-specific longevity content, head to our guides to the best brain-boosting daily habits, exercising for healthy ageing and the simple longevity rituals which matter more than biohacking. We’ve also got fresh thoughts from Health Editor, Ally Head, on a female-focused strength training plan that’s well worth a read.

I'm A Midlife Health Expert - These 9 Habits Are Key To Healthy Ageing

What’s the difference between longevity and healthy ageing?

“Longevity is about how long we live, but healthy ageing is about how well we live as we get older,” says Kate Rowe-Ham, midlife and longevity strength coach and author of The Longevity Solution. “It isn’t simply about adding more years to life; it’s about maintaining the physical, mental and social capacity to do the things that matter to us.”

She points out that, for most of us, it’s actually a much more useful goal than lifespan alone. It’s what will allow us to stay active, socially connected, mentally present and emotionally fulfilled. The good news? Research shows that much of it is controllable through diet and lifestyle.

Why is the midlife period so important for healthy ageing?

According to Rowe-Ham, midlife is a pivotal moment for healthy ageing because, with the shifts around perimenopause and menopause, our bodies tend to start sending signals to indicate what our future health may look like.

“The perimenopause and menopause transition can affect sleep, mood, body composition, bone density and cardiovascular risk, so this is the moment to take stock and invest in future health,” Rowe-Ham says. “You’re not just managing symptoms in the present, you’re actually protecting your energy, mobility, independence, and quality of life for the decades ahead.”

She’s right, and whilst the longevity conversation tends to centre very much around our physical body, clinical psychologist Dr Ella Woods says our brain health is equally essential. “We know that the brain’s biological age is the strongest predictor of longevity, even more than the heart or the liver,” she says, citing research from 2025 which looked at the speed of ageing across different body parts and the impact this had on overall longevity.

“The brain came out on top,” she explains, adding that, importantly, our brain age isn’t fixed and can be influenced by lifestyle factors. “The choices we make about sleep, stress, and psychological health in midlife are directly relevant to our longevity,” she makes clear, explaining that changes in brain structure and activity during the menopause transition make it a particularly important moment for our brain health. “Brain imaging research shows measurable shifts in brain energy metabolism and structural brain differences across the menopausal transition, meaning we can no longer treat this as purely a reproductive event,” she says.

Do men and women have different longevity needs in midlife?

While the foundations of longevity may be similar for all of us, Rowe-Ham is clear that women do have some distinct needs, which become particularly apparent in midlife.

“Men don’t go through the same abrupt hormonal transition that women do during perimenopause and menopause,” she says, explaining that during this period, “women see changes in cardiovascular risk, bone density, muscle mass, sleep, pelvic health and vaginal health.”

This means that, in addition to exercise, nutrition, sleep, and stress management, “women often need to pay close attention to bone and heart health, muscle preservation, and symptom support during this stage of life,” explains Rowe-Ham.

She also points out that, often, women still remain the primary caregivers during midlife; a fact which adds additional burden with genuine health implications. The research here is especially interesting because caregiving is actually associated with a 9% longer lifespan. And yet, studies have shown female caregivers to have worsened menopause symptoms, long-term depressive symptoms and functional limitations compared to non-caregivers, demonstrating that longevity doesn’t always equate to healthy ageing.

This is where mental health becomes just as important to the ageing process. “The chronic, unmanaged, low-grade stress that many women carry accelerates ageing at a cellular level, essentially speeding up the biological clock inside every cell in your body,” says Dr Woods, who points to research showing that women with better psychological wellbeing were significantly less likely to die from heart disease. “The same association wasn't found in men,” she notes. “For women specifically, psychological health appears to be one of the most important factors in how long and how well we live.”

9 Daily Habits For Healthy Ageing, Which Many Midlife Women Overlook:

1. Eat breakfast within 90 minutes of waking

Where better to start with a healthy habit than first thing in the morning? And whilst this may sound incredibly simple, nutritionist and hormone specialist Hannah Alderson says we’d be surprised by how many of us still skip breakfast.

“Eating a protein-rich breakfast within 60 to 90 minutes of waking is one of the most impactful habits I encourage women to adopt during perimenopause and menopause,” she says.

Why? Well, as Alderson explains, “cortisol naturally rises as part of the awakening response, helping us to feel alert and energised.” This is a good thing, but “if we skip breakfast, or eat it too late, cortisol can elevate too much, thanks to a dip in blood sugar. This creates a cycle of cortisol dysregulation, blood sugar highs and crashes that can cause havoc for stress levels,” explains Alderson.

With chronic stress far from longevity’s best friend, Alderson instead recommends a protein and fibre-rich breakfast early doors. “This helps to provide a dose of energy, which provides the building blocks for our hormones and neurotransmitters, whilst supporting muscle maintenance and promoting stable blood sugar levels.”

In practice, this looks like combining 25-30g of protein with fibre from foods like flaxseeds, chia seeds, nuts, pumpkin seeds and high-quality breads like sourdough and rye. “And don’t forget the colour,” adds Alderson, whose top tip is “a kiwi a day, with the skin on.”

2. Protect your sleep

We all know the importance of sleep, which, frustratingly, tends to get disrupted through the menopause transition. “During deep sleep, the brain runs its own waste-clearance system, flushing out toxins and waste material, including the proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease,” says Dr Woods. “It’s also when we consolidate memory, regulate emotions and restore metabolic balance, which makes protecting it one of the most important health behaviours we have.”

Easier said than done, for sure. But fortunately, Rowe-Ham has some practical tips. “Maintain a regular sleep schedule, avoid late naps, and treat persistent sleep changes as a concern worth discussing with a healthcare professional, rather than just putting up with them,” she advises.

3. Keep up with health checks

How many times have you put off a visit to the doctor with the rationale that ‘it’s probably nothing’? In my case, it’s more than I’d like to admit.

But these visits really can be the difference to a longer, healthier life, especially when it comes to cardiovascular conditions like heart disease, says Rowe-Ham. “The menopause transition is associated with accelerated cardiovascular risk,” she explains, "which makes it a critical window.”

Her advice? “Take exercise seriously, eat well, and keep up with health checks and don’t brush off changes in blood pressure, cholesterol or weight.”

4. Practice self-compassion

Even I found myself surprised to be including this one. We know self-compassion is good for us, but rarely do we view it as a genuine longevity principle; a fact Dr Woods is quick to pull me up on.

“The research behind it is strong,” she says. “Inner criticism is not just mentally uncomfortable; it becomes another chronic stressor, activating the same physiological stress response as any external pressure.”

