A new survey has revealed the contents of the average British woman’s bathroom beauty cabinet is worth an incredible £1,964.30 - but only £327 worth of them are used regularly.

Online beauty retailer Escentual.com's poll revealed that most women owned 65 beauty products which would cost on average £30.22 per product. But the vast majority of these beauty products would be rarely used – with less than a 1/6 being used daily. 

Most women said they would use only 11 favourite products every day, and admitted that over a fifth of beauty products they had bought had never been opened and would just sit in the cupboard collecting dust – (amounting to over £200 worth of wasted products.) But they kept most of the products just in case they were needed for special occasions.

Now Spring is here finally and most women will be clearing out the bathroom cabinet, and are set to find at least 14 unopened products sat at the back of the cupboard collecting dust.

Escentual.com Beauty Editor Emma Leslie said: "It’s that time of year when women are going to go through their cabinets looking to clear out the products they don't use anymore – it’s amazing that over 1 in 5 products bought never even get opened.

"Most consumers admitted that more than once a month they would buy a beauty product that they didn’t need when out on a shopping trip, just because they felt they had to buy something.

"This waste of money is much less likely with online shopping when women consider their purchase much more and can’t be pressurized into buying by pushy salespeople."

Nearly 14 times a year (13.7) women admitted buying beauty products they didn’t need in shops, as opposed to only 8 unwanted products a year online. But there are several women for whom shopping for beauty products is clearly their obsession. Over 1 in 8 women (17.6%) had beauty products worth in excess of £3,000 in the bathroom cupboard, and nearly one in five women (19.2%) had managed to stock-pile over 130 different beauty products in their cabinets. At the extreme end of the scale nearly 3% of women (2.9%) had over £5,000 worth of cosmetics all stored away in their bathroom cabinet. The survey also found that most women would clear out their cabinet once a year 65% but nearly one in eight admitted they only do it when they move house, and a quarter of women kept products in their cupboard that were up to three years old.

Words by Katy Pearson

New research from an online bathroom retailer has revealed that two thirds of Britons use technological gadgets whilst in the bath, despite the risks of water damage.

And 1 in 10 admitted to having damaged electronic goods by dropping them in the bath water accidently.



The study, conducted by www.UKBathrooms.com, polled 1,241 adults from around the UK as part of ongoing research into bathroom habits. The study asked, ‘Do you ever use technological equipment whilst in the bath tub?’ to which 67% said ‘yes’.

The survey then looked at the gadgets most commonly used in the bath.

The top 5, as revealed by the poll, was:

1. Smartphone- 71%
2. eReader - 54%
3. Tablet - 47%
4. iPod - 42%
5. Handheld games consoles - 31%
(respondents could select more than one answer if they used more than one gadget in the bath)

The most common bathtub activities involving gadgets, were:

1. Keeping up to date with social media - 57%
2. Speaking on the phone - 52%
3. Texting - 49%
4. Reading novels - 46%
5. Listening to music - 41%
6. Playing games - 38%
7. Watching videos - 33%
8. Keeping up to date with current affairs - 32%
9. Emailing - 29%
10. Skype/Facetime - 12%

Some 38% of people claimed they ‘became bored’ if they didn’t use gadgets in the bath, while 44% said that they spent longer in the bath due to using gadgets whilst having a soak, with 20 minutes being the average additional time spent in the tub for those using gadgets, compared to those that didn’t.

Words by Katy Pearson

More than a third of British women would rather lose weight than have a pay rise, says a new survey.

With summer holidays fast approaching it seems shedding pounds is more important than saving them for 35% of working women in the UK.

The poll by travel website HolidayPlace.co.uk asked British women if they would rather lose a stone in preparation for the beach or gain £1,000 on their annual salary. Despite the recession only 65% opted for the pay rise with the remainder saying they’d happily forgo the salary hike for the chance to possess the perfect bikini body like Kelly Brook’s.

And almost one in ten, eight per cent, said they would happily give up £1,000 of salary if it meant they were assured of losing a stone effortlessly.

Words by Katy Pearson

London Fire Brigade today issued a warning about ‘beauty blazes’, following a large house fire believed to have been caused by a hairdryer in Harrow this week.

New figures from the Brigade show that there is a ‘beauty blaze’ every fortnight in the capital, caused by items like hairdryers, straighteners, tongs, vanity mirrors, and bathroom candles.



Tom George, Acting Deputy Head of Community Safety at London Fire Brigade, said: "Firefighters in London attend at least one of these ‘beauty blazes’ every fortnight. Whether it’s candles used during a bath or straighteners used in the morning, people need to make sure they include fire safety in their beauty routines.

"Many of the straighteners available today can reach temperatures of over 200 degrees celsius, which is hotter than the oil in a deep fat fryer, so it’s vital that people take care.

"Candles are popular in the bathroom, but if they’re not placed on a heat proof surface, they can melt through your bath or toilet. This is especially important with tea lights, which get very hot on the bottom."

The fire in Harrow this week caused severe damage to the first floor of a terraced house. The blaze is believed to have been caused by a hairdryer which was left on a bed. It heated up the bedding which then caught fire, and quickly spread to the rest of the room. The fire comes just days after the Brigade published a photo of some burnt straighteners on its Facebook page, which went viral and has now been seen by 4.3 million people.

The facts

The LFB says 165 fires in the last five years have been caused by beauty habits. The most prolific cause of these ‘beauty blazes’ is candles used in the bathroom, which cause around two fires a week in London. Hairdryers, curling tongs, and hair straighteners have caused 17 fires in the last five years and shaving mirrors – which are angled to magnify people’s faces – were responsible for 33 fires. When in direct sunlight, the mirrors can magnify the sun’s rays, which can concentrate heat and ignite fabric (such as curtains and carpets) nearby. There was also once incident where a can of hairspray was left too near a candle, which caused it to heat up and explode.

Words by Katy Pearson

New research by an online independent travel agency has revealed a rise in the number of women using sunbeds, despite their dangers, in the run up to going abroad in order to achieve a ‘base tan’.

Sunshine.co.uk carried out the research as part of an ongoing study into the holiday preparations of people around the UK. More than 1,900 women from around the UK took part in the poll, all aged 21 and over.

When asked, ‘Have you ever used a sunbed to achieve a ‘base tan’ before going on a hot holiday abroad in the past?’ 19% of those taking part said ‘yes’.

These respondents were asked how many minutes they had used a sunbed for, in total, leading up to a holiday abroad; to which the average answer was ’30 minutes’.

When asked why they had wanted to build up a ‘base tan’ before going on holiday abroad, the majority, 62%, admitted that they didn’t want to appear ‘pale’ on their first day of the holiday, whilst 14% claimed that they thought it would prevent them from getting sunburn on holiday. 19% said a base tan helped them to get a darker tan when on holiday. All respondents were asked if they thought using a sunbed was dangerous, to which less than half, 43%, said ‘yes’. When asked if they had been sunburnt on their last holiday abroad, 77% of those taking part said that they had.

Chris Clarkson, co-founder of sunshine.co.uk, said: "Holidays shouldn’t be about getting a sun tan; they are about relaxing and spending time with family, friends or loved ones. There’re no two ways about it – using sunbeds is a dangerous habit and it’s something that should be avoided at all costs.

"So what if you look pale on a trip abroad. Holidaymakers should always put their health and safety before vanity."

Words by Katy Pearson

Some 59% of us would rather have cosmetic surgery to get a better body than eat healthily or exercise, reveals a new survey.

Online sport and exercise equipment retailers, Sweatband.com, surveyed more than 1,700 people on their attitudes towards cosmetic surgery.

The poll found women are more likely to consider cosmetic surgery to improve their appearance, making up just over half, 57%, of the respondents who claimed to prefer cosmetic surgery; compared to 43% of men.

When those who’d said they’d opt for cosmetic surgery were asked, ‘Why would you prefer to undergo cosmetic surgery rather than exercise and eat healthily?’ the majority, 62%, admitted that the ‘effort’ it took to exercise and eat well was a prohibitive factor, while 41% said they didn’t believe a healthy diet and exercise could ‘work for their body, from experience’, and 35% said they didn’t have the time to achieve their ideal body naturally.

According to the results of the study, the top 5 most desired cosmetic procedures amongst women are:

1. Liposuction – 78%
2. Tummy tuck – 65%
3. Breast implants – 43%
4. Breast lift – 39%
5. Bum implants – 17%

In contrast, the most desired cosmetic procedures amongst men are:

1. Liposuction – 68%
2. Breast reduction – 42%
3. Tummy tuck – 31%
4. Pectoral implants – 19%
5. Abdominal implants – 16%

Of the respondents, 26% said that they would consider themselves ‘regular exercisers’. Over a third, 35%, said that they believed they had a healthy diet.