She’s also clear that self-compassion is very different to giving up or letting yourself off the hook. “It actually means speaking to yourself in a way that helps your nervous system feel safer, and when the nervous system feels safer, better overall health becomes possible. In the context of chronic stress and biological ageing, the way you speak to yourself is not a small thing; it is part of how you age.”

5. Don’t underestimate social connection and support

“Social connection matters much more than many women realise,” says Rowe-Ham. “Our emotional wellbeing, relationships and community all influence how well we age.”

Dr Woods agrees here. “As midlife women we are carrying an enormous invisible load; remembering appointments, managing family emotions, planning meals, holding work responsibilities, organising children and a home, supporting ageing parents and keeping everyone else regulated simultaneously. This keeps the nervous system in a state of constant low-level alert, and women will find that the effects of this will accumulate over time.”

Shared systems, she says, are one way to reduce the impact of these stressors. “Although it can feel hard, focusing on boundaries, delegation, shared systems, and having fewer things left unfinished is a way of protecting our health.”

6. Prioritise muscle through strength training

Exercise is a staple for longevity, but in midlife, preserving muscle mass becomes more important than ever as a loss of oestrogen puts our bone density at risk.

It’s here that strength training takes centre stage. “This is one of the most overlooked habits for midlife women,” emphasises Rowe-Ham, who says that it doesn’t need to be complicated. “It can be as simple as resistance training two to three times a week using weights, resistance bands or bodyweight exercises,” she reassures. For tips on where to get started, check out our guide to the five best exercises for strength and longevity, as chosen by a PT.

7. Stop skipping meals to create nutritional safety

Though many of us now know better, the hangover of the old ‘eat less, do more’ narrative is persistent, and can still linger in the back of our minds. But as Alderson emphasises, pushing back against it is one of the most important things we can do for our longevity.

“During perimenopause and menopause, when hormonal changes are already creating additional demands on our system, restrictive eating patterns can exacerbate symptoms such as fatigue, cravings, poor concentration and disrupted sleep,” she explains.

Rather than focusing on restriction, she encourages us to maximise our intake of nourishing foods which will support our gut microbiome, bone health and energy levels. “The goal is to age with strength,” she says. “Eat consistently throughout the day via three main meals built around protein, healthy fats and colourful fibre.”

Her reasoning? “This creates a more stable internal environment, supports energy production and helps reduce the physiological stress associated with frequent blood sugar fluctuations.”

Her other top tip? Keep your meal times the same as far as possible. “It might not sound sexy, but the body loves routine,” she explains. “Keeping your three meals close to the same time each day is a good idea.”

8. Pay attention to anger

If you’ve noticed an increase in anger and irritability during menopause, know that you’re not alone. Dr Woods says that this is driven by hormonal changes affecting the brain’s emotional regulation centres, and that finding healthy ways to express these emotions is important for healthy ageing.

“Chronically suppressed emotion carries physiological costs, including elevated stress hormones and increased cardiovascular risk,” she explains.

Given that many of us spend decades minimising or hiding our anger, learning to express it might feel unfamiliar at first, which is why Dr Woods shares her advice. “The first step is to notice anger without immediately trying to manage it,” she says. “It can be helpful to ask ‘what is this trying to tell me?’ as it may be pointing to exhaustion, an unmet need, or a boundary that needs protecting. Keep a brief note of when anger shows up, what triggered it, and where you are in your cycle - this can help you explore whether it is hormonal, situational, or both.”

Then, she says, it’s about emotional completion. “Anger that is suppressed doesn't disappear; it gets stored,” she explains. “Allowing it to move through your body by taking a brisk walk, shaking out your hands, or even naming it out loud helps the nervous system complete its own stress response cycle.”

9. Support your nervous system through food, not just supplements

“When we talk about healthy ageing, longevity and menopause, we often focus on what supplements to take,” says Alderson. “But foods rich in magnesium, omega-3 fats and polyphenols can support a healthy stress response and overall wellbeing. Think oily fish, nuts, seeds, extra virgin olive oil, berries, leafy greens and legumes. Adding more green tea is wonderful too!”

She says taking this kind of food-first approach allows us to shift from chasing individual nutrients to creating a well-rounded dietary pattern that’s both enjoyable and sustainable. “It sends the body a consistent message of safety and nourishment,” she explains. “When the nervous system feels supported, it becomes easier to make choices that benefit long-term health, energy and resilience.”

Shop MC-UK’s Go-To Longevity Essentials Now:

It's pretty hard to escape step-count culture these days. We're constantly reminded of the benefits of walking more (and for good reason), but somewhere along the way, a helpful health metric seems to have become a daily obligation. And I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling unnecessarily guilty when I miss my step goal.

That's why a growing trend of 'intuitive walking' recently caught my attention. Instead of chasing a number, it encourages you to simply walk according to your energy levels, schedule and how your body feels that day. In other words, movement guided by intuition rather than a smartwatch.

I, for one, am guilty of pulling out my walking pad if my watch reminds me I've had an 'easy' day just to clock up a few more steps. And when I'm on a lunchtime walk, I'll always have my Garmin strapped to my wrist to clock my steps. Which is funny because earlier this year, I actually experimented with running without tracking any metrics for two weeks - and it completely changed my relationship with running. So I wondered, what would happen if I applied the same approach to walking and ditched my step goals altogether?

The timing felt apt. While 10,000 steps has become the gold standard for daily movement, recent research published in The Lancet Public Health identified large health benefits - like lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia from clocking between 7,000 and 8,000 steps.

With this in mind, I decided to stop obsessing over step targets and commit to walking intuitively every day for a week to see what happened. I was keen to find out if intuitive walking is backed by science - and whether we really need step goals in the first place. So, I spoke to a couple of experts, then put it to the test myself. Keep scrolling to see how I got on, and while you're here, check out other first-person walking experiments, including a phone sober walk, posture walking,walking at different times of day, and 'awe walks'.

I Stopped Tracking My Steps For Seven Days And It's The Best Thing I've Done For My Daily Walks

What is intuitive walking?

Intuitive walking is exactly how it sounds - walking simply according to how you feel. There's no step count to hit, no ring to close or streak to protect - just movement based on what your body wants to do that day, whether that's a 20-minute stroll or an hour with no route in mind.

And for anyone who's ever felt guilty, that's a bigger shift than it sounds. According to Dr Tracy King, a chartered clinical psychologist, trackers create a simple reward loop in your brain - you move, the number changes, and your brain registers progress.