Maz Darvish, CEO of Sweatband.com, said: "As you’d imagine, we entirely advocate a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise when it comes to improving your physique, but we wanted to see just how many people would consider surgery as a quick-fix means to achieving the body of their dreams.

"It appears that more needs to be done to counter the damage being done by members of the public constantly seeing cosmetic surgery as the easy option. Although it may help with confidence and outward appearance in the short term, only through a healthy lifestyle can you improve your fitness and ensure your body, particularly your heart and lungs, function as healthily as possible. The benefits of exercise in prolonging life and combating disease are very well documented, but this is lost on people who’d instead prefer to pay their way to a better body."

Words by Katy Pearson

French women look seven years younger than British women by the time they reach 40, says a new survey.

More than 80% of British women think that French women are the best preserved in the whole of Europe and that they age much more gracefully than us Brits.

In a survey commissioned by UK beauty retailer Escentual.com, British women judged their French counterparts to look seven years younger than them by the time they hit 40. And in the case of some famous French women it was more than seven years. Politician Segolene Royal, 59, was thought to be 12-years-younger at 47, and actress Catherine Deneuve, 69 was thought to be 10-years younger. French actress Audrey Tautou, who is 36 – they thought was 29. Actress Juliette Binoche, 48, was judged to be 41.

The vast majority of British women (89%) said the secret to French women’s youthful visage is their anti-ageing skin care regime. French ladies start using skin repair, anti-ageing creams and serums at least five years earlier than British women – 33% of French women start as early as 15, and by the age of 20, nearly two thirds of French women are using specialist anti-ageing French pharmacy brands like Avene, La Roche-Posay and Caudalie.

On our side of the English Channel women generally don’t start on their skin-care routine until the age of 25, and even then it’s only half of British women that would have a consistent regime of anti-ageing skincare.

Escentual.com skin-care expert Emma Leslie said: "British women tend to start using anti-ageing products when they start to see the first effects of ageing, which can be a bit too little too late. Whereas French women will often take preventative measures even when they are in their mid to late teens."

The French are by far the biggest spender on anti-ageing products in Europe – spending £1.9 billion on facial skincare in 2009, an average expenditure of £78-a-year for every female over 15 in France. British women spend less than half that (£854 million) which may go some way to explain the comparatively wrinkle-free French visage.

When British women were asked if French women’s increased expenditure had worked for them 90% said they thought it had, and 51% of that number said they would be happy to spend that much more if they could get the same results.

Perhaps the biggest thing about being a mum isn’t the years of perpetual tiredness, hollering up the stairs to question why the day’s activities are now decorating the living room, and a never ending stream of questions that can be summed up by the phrase ‘I want something’, but simply the sheer weight of responsibility it involves.

For this reason, it seems that the great benefit of being a ‘grown up’ child, so to speak, is that rather than simply buying a gift for our mums on Mother’s Day, arranging something special for her to do without her having to worry about the organizational details is likely to be the best gift of all. So naturally, being the spa fan that I am, I can see no finer option than to do this in the form of a spa day (or break if you’re feeling flash).

This is a conclusion I come to, not just as the Editor of Spabreaks.com you understand, but also because, with that privilege, comes the knowledge that in 2013, a spa day can encompass a whole catalogue of different things to suit all manner of mums. So I thought I would share a little selection with you …


Sofitel So SPA, London
www.spabreaks.com/venues/sofitel-so-spa

For a really decadent treat, you would be hard pushed to find somewhere as beautiful and well located as Sofitel So SPA St James. Practically next door to St James’s Palace, it was once a Lloyds Bank subsidiary and owned by The Crown Estate, so the layout of the spa is anything but what you would expect. The ceiling in the reception area, where there is also a long marble table to sit at with a glass of Kir Royale, is impossibly high, and above you can see the stuccoed ceiling that has been retained. Detail is key here, and the part I particularly like about their So Mumnifique spa package, is the inclusion of a Rose Kir Royal, and rose macaroon to match.

Amida Spa Farnham, Surrey
www.spabreaks.com/venues/amida-spa-farnham

If you plan on making your mum’s spa day a group occasion, Amida Spa Farnham has a wealth of facilities to occupy you from morning ‘till night, and enough space to make you feel as though you pretty much have the place to yourself, despite its popularity. We are talking saunas for 20, multiple pools, underwater speakers, and five relaxation rooms!

Lifehouse Spa and Hotel, Essex
www.spabreaks.com/venues/lifehouse-spa-hotel

With an on-site naturopath who works tirelessly to create spa experiences where everything from the food to the treatment complements one another, this is the place that makes being healthy fun. It is an ultra modern building that’s all white and slate grays peppered with modern art, but it is constructed around the remains of a 19th century manor house and 130 acres of gardens, which pay homage to historic visitors including Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling. If you want to address a particular health issue and treat it as a day of detox and fitness, this is your chance, but if you would rather, Prosecco and organic cakes are also on the menu.



Danesfield House Hotel, Buckinghamshire
www.spabreaks.com/venues/danesfield-house-hotel

A converted Victorian country mansion with views across the Buckinghamshire countryside, the spa and hotel at Danesfield House Hotel are in separate buildings and have contrasting vibes – one being modern, the other historic, and it is definitely a place to stay overnight. The last time I visited it was snowing, and the hotel looked like a fairytale castle, all white against the pristine backdrop. Suites have four-poster beds, and living areas are fit for a Tudor queen, so when visiting you need to leave enough time to simply luxuriate in the different spaces – from sitting by the fire, to a swim with a view, and a stroll around the grounds.

The Garage, County Durham
www.spabreaks.com/venues/the-garage

It’s a bit of an unusual one for Mother’s Day, but The Garage is a day spa that’s wonderfully characterful and homely without compromising on style. Its name comes from the site’s history as a resting place for travelers to stop and refuel their various modes of transport – depending on which era you look back to that could be a horse or a car – they have seen it all. These days, they keep the history alive with a slightly different sort of MOT, in the form of rest, recuperation and lots of spa treatments using locally sourced ingredients such as honey and rose petals. I think it is particularly charming that the spa packages have been thoughtfully named as well, including The Coastal Path, and The Scenic Route.

Ruthin Castle, Wales
www.spabreaks.com/venues/ruthin-castle-hotel

A fusion of Finnish, Russian and Siberian spa experiences, Ruthin Castle is unique for its indoor/outdoor elements in the grounds of a medieval castle, so there is definitely something of the earth mother about this one. It also provides a fascination for history buffs as the castle itself was built by Edward I in 1277 with later owners including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Completing the picture, they also use Welsh mud, and bespoke treatments featuring ingredients such as ginger, argan oil and tea tree, many of which are locally sourced – which for all its old fashioned charm is really the ultimate in contemporary escapism!

Words by Bonnie Friend

The most pampered mums in the Britain are from Cornwall, and mums in the county receive the most lavish gifts on Mother’s Day, says beauty retailer Escentual.com.

On average the amount spent last year on perfume and beauty gifts for Cornish mum’s was £62.44, and Falmouth, in Cornwall, was Britain’s most generous town with sons and daughters spending £106 on average on Mother’s Day presents.

Northallerton in North Yorkshire had the lowest average spend in Britain for Mother’s Day at £7.12.

The five most generous towns were:

• Falmouth in Cornwall (£106),
• Royal Leamington Spa in Warwickshire (£102),
• Pudsey in West Yorkshire (£97.62),
• Bicester in Oxfordshire (£91),
• Nuneaton in Warwickshire (£88)

While the five most pampered counties in Great Britain were:

• Cornwall (£62.44),
• South Glamorgan (£60.35),
• Warwickshire (£55.74),
• Derbyshire (£55.39),
• Oxfordshire (£54.90)

The five least generous towns were:

• Northallerton in North Yorkshire (£7.12),
• Wallasey in Merseyside (£11.95),
• Epsom in Surrey (£12.32),
• Silchester in Hampshire (£16.50),
• Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire (£18.50)

And the least generous counties were:

• Shropshire (£26.51),
• South Humberside (£29.76),
• Ayrshire (£30.40),
• Dorset (£30.84),
• Herefordshire (£32.19)

The results, compiled Escentual.com from their nationwide Mother’s Day sales figures, also show that British sons and daughters spend an average of £41.23 on beauty and perfume gifts for their mums.