"A tracker turns walking into a dopamine dose with visible steps along the reward pathway, as every step becomes evidenced," she says.

While that can be useful for building healthy habits, it can create problems when the numbers start to feel like judgment. As Dr Tracy puts it, the healthiest relationship with a tracker is one "where the data informs the body but does not overrule it."

That's really the idea intuitive walking is getting at - it's about checking in with your own energy and mood before you check your wrist.

Can intuitive walking be just as effective as step goals?

It's the obvious worry; if I stop tracking, will I lose the benefits?

Not necessarily, explains Dr Suzanne Hackenmiller, Chief Medical Advisor at AllTrails.

"Tracking can be a really useful tool for accountability, and if it works for you, great. But it's not for everyone, and stepping away from it doesn't mean you'll miss out," she says. "When we get too obsessed with the numbers, we can stop listening to our own bodies."

The key to effective movement is consistency, says Dr Hackenmiller. "Even a short walk outside can improve mood, focus and help to reduce stress. The best routine is simply the one you'll actually stick to."

One thing that Dr King said that struck a chord was that taking a break from trackers and counting steps can actually reduce cognitive load. "Constant measurement asks the brain to keep checking, comparing and evaluating," she explains.

Which is ironic, really. Many of us use a walk to act as a reset during the working day, or decompress after a busy day, but if you're constantly checking your step count, how much are you actually letting your brain switch off?

So, if anything, you might actually gain something from stepping away from the numbers - the ability to trust your own judgement.

What happened when I tried intuitive walking

Days one to three

Before I started, Dr King suggested treating intuitive walking as a series of small experiments rather than an all-or-nothing approach. She told me that some of her clients said that if they don’t have their device or it’s run out of battery, they don’t see the point of exercising. This really resonated with me, as it's the mindset I tend to have - it's rare that I take my watch off.

Instead of ditching technology altogether, I took Dr King's advice and decided not to go completely cold turkey. On day one, I kept my Garmin on, but made a conscious effort not to check my step count.

I failed miserably on the first walk. Less than ten minutes in, I found myself glancing at my wrist to see how many steps I'd clocked. I realised it was out of habit more than anything else.

After that first walk, I decided that if intuitive walking was going to work properly, I needed to fully commit to it and head out without any data to distract me. Otherwise, I wasn't really testing anything.

I won't lie, the first time I walked without my watch, I had to shut that niggling voice in my head that said it was a waste of exercise if I wasn't tracking it. And even reminding myself of that was enough of a reason to tell me that I was part of the step-count culture that had become socially ingrained in us.

My original plan was to take off my watch every time I went for a walk and then put it back on afterwards. But after that first watch-free walk, I realised that wasn't really going to work. I usually head out for a couple of walks a day, and if I put my Garmin back on in between, I'd still have an idea whether I was on track to hit my daily step target.

Intuitive walking isn't about one walk - it's about letting go of the pressure to hit a daily step target. If I put my Garmin back on, I'd still know whether I was on track for the day, so I left it off, and that's when the mental shift started to happen.

Days four - seven

By the second half of the week, I was genuinely surprised at how freeing it felt heading out without any goals or targets in mind. I could completely switch off from reality and the pressure of trying to squeeze enough movement into my day.

What I also didn't expect was how unbothered I felt not knowing how far I'd walked. I'm a bit of a stickler for routine, but one thing I did was listen to my body each day. There were a couple of days when I hadn't slept well, and I felt more tired than usual. On these days I walked less. And the best thing? I didn't feel guilty.

Without a watch, I found myself being more present on my daily walks and paying more attention to what was around me. Interestingly, a Stanford University study found that people who spent 90 minutes walking in nature reported less rumination - the repetitive negative thought patterns that can fuel stress - than those who walked in urban settings. It was a reminder that there's more to walks than the number of steps it racks up.

By the end of the week, I hadn't become anti-step count. In fact, I was missing my watch if I'm honest. But the experiment did make me realise just how often I'd been walking for the number, rather than the enjoyment of it. Taking away the step count didn't make me move any less; if anything, it helped me realise that a walk still counts, even if I don't have the data to prove it.

Shop latest walking essentials

A precious few things are touted as a cure-all for hormonal acne, but spironolactone—a prescription-based medication—has been doing the rounds on social media for exactly that reason. But can anything really be a cure-all for something as complex as acne, and who exactly is it right for?

Originally developed to treat conditions such as high blood pressure and heart failure, spironolactone is now frequently prescribed by consultant dermatologists, like Dr Zainab Laftah, for hormonal acne and female pattern hair loss due to its anti-androgen effects.

“It’s most commonly prescribed for women with signs of androgen-driven conditions,” Dr Laftah explains. “This includes hormonal acne, particularly acne affecting the lower face and jawline, excessive hair growth (hirsutism), and female pattern hair loss. By blocking the effects of androgens, spironolactone helps reduce oil production, slow hair follicle miniaturisation, and improve unwanted hair growth.” She adds that it isn't routinely prescribed to men because of those same anti-androgen effects, which can lead to side effects including breast enlargement, reduced libido and sexual dysfunction.

It's gone viral online for a reason; it really does work. Partnerships Manager Molly Jappy, 27, tried everything to treat her hormonal acne, which was caused by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). “I spent 10 years trying every treatment and ointment, including Accutane, antibiotics, topical treatments, supplements and endless skincare products to no avail,” she tells Marie Claire UK. “I felt hopeless until I discovered spironolactone. I’ve had clear skin ever since. My confidence has just soared.”

Similarly, journalist and beauty expert Kristina Rodulfo found that her nodular, cystic acne wasn't responding to over-the-counter skincare. She eventually discovered spironolactone, which she took on and off over the next eight years. “Results typically show at the three-month mark and the difference was dramatic. I went from having anywhere from 15-20 painful, red cysts all across my jawline to having smooth, clear skin. Similar to the way people describe GLP-1 treatments as erasing "food noise", spironolactone erased the mental load of acne. I was no longer stressing and monitoring my diet for triggers, or combing over every single ingredient in my skincare and make-up.”

Kristina has since gone off the medication, however—citing side-effects from the anti-androgen properties that make it so effective. In combination with her contraceptive IUD, she found that spironolactone made her menstrual cycle irregular and, at times, caused it to disappear altogether. "Before planning for a family, I wanted to come off it and get my body's reproductive health and hormones back to baseline," she says. "But I do think I'll go back on it eventually because it was the most effective acne treatment I've ever tried."