Escentual.com CEO Rakesh Aggarwal said: "There was a huge variation on expenditure for Mother’s Day gifts across the Britain but Cornwall, and Falmouth in particular, were by far the most generous. But it’s the thought that counts on Mother’s Day, so any present given on the day will always be cherished."

Escentual.com’s best selling Mother’s Day products so far for this year are:

1) Crabtree & Evelyn Happy Hands Gift Set
2) Tisserand Luxury Bath Soak
3) Roger & Gallet Perfumed Soaps Gifts Set
4) Tisserand Soothing Wheat Cushion
5) Guerlain Rouge Automatique Lipstick

Words by Katy Pearson

It isn’t hard to see the enjoyable side of spa; the word is synonymous with relaxation, indulgence and the more enjoyable side of health. What is perhaps a little lesser known however is the practical impact it can have, particularly as we get a little older.

A spa isn’t necessarily the first port of call for most of us when we are looking for a solution to a health problem, or even something we would seriously consider incorporating into our wider health routine. However, choose the right venue and you will find a wealth of expertise and practical advice available for everything from coping with the menopause to help with insomnia, eczema and psoriasis, rheumatism, nutrition, and general health and fitness...

Menopause

For some women it’s a life event that has very little impact, while for others menopause leaves an indelible and often intolerable mark on their day-to-day lives. However, while it often remains a somewhat unspoken trauma, an increasing number of experts are working on holistic methods and lifestyle solutions with long term effects. At Grayshott Hotel Spa, Maryon Stewart, who started the Women’s Natural Advisory Service, has implemented her specialised programmes to advise women both during and after they reach the menopause, to make the transition as seamless as possible, or even to improve your health afterwards!

Rheumatism

Sulphur water is known for its healing properties in terms of many different health concerns, thanks to both the temperatures and the natural mineral content. At Ayii Anargyri in Cyprus, the springs in the hillsides fill the spa’s hydrotherapy pools, and prove particularly soothing when it comes to rheumatic diseases and chronic joint inflammation. It has been known to improve mobility, as well as ease pain.

Eczema and Psoriasis

Anyone who has a skin condition whether it’s severe dry skill, eczema, or psoriasis, will know that skin conditions can be a problem for any of us at any stage in our lives, and treating them is an ongoing battle. Often creams, lotions and potions seem to initially treat the surface but don’t have a long lasting effect either on discomfort or appearance. At Donnington Valley, they offer an Aqua Sun Mineral Treatment, which sees you soak under a UV canopy, in a bath containing 21 minerals and organic plant extracts from the Dead Sea. As a source of Vitamin D, it has a particularly positive effect on soothing skin conditions, while also countering Seasonal Affected Disorder, acne, and aiding detox.

Insomnia

Again, insomnia, and sleep problems can affect us at any age, but often when we are changing routines, perhaps as a result of retirement, or going through life changes such as menopause or a bereavement we are more susceptible. It is common practice to believe that most sleeping problems are the result of an overactive mind. According to sleep specialist, Tej Samani, however, there is a whole catalogue of reasons as to why people can struggle to sleep, many of them physical. Another specialist now running his clinics through Grayshott Hotel and Spa, Samani’s programmes are accessible with the wider support of the venue’s health and fitness facilities, adding a concentrated healing dimension, and a kick start to change.

Nutrition

Nutrition can have an impact on all areas of health, from digestion to skin conditions, weight, and overall wellbeing. However, trying to decipher the good, the bad, and the just-plain-ridiculous from one another with so much information flying around, can be confusing at best. As the basis of all their spa packages, Longevity Wellness Resort in Portugal offers guests both a nutritional evaluation and a biophysical evaluation, which give personal, in depth nutritional and fitness guidance based on your current fitness, age, and particular health concerns, in what is nothing short of a beautiful environment (think walks in the Monchique hinterland, swimming with a view of the treetops – you get the picture). What is also particularly nice about Longevity Wellness Resort’s approach to nutrition is that they explain the ingredients and benefits of the meals they offer in the restaurant and put any belief that healthy living is about taste deprivation and unsatisfactory portions to rest, with positively mouth-watering spreads.

Fatigue

As an offshoot of insomnia, stress, or dietary imbalances, chronic fatigue can really have an impact on your quality of life. Osteopathy, and in particular, cranial osteopathy can not only help to induce a better nights sleep, but also provide a prescriptive element, helping to identify concerns across the body that might be causing fatigue or contributing to it without you realising. Again, Grayshott Hotel Spa is on hand, and also Gleneagles, thanks to their recent introduction of ESPA Life, with specialist therapists. The advantage of these treatments being delivered at a spa is that there are so many other surrounding therapies and advice available in the same place to add support to the treatment. At Gleneagles in particular, the on-site naturopath, who oversees ESPA Life, is able to offer lifestyle and nutritional advice to help ensure that the effects of the treatment are ongoing.

Visit any of these spas and more by visiting Spabreaks.com or contacting 0800 043 6600.

Words by Bonnie Friend

A new survey by VoucherCodesPro.co.uk has revealed that more than 50% of men would choose a partner who was less attractive, over someone they thought better looking, if they thought she had ‘inexpensive tastes’. 

More than 1,200 single UK men, aged 18 and over, were polled as part of research into male relationship values.

Respondents were initially asked ‘What are the key things you look for in a partner?’ and asked to choose from a list of options.

The top ten results were as follows, with respondents able to select more than one answer:

1. Good sense of humour - 68%
2. Caring nature -66%
3. Financial independence - 60%
4. Looks - 58%
5. Intelligence - 55%
6. Gets on well with friends and family - 54%
7. Personal interests - 52%
8. Ambition - 49%
9. Dress sense - 45%
10. Corresponding beliefs (religious/political) - 42%

Respondents were then asked: ‘Given the choice between a partner you consider to be good looking with expensive tastes, compared to somebody you consider to be less good looking but with ‘inexpensive tastes’, which option would you choose?’ 54% said they would choose the person with ‘inexpensive tastes’ over a more high maintenance partner. However, 29%, did admit that they would opt for a better looking partner with expensive tastes, with the remaining 17% unsure.

When asked why they would choose someone with less expensive tastes over someone they considered better looking, the majority (51%) explained that they would simply consider expensive tastes as an ‘unattractive feature’.

Those polled were also asked ‘Would you dump a partner if they didn’t get on with your friends?’ 42% said ‘yes’. 37% said ‘no’, whilst the remaining 21% said they ‘didn’t know’.

George Charles of VoucherCodesPro.co.uk said: "It's a refreshing change for our survey to reveal that people aren't as obsessed with looks as we might think. It seems they're equally obsessed with money! On a positive note, if you’ve got a caring nature and a good sense of humour then you can consider yourself a real catch."

Words by Katy Pearson

It's not a time to set your alarm for, but 3.30pm on Wednesday is the moment each week that a woman looks and feels her oldest, says a new survey.

It is, researched says, the point in the week when energy levels have plummeted, stress is at its highest level and weekend excesses really take their toll.

Oh well, at least we'll look younger in the morning...

A study conducted by www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk has revealed we really care about what other people think of our look - and that'd we'd rather people lied if they don't like our style.

More than 1,500 women were asked ‘Does what other people think of how you look matter to you?’ The majority, (92%), said it did. When asked to stipulate which people they asked the most to comment on their outfits (being able to select more than one answer), 89% said that they tended to ask their partner if they looked OK, while 77% said they asked their friends and 62% turned to family members. Furthermore, 17% of respondents said they asked colleagues to give outfit advice, while 1% even admitted to asking for strangers’ opinions on how they looked.

When asked whether or not they preferred to be lied to or told the truth when it came to their personal style and outfit choices, the majority of respondents, (61%), admitted that they wanted to be lied to, while 29% said they preferred honesty and 10% said it depended entirely on who the person giving the opinion was.

The research further revealed that 42% prefer to be lied to when it came to how they looked because honesty would knock their confidence, while 39% said they didn’t want to get into an argument about their style and 23% said that they couldn’t be bothered to change their outfit if someone said they didn’t really like their look.

However, when asked whether or not they were honest with other people when it came to the way they looked in the fashion sense, the majority of respondents, 63%, admitted that they were not, while over a quarter, 26% said they were. 11% said it depends on who asked them.

According to the poll, respondents were most likely to lie to colleagues and strangers about how they looked style-wise.

Mark Pearson, Chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “We were interested to find out whether or not British women preferred to be lied to if they didn’t look good in the fashion sense. Interestingly, the majority of those taking part admitted that they preferred to be lied to by their colleagues, friends, family and even their partners! While a healthy reality-check is always a good thing, it is obvious that many women only ask their friends and partners how they look not to hear the truth, but for a simple confidence boost.”