While Consultant Dermatologist and Renew + Me ambassador, Dr Malvina Cunningham states that many people tolerate spironolactone well, she notes that Rodulfo's experience is not uncommon. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all, despite what social media is saying. Acne is a complex condition, and what works well for one person may not be suitable or effective for another.”

The most common side effects include increased urination (the medication is a diuretic), as well as breast tenderness, menstrual irregularities, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. However, there are also more serious side effects to consider.

Dr Christine Hall, a GP and aesthetic doctor who has taken spironolactone herself, stresses that the medication should only be used under appropriate medical supervision. "I have seen many hospital admissions, particularly in older people, where the cause has been this drug," she states. “In many cases, it is good practice to carry out blood tests before and during treatment. One of the key concerns with spironolactone is that it can affect and elevate blood potassium levels. Elevated potassium levels, known as hyperkalemia, must be monitored carefully because, if left unchecked, they can lead to serious complications, including abnormal heart rhythms and, in severe cases, death.”

Accordingly, it is generally not prescribed to people with certain underlying health conditions, including kidney disease, where the risk of elevated potassium levels is higher, or those with very low blood pressure. It is also not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding or while trying to conceive.

Interestingly, another less common side-effect that has been widely discussed on social media is breast enlargement. “It can happen because spironolactone’s anti-androgen effects alter the balance between androgens and oestrogen,” explains Dr Laftah. “In women, this may lead to a feeling of fullness or a modest increase in breast size, although this is not a universal side effect and is typically mild.” She adds that, in most cases, any breast enlargement associated with spironolactone improves or resolves once the medication is discontinued.

Out of the nine women I spoke to for this feature, only two reported mild side effects, including increased urination and occasional light-headedness. What may prove more prohibitive, however, is accessing the treatment itself.

Spironolactone is prescribed off-label for acne and is typically recommended by a dermatologist following an assessment. While it can be prescribed through the NHS, many people access it privately. All but one of the women I spoke to had received their prescription through a private dermatologist. The exception was Molly, who was eventually able to access it on the NHS following a PCOS diagnosis. Several cited NHS waiting times and administrative hurdles as reasons for going private.

"The biggest issue was actually getting hold of it," says 29-year-old writer Amber Rawlings. "There's so much red tape. I didn't even try going through the NHS because I'd heard it could take months, so I went straight to a private dermatologist. It was extremely expensive.”

While spironolactone itself is relatively inexpensive, the overall cost is driven by consultations, blood monitoring and follow-up appointments. Typically, an initial dermatology consultation can range from £200 to £350, while subsequent appointments may cost £100 to £250, depending on the clinic.

It was worth it for Amber, though: “I went from having skin that I was constantly fixating on to skin that I didn't have to think about at all. And honestly, that changes your whole existence. If you’re a suitable candidate for it, I’d recommend it in a heartbeat.”

But, of course, spironolactone is not the only solution for hormonal acne. As Dr Hall asserts, before even considering it, individuals should see a dermatologist and get an accurate diagnosis of the type of acne they have. “That’s really the key to finding the right treatment," she says. "In general, we like to start with the least invasive approach first. That means making sure someone is using the right over-the-counter skincare products and that their routine has been properly optimised. If that's not enough, we would usually consider adding topical prescription treatments. Oral medications are typically reserved for situations where they are genuinely needed.”

Every two years, Venice hosts the Biennale d’Arte—the world’s largest and longest-running international art exhibition. Sometimes called the Art Olympics, the Biennale is made up of dozens of competing national pavilions, alongside two large-scale group shows put together by a guest curator. Programmed to coincide with this are hundreds more exhibitions, performances and interventions that turn the city into a unique cultural phenomenon.

The Venice Biennale is the art world’s most storied stage. From a performance pioneer making history to a feminist icon debuting new work, below (in no particular order!) is my pick of some of the women telling the most inspiring and powerful stories this year.

THE WOMEN OF VENICE BIENNALE 2026

LUBAINA HIMID AT THE BRITISH PAVILION

Turner Prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid transforms the British Pavilion into a beautiful meditation on belonging. Predicting History: Testing Translation brings together vibrant large-scale multi-panel paintings, with works on found objects, ‘kanga’ paintings, and a soundscape made in collaboration with artist Magda Stawarska.

Himid, who was born in Tanzania and raised in the UK, describes the exhibition as “a guide to navigating life beyond one’s roots and to understanding what home can mean”. In that context, the neo-classical architecture of the pavilion, which opened in 1909 at the height of the British Empire, seems the perfect site to reflect on questions of national and personal identities, and what it means to make a home in a new place.

Giardini della Biennale, Sestiere Castello, Venice
Until 22 November 2026. The British Pavilion is commissioned by the British Counil. Following Venice, the exhibition tours select UK venues.
www.arts.britishcouncil.org/projects/british-pavilion-venice-biennale

JENNY SAVILLE AT CA’ PESARO

British painter Jenny Saville’s first major exhibition in Venice traces her practice from the 1990s to the present. The show brings together more than thirty canvases and works on paper, including new pieces created in homage to the city, alongside some of Saville’s most recognisable early nudes, which revitalised figurative painting while raising questions about societal perceptions of the body.

Saville’s practice is deeply rooted in the history of painting—Venetian painting in particular has become an essential reference for the artist. Placed here on the Grand Canal, in conversation with masters of Venice’s past, her work feels very much at home.

Ca' Pesaro, International Gallery of Modern Art, Santa Croce 2076, Venice
Until 22 November 2026
www.capesaro.visitmuve.it

DANA AWARTANI AT THE SAUDI ARABIA PAVILION

Dana Awartani’s May your tears never dry, you who weep over stones, throws focus onto cultural heritage under threat. The artist invites visitors into an imaginary archaeological site, inspired by historically and materially important mosaics from Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, whose shared motifs and traditions highlight common cultures spanning three millennia.

The work covers the entire pavilion floor and comprises 29,000 handmade bricks, made in collaboration with 32 master craftspeople over 30,000 hours. Fabricated without binding agents, the bricks crack as they dry, representing the fragility of places across the world that have suffered devastating damage through man-made conflict and violence.

The presentation is curated by Antonia Carver, the UK-born Director of Art Jameel in Dubai and Saudi Arabia and, as with much of the work she has a hand in, it stayed with me long after I left it.

Arsenale, Sestiere Castello, Campo Della Tana 2169/F, Venice
Until 22 November 2026
www.saudipavilion.org

KATE MCCGWIRE AT FONDAZIONE DRIES VAN NOTEN

The inaugural exhibition from Fondazione Dries Van Noten, The Only True Protest Is Beauty comprises more than 200 works of art, design, jewellery, and fashion—including stunning archive pieces from Comme des Garçons and Christian Lacroix—and explores beauty as a force for provocation and transformation. The title comes from one of American writer Phil Ochs’ 60s activist anthems, “In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty” —the concept being that beauty can be unsettling, awakening and rejuvenating.

Despite this context, the title didn’t sit entirely comfortably with me. However, I could very comfortably spend hours in the exhibition—an extraordinary celebration of craftsmanship across disciplines, exquisitely curated by Dries Van Noten himself. Amongst many highlights are Stifle and Murmur—two pieces by British sculptor Kate MccGwire, known for creating mesmerising ‘three-dimensional paintings’ using the feathers of common birds.

Fondazione Dries Van Noten, San Polo, 2766, Venezia
Until 4 October 2026
www.fondazionedriesvannoten.org

NALINI MALANI AT KIRAN NADAR MUSEUM OF ART IN VENICE

For the second edition running, Kiran Nadar—arguably India’s most influential collector and founder of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art—presents a large-scale immersive work in Venice. This year, legendary artist Nalini Malani’s Of Woman Born transforms a former salt warehouse into a “thought chamber” filled with 67 animations made from over 30,000 iPad drawings, accompanied by a 20-minute soundscape of women’s voices.

The work is inspired by the Greek myth of Orestes, who murdered his mother and her lover in revenge for them killing his father. Though pursued by the Furies, Orestes was saved from punishment by the goddess Athena. Here, Malani meditates on this myth and its resonance with present-day wars, where accountability is rare and women continue to bear the brunt of patriarchal violence.

Magazzini del Sale n° 5, Fondamenta Zattere Ai Saloni, Dorsoduro 262, Venice
Until 22 November 2026
www.knma.org

FLORA YUKHNOVICH AT VICTORIA MIRO VENICE

Currently on show at the Venice outpost of British gallery Victoria Miro, London-based Flora Yukhnovich is one of the most compelling painters working today. Her exhibition Egg is inspired by storytelling: myths, Biblical accounts and fairy tales, particularly those that feature fantastical conceptions and births.

Yukhnovich’s paintings are at once dreamy and unsettling and, hung against a large mural she has painted on site, they take on an almost ancient or mythical feel. One can easily imagine these works living on the walls of the gods and (wo)men whose legends they take inspiration from.

Victoria Miro Venice, San Marco 1994, Venice
Until 4 July 2026
www.victoria-miro.com

GABRIELLE GOLIATH AT CHIESA DI SANT’ANTONIN

Gabrielle Goliath’s Elegy is the biennale exhibition that almost never was. Originally selected as South Africa’s official presentation, the project was controversially ‘decommissioned’ before the entire national pavilion was cancelled. The work is now presented independently, and with particular resonance, in one of Venice’s many beautiful churches.

An elegy is a lament, and here it manifests as films of eight vocal performances dedicated to those who have been lost to violence or injustice – often women and minorities. As mournful as the work is, it is equally elevating. A truly sublime collective experience, the absence of which would have been genuinely tragic.

Chiesa di Sant’Antonin, Salizada S. Antonin, Castello 3477, Venice
Until 31 July 2026. Following Venice, Elegy will be presented at Ibraaz in London (October 2026) and ICA Milano (January 2027)
www.elegyinvenice.com

FAIZA BUTT AT PAKISTAN PAVILLION

Lahore-born, London-based artist Faiza Butt represents Pakistan with Punj•AB: A Sublime Terrain—one of the most beautiful presentations of the biennale. The exhibition is inspired by a region that is both a deeply personal geography for the artist and a historically rich site, shaped by millennia of trade, migration and cultural exchange.

Butt has filled the exhibition space with monumental and magnificent tapestries that combine dhurrie weaving, ikat, jacquard, and hand-spun cotton, and map the rise and fall of civilisations through colour and composition. A film work shot in a factory introduces viewers to rituals, labour, and communal life of Punjab today, juxtaposing rural traditions with industrialisation, and creating a through line from the past into the future.

Ex Farmacia Solveni, Dorsoduro 993-994, Venice
Until 22 November 2026
@pakistan_pavilion_2026

JUDY CHICAGO AT GALLERIA ALBERTA PANE

Judy Chigaco is a living legend. At 87, the artist—probably best known for her iconic project The Dinner Party—is having one of the richest moments of her already extraordinary career, creating vital new work, which can be seen for the first time at Alberta Pane Gallery this summer. 

The Materiality of Judy Chicago offers a sweeping survey of her six-decade practice, from 1960s minimalist works and The Dinner Party’s iconic plates to a series of new sculptures, including a glass piece made in collaboration with internationally-renowned Venetian glass specialists, Studio Berengo. 

For many years, Chicago has been a museum-level artist. This is a rare opportunity for fans to see her work in the intimate setting of one of Venice’s best independent galleries. 

Gallerie Alberta Pane, Dorsoduro 2403H, Calle dei Guardiani, Venice
Until 22 November 2026
www.albertapane.com

DAYANITA SINGH AT ARCHIVIO DI STATO

ARCHIVIO is Dayanita Singh’s tribute to the Italian archives she has photographed over the past decade, as well as her growing archive of images she’s taken of Italian architecture, interiors, artworks, friends, and more.

Singh is renowned not only for her photography, but also for challenging the concept of the exhibition, and the museum itself, as something static. She has reinvented both as living and evolving experiences, through an exquisitely-designed portable display system that can be used from architectural scale to that of furniture, or even a book. The system is used to perfection in Singh’s Venice presentation, which is part photographic exhibition, part sculptural installation, and wholly worth seeing.

Archivio di Stato, Campo dei Frari, San Polo 3002, Venice
Until 31 July 2026. After Venice, the exhibition travels to Rome, Turin and New Delhi.
www.dayanitasingh.in

LORNA SIMPSON AT PINAULT COLLECTION PUNTA DELLA DOGANA

Over almost 50 years, François Pinault, Founder of the luxury fashion group Kerring (Gucci, YSL, Balenciaga, Bottega Venetta) has built an extraordinary collection of over 10,000 works of contemporary art. In 2006, he created his first exhibition space at Palazzo Grassi in Venice, followed soon after by a second at Punta della Dogana. Along with a third space in Paris, they offer an opportunity to see pieces from the collection within a programme of world-class exhibitions.

One of four such shows running to coincide with the biennale, Third Person is the most significant presentation of American artist Lorna Simpson’s work in Europe for more than a decade. The exhibition brings together around 50 paintings, collages, sculptures, installations, and films, spanning more than 20 years, with the most striking being a series of monumental, majestic female figures.

Punta della Dogana, Dosoduro 2, Venice
Until 22 November 2026
www.pinaultcollection.com

MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ AT THE GALLERIE DELL’ACCADEMIA

Perhaps the most world’s most famous performance artists, Marina Abramović makes history by becoming the first living woman to be given a major solo exhibition at the Gallerie dell’Accademia. Transforming Energy marks the artist’s 80th birthday and brings together iconic works from across her career with new pieces made for the show.

In recent years, Abramovic has become increasingly interested in Buddhism and spirituality, and one highlight of the exhibition is a room of her Transitory Objects—stone beds and structures embedded with crystals that visitors are invited to lie, sit or stand upon, activating what Abramović calls “energy transmission”. Another highlight —and one that could only happen in Venice—is the installation of Abramovic’s Pietà, a work made with former partner Ulay, placed in direct dialogue with Titian’s unfinished masterpiece of the same name.

Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia, Campo della Carità - Dorsoduro 1050, Venice
Until 19 October 2026
www.gallerieaccademia.it

PEGGY GUGGENHEIM & FRIENDS AT THE PEGGY GUGGENHEIM COLLECTION

She’s no longer here in person, but Peggy Guggenheim’s spirit lives on in Venice as much as any artist’s. Guggenheim was born into a famously wealthy family, and was an avid collector of art. Before she settled in Venice, where her collection has its permanent home, she spent time in London, presenting work by avant-garde artists in her Cork Street gallery, Guggenheim Jeune.

Peggy Guggenheim in London: The Making of a Collector is the first large-scale exhibition dedicated to this period, when Guggenheim organised more than 20 shows over 18 months, including Kandinsky’s first UK solo. As well as a chance to see some of the world’s greatest artworks, this exhibition offers an insight into the influential personal and professional networks that helped Guggenheim shape her vision, and eventually made her one of the most revolutionary collectors and patrons in history.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, Dorsoduro 701, Venice
Until 29 October 2026. After Venice, the exhibition travels to the Royal Academy of Arts, London (November 21, 2026–March 14, 2027) and the Guggenheim New York (April 16, 2027–September 12, 2027).
www.guggenheim-venice.it

MARÍA MAGDALENA CAMPOS-PONS AT THE CENTRAL PAVILION

Installed at the heart of the Central Pavillion, the venue for one of the two main curated exhibitions, María Magdalena Campos-Pons’ monumental Anatomy of the Magnolia Tree for Koyo Kouoh and Toni Morrison is one of the most affecting works of the Biennale. The painting is simultaneously a shrine, elegy and affirmation – rightly placing the late curator Koyo Kouoh at the centre of the Biennale she conceived.

Giardini della Biennale, Sestiere Castello, Venice
Until 22 November 2026
www.labiennale.org

KOYO KOUOH THROUGHOUT VENICE

Last but not least, the late, great Koyo Kouoh’s influence is tangible throughout Venice. Kouoh was the widely admired Cameroonian-Swiss Executive Director of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town and the curator of this edition of the Venice Biennale. Tragically, she died almost exactly a year before the biennale opened. However, her vision has been realised posthumously by the team she put together before she passed.

Kouoh’s concept In Minor Keys calls for a shift away from spectacle, towards a more nuanced, quieter experience.

Her introduction to the theme began:

[Take a deep breath]
[Exhale]
[Drop your shoulders]
[Close your eyes]

And continued, “This is an invitation to…… shift to a slower gear and tune in to the frequencies of the minor keys. Because, though often lost in the anxious cacophony of the present chaos raging through the world, the music continues. The songs of those producing beauty in spite of tragedy, the tunes of the fugitives recovering from the ruins, the harmonies of those repairing wounds and worlds.”

It is a statement that has clearly influenced so many artists at the biennale and beyond, and one that I’ll be holding onto for a long time to come.

You'd have had to have been living under a rock not to have heard of Krissy Cela, one of the most globally renowned personal trainers and fitness entrepreneurs.

The Albanian-born, LA-based entrepreneur first launched her career while studying law in London, sharing gym content online that quickly amassed an engaged and loyal following thanks to her gimmick-free, reliable approach.

Following her online success, Cela launched her first business, EvolveYou, a global fitness platform with one simple aim: to encourage more women to take up strength training and build their confidence in the weights section.

In 2020, she went one step further, launching her now multi-million-pound activewear brand, Oner Active and appointing Zach Duane, the former CEO of Victoria Beckham, to help steer the business. The performance-led brand's ethos is simple: to create workout kit that performs as well during serious training sessions as it does throughout everyday life - think functional, minimal pieces designed with both lifting and looking good in mind.

And since then, both brands have gone from strength to strength: 2025 figures show Oner reported £80.8 million in annual sales, plus a £8.4 million profit for 2024, doubling revenue compared to the previous year.

Cela's aim is simple: to make strength training more accessible, particularly for women navigating confidence, consistency, and long-term health goals. Her school programme, Project Power, sees Cela and team head into schools and demystify weights to young girls; she's adamant to reframe exercise as something empowering rather than punishing.

What makes Cela unique is her unwavering passion for strength training and desire to spread the magic far and wide. Strength training has changed her life, and she's built an entire business empire around sharing that with you. EvolveYou shares plans to make lifting less intimidating; Oner sells clothes that make you feel empowered while doing so; and Project Power gives the next generation the tools to move their bodies without fear.

Below, Cela shares her first Marie Claire Masters piece, centred on why, exactly, strength training is so pivotal in your 30's, 40's, 50's and beyond. She knows first-hand that it should be a non-negotiable in your workout routine, and breaks down how the workout is about far more than just aesthetics; rather, the key to mental strength, hormonal health, and metabolic resilience. Because building muscle is one of the most powerful long-term investments you can make in your body.

Why you should make strength training a part of your weekly workout rotation, according to Krissy Cela

I first discovered strength training while studying law at university, and I immediately fell in love with the empowering feeling that it gave me. I loved it so much that I went on to obtain a Personal Training qualification so I could help more women feel the way that I feel.

Strength training has always represented a determined, goal-oriented mindset and unwavering work ethic; it can also play such a pivotal role in building confidence, plus help to balance/reset your nervous system and clear your mind, all while helping your body be the best it can be. The power of strength training never ceases to amaze me.

Strength training has always made me feel stronger, not just physically but mentally as well. After having my son, being in the gym helped me to regain a sense of routine and to reconnect with myself. Seeing what my body is capable of achieving has always given me confidence, whether that’s in the gym or anywhere else.

Training to enhance both body and mind

I’ve always believed that every woman should strength train to enhance their physical and mental well-being - it’s about building strong bodies and even stronger minds. This is why I started both EvolveYou and Oner Active: to enable and empower as many women as I can to move their bodies.

Strength training especially important for women. When we're young, strength training helps us build a strong foundation by increasing muscle mass, improving bone density, boosting confidence and creating healthy habits that support us for years to come. As we age, strength training becomes even more important because we naturally begin to lose muscle and bone density, particularly during and after menopause. By continuing to strength train, we can maintain our independence, support our metabolism, reduce the risk of injury and osteoporosis, and stay strong enough to do the things we love.

It’s imperative that we encourage young girls to create healthy habits as early on as possible, which is why we introduced our schools initiative, Project Power, in 2023. We know there are so many factors leading to young girls disengaging with physical activity, including body image and puberty, so our mission really is to transform the way that young girls perceive it and empower them to want to move their bodies.

Project Power aims to introduce strength training to young girls by visiting schools nationwide and hosting women-led, women-only workshops with young girls to educate them about movement, strength training and confidence. We also recognise that the cost of activewear can be a barrier to entry for a lot of girls and their families, so at each of these workshops, we provide the girls with kits of free suitable activewear (a sports bra, T-shirt and leggings), which will support them as they grow. To date, we’ve hosted over 4,500 workshop participants and gifted our activewear kits to over 18,000 teenage girls.

Feeling empowered > fear of getting “bulky”

The biggest myth about strength training is the trope that women who lift weights are bulky and ‘masculine’. Nonsense. A woman who lifts is strong, and while strength looks different for every body, strength is undeniably and universally beautiful.

Thankfully, I think people are starting to move away from this narrative. While historically, women were told that strength training and lifting heavy was reserved for bodybuilders and that low-intensity movement and cardio were more effective ways of maintaining a ‘feminine’ figure, social media has given us clear, tangible examples of the real impact and results that strength training can have on the body.

One of the most powerful things about strength training is that it shifts your focus from how your body looks to what it can do. As you progress in your training, you start to appreciate your body for its strength, resilience, and capability rather than just its appearance.

Moving your body should never be about shrinking yourself. It’s about feeling stronger in who you are and what you’re capable of, whatever that may look like.

If you feel nervous walking into the weights section, know that your first time in the weights section can be terrifying. That said, doing anything for the first time can feel intimidating, and as corny as it might sound, the key really is remembering that you’ve done the hardest part - showing up for yourself. Gym-timidation and nervousness are so real, especially for women.

Moving your body in a way that works for you

I’m a believer in moving your body in a way that fits your lifestyle and is something you can stay consistent with. That said, for women looking to build strength and see noticeable benefits, I’d recommend aiming for around three strength training sessions per week.

Combined with a balanced, nutritious diet, three sessions can be enough to improve strength, increase muscle mass, boost energy levels, and support overall health. Consistency is far more important than doing the perfect workout plan, so finding a routine that you genuinely enjoy and can maintain long-term is key. I personally have really been enjoying mixing low-intensity movement with my strength training program, and I feel the most confident I've ever felt.

Mastering a handful of fundamental strength-training exercises can provide a strong foundation for lifelong fitness and overall well-being. Squats, deadlifts, lunges, rows, push-ups, and core stability movements help develop strength, balance and stability while supporting healthy bones and making everyday activities easier.

Getting started - wherever you currently are

There is no fitness level you need to reach before you begin. Strength training is for everyone, and every single person in the gym started somewhere. Don’t put pressure on yourself to walk into the gym and lift the weight you’re seeing other people lifting on Instagram or TikTok; it’s your own journey, and progress looks different for everyone.

Focus on building confidence, proper form and technique and remembering to celebrate the small wins along the way. Starting at the lower end of the weight rack and working your way up will be one of the most rewarding feelings. Continue showing up consistently and trusting the process.

Girl, pick up those weights and start lifting!

Shop Krissy's favourites here:

What springs to mind when you think of inflammation? The chances are, it's nothing good. The term gets an unequivocally bad rap, and we'll bite: it's well documented in scientific literature that systemic chronic inflammation is linked to higher rates of the diseases that are leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide (check out this research, from the journal Nature) - we're talking cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, liver disease and diabetes - to name just a few.

It's little wonder, then, that inflammation is the wellness world's pariah. You've likely seen a slew of anti-inflammatory content on your feed recently, ranging from eye-wateringly expensive green juices (seriously, though - when it comes to a choice between paying rent or a weekly smoothie habit, things are genuinely out of control) to detox teas, cold baths, red light therapy and more.

But let's face it: most of us aren't rising with the sun at 4 am, heading straight to our home ice bath and/or sauna and relishing a morning cold press in beautific silence every day (or, indeed, ever). And if your day looks less like self-optimisation and more like frantic disorganisation, it can feel like you're setting yourself up for an inflammatory-disease-ridden future.

So here's the good news: inflammation doesn't have to be the enemy. It's actually a perfectly natural - and useful - bodily response to threat, and as such, serves a vital purpose for us all.

"The word inflammation has become a bit of a buzzword in recent years, but it’s important to remember that inflammation itself isn’t the enemy," says TV GP and Stannah Stairlift spokesperson, Dr Punam Krishan. "We need inflammation. The goal isn’t to eliminate it completely, but to support the body so it can switch that response off when it’s no longer needed."

Keep scrolling for the expert-approved ways to naturally reduce inflammation - without a green juice in sight. And, for more on the topic, you might be interested in our guides to simple, five-minute anti-inflammation hacks, the dangers of anti-inflammatory diet culture, and all about the viral Mediterranean anti-inflammation diet, here.

Longevity experts share their top daily habits to reduce inflammation - and there's not a green juice in sight

What is inflammation?

First up, let's get some clarity on what inflammation actually is. As touched on above, it serves a crucial purpose.

"Inflammation is your immune system's first line of defence," explains Dr Lucy Hooper, GP and co-founder of Coyne Medical. "It is the process by which the body fights infection, clears damaged cells, and repairs tissue after injury. That short-term, acute inflammation is entirely healthy and necessary. The problem we are increasingly concerned about is chronic, low-grade inflammation: a persistent, smouldering immune activation that often produces no obvious symptoms, yet silently contributes to some of the most serious diseases we face."

You'll likely notice it as redness, swelling and tenderness around a cut, for example. But there's much more to it than a bit of external discomfort - it's a sign your body is working hard in the background.

"Although we can often see some of the effects of inflammation, there is much more happening beneath the surface," shares Dr Krishan. "Blood flow to the area increases, immune cells are recruited, and various proteins are released to help protect the body and support repair. This short-term response is completely normal and an essential part of staying healthy."

Why is it important to control inflammation?

If it's so normal and useful, you might be wondering why inflammation is deemed to be such a problem, health-wise. It's important to make the distinction here between normal, essential inflammation and chronic inflammation - which is the baddie when it comes to wellness.

"Inflammation can become a concern when it becomes chronic and low-grade," explains Dr Krishan. "This is when the immune system remains activated over a long period of time, despite there being no obvious injury or infection to fight. Rather than helping the body heal, ongoing inflammation may begin to contribute to health problems."

Researchers are increasingly recognising the role chronic inflammation may play in a number of long-term health conditions, including the following:

• Long-term inflammation: Is thought to contribute to cardiovascular disease by damaging blood vessel walls and encouraging the build-up and instability of fatty plaques, which may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Inflammation: Is also a feature of many autoimmune conditions, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and lupus are all associated with ongoing inflammation.
• Chronic inflammation: There's growing evidence that chronic inflammation may contribute to biological ageing, affecting how well our cells repair and function over time.

What are the signs of chronic inflammation?

So, how can we tell if our inflammatory response has morphed from helpful to harmful? Well, there are a few universal tell-tale signs, according to the experts.

"The tricky thing about chronic inflammation is that it doesn’t always announce itself loudly; you’re unlikely to see obvious swelling or redness," shares Dr Krishan. "Instead, it can show up as symptoms people often put down to being busy, stressed, run down or simply getting older.

"One of the most common symptoms associated with chronic inflammation is persistent fatigue. People often describe feeling exhausted despite getting a good night’s sleep. This can happen because the body is constantly using energy to maintain an ongoing immune response.

"Joint aches, stiffness and muscle pains are also commonly associated with inflammation and can sometimes be dismissed as simply part of getting older.

"Other symptoms may include brain fog, digestive issues, ongoing skin problems, low mood and feeling as though it takes longer than usual to recover from illnesses or infections."

What can we do to reduce inflammation?

But there is some good news: there are lots of things we can do daily that can help keep chronic inflammation at bay - and you're probably already doing some of them. Let's dive in.

1. Sleep

It likely won't surprise you to hear that sleep is top of all our longevity experts' lists when it comes to reducing inflammation.

"Sleep is one of the most powerful tools we have when it comes to supporting overall health and helping regulate inflammation," shares Dr Krishan. "This is when much of the body’s repair and recovery takes place. Poor sleep has been linked to higher levels of inflammatory markers and increased stress hormone activity. Most adults should aim for around seven to nine hours of sleep per night."

That being said, worrying about your sleep isn't going to help matters either, as we cover next.

2. Limiting stress

We know: life is stressful. But finding ways to cope with the inevitable will help keep inflammation to a minimum.

"Stress is also a legitimate, biologically grounded factor in chronic inflammation," explains Dr Hooper. "Chronic psychological stress activates hormonal and immune pathways that sustain systemic inflammation. It is not simply a lifestyle cliché; it is a well-established physiological mechanism."

Try and find something that works for you: this could be breathwork, spending time in nature, or going for a run. You'll know when you find it: your mind will stop racing, and your heart rate will slow.

This isn't about perfection - it's about weaving in pockets of time that build up to aid resilience and calm.

3. Take care of your teeth

Yes, really. Grab that toothbrush and set a timer: your health depends on it.

"One area that rarely receives enough attention is oral health," notes Dr Hooper. "Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is one of the most common inflammatory conditions affecting adults, and its effects do not remain confined to the mouth. Bacteria and inflammatory by-products from diseased gum tissue can enter the bloodstream and contribute to a systemic inflammatory response."

You heard it here first: don't skip the floss, either.

4. Work it out

Much like prioritising sleep, it's not surprising to note that staying active is one of the best things we can do to reduce inflammation in the body.

"Regular exercise has been associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers over time," shares Dr Krishan. "It can also improve cardiovascular health, support the immune system and help regulate blood sugar levels. You don’t need to be training for a marathon either. Brisk walking, cycling, swimming or strength training can all be beneficial."

5. Limit alcohol consumption

Partial to an Aperol Spritz in the sun? Us too - and you don't have to cut it out entirely if it's something you enjoy, but it's worth cutting back on your alcohol consumption if inflammation is a concern.

"Limiting alcohol intake may help too," notes Dr Krishan. "Alcohol can trigger inflammatory processes within the body, particularly when consumed in excess. NHS guidelines recommend drinking no more than 14 units per week, spread across several days, although less is generally better from a health perspective."

6. Eat like you're in the Med

A Mediterranean diet is considered the gold standard in supporting inflammatory pathways - but you might want to lay off the crisps and Fanta Limon (sorry!) We're talking plant-focused, high-fibre plates that include plenty of fresh, minimally-processed foods and healthy fats.

"From a dietary perspective, a Mediterranean or DASH-style eating pattern remains the best-evidenced approach," advises Dr Hooper. "This means plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, nuts and seeds, alongside two to three portions of oily fish each week. Refined carbohydrates, ultra-processed foods, processed meats and sugary drinks all promote inflammatory signalling, so reducing these can have a meaningful impact."

7. Gua sha

Interested in Chinese medicine? "One of the key principles of Chinese Medicine is that where there is stagnation, there can be heat," shares Chinese medicine practitioner and founder of The Hayo'u Method, Katie Brindle. "When your circulation is not moving freely, the body can become stuck in a pattern of imbalance.

"Gua sha works by moving circulation, clearing heat and reducing stagnation. This is why your skin often flushes red after using a gua sha tool, as the increased circulation brings fresh blood flow to the surface.

"Research suggests that gua sha can increase microcirculation by up to 400% and may influence the body’s inflammatory response, which is why many people find it helps ease muscle tension, reduce feelings of tightness and leave them feeling more relaxed."

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