Words by Katy Pearson

A nationwide survey of more than 2,000 men has found that Leeds is the ‘moobs’ capital of the UK, with almost three fifths of men living there admitting to having ‘man boobs’.

As part of research into the health and fitness of the nation, Sweatband.com have revealed that 46% of men believe that they have ‘moobs’. The survey of 2,138 men found the highest proportion of men with ‘moobs’ in the UK can be found in Leeds, very closely followed by Swansea.

When asked “Would you consider yourself to have moobs – also known as man boobs?” 46% of all the men taking part answered ‘yes’. Almost three quarters, 73%, of the men that admitted to having moobs said it affected their confidence. 42% of them also said that they had considered surgery to correct the problem. Of the men that believed they had ‘moobs’, 55% were over the age of forty and a third, 34%, were aged thirty or younger.

The survey also asked “If you believe you have ‘moobs’, why do you think this is the case?”. 71% said they blamed their diet, whilst a similar figure, 67%, blamed a lack of exercise. 23% said they believed it was genetic and 16% said they were ‘unsure’.

The highest proportion of men with ‘moobs’, according to the survey, can be found in the following places:

1. Leeds – 59%
2. Swansea – 57%
3. Glasgow – 56%
4. Manchester – 54%
5. Bristol – 52%
6. Newport – 50%
7. Coventry – 48%
8. Wrexham – 46%
9. Colchester – 45%
10. Lincoln – 45%

Excessive development of male breasts – also known as gynaecomastia – is most commonly attributed to obesity, but can also be triggered by hormonal problems and in some cases, medication. Maz Darvish, CEO of Sweatband.com, said: “Whilst in some cases moobs are due to hormonal problems or medication, excessive fat build-up of any kind is usually a sign that a healthier lifestyle is in order.”

Words by Katy Pearson

TV presenter Davina McCall has revealed her grandmother believes long hair is 'slutty' on women aged 30 and over.

In an interview last week Davina - who is the face of Garnier Nutrisse's advertising campaign - said: ‘My granny thinks that after 30 you’re not allowed to have long hair, she thinks I look a bit slutty because I’ve got long hair and it was the thing in those days you weren’t allowed to have long hair after 30.’

But what do you think? Cast your vote below...



By Katy Pearson

Males spend longer on their daily grooming routine than females, say new figures from Socked.co.uk – the sock subscription service for gentlemen.

The survey revealed a man can spend up to 75 minutes every day washing, shaving and styling themselves, compared with the 70 minutes that women spend on their beauty regime.

"This is superb news for the British gentleman," says Mark Hall, from Socked.co.uk. "At last they're paying more attention to their personal image, and mankind will be all the better for it." 

"Once men start to take care of themselves, they also start caring for the people and things around them. They turn from mere 'men' into 'gentlemen'." 

The poll also revealed:

• 85% of men admitted to spending more than half an hour on hair styling
• 42% said they owned a hair dryer
• 36% said they owned hair straighteners
• 98% said they planned at least 2 days in advance what they were going to wear

According to the survey, the average man owns four pairs of shoes, five pairs of jeans, 17 shirts, and 11 pairs of socks of varying quality. 

"The funny thing is," said Hall, "despite spending longer to get ready, it's still solely the male experience to be ready and waiting at the front door on a night out." 

"Is it simply because men are better at managing their time?" he asked, "Or is Einstein's Theory of Relativity at work, where time runs at different speeds in separate locations?"

Words by Katy Pearson

A new survey has revealed that the average cost of a British woman’s make-up bag is an incredible £172.

A recent online questionnaire by beauty retailer Escentual.com revealed that most women’s make-up bag and contents were the single most expensive item that they took out of the house with them on a regular basis.

On average the total cost of the make-up bag was £172 which is more valuable than most women’s second-hand smartphone, watch, bag, or the cash in their purse. But despite that few women are specifically insured for loss or theft of their make-up bag, which is especially alarming as last year there was an 11% rise in hand-bag snatches in the UK, the largest rise for this type of crime in 10 years.

Emma Leslie, Beauty Editor of Escentual.com, said: “Most women were surprised to discover their make-up bag was worth more than their mobile which is probably why few women would think about insuring their make-up bag.

“Individual make-up items aren’t particularly expensive but there are so many products that the cost of the whole make-up bag very quickly mounts up. Many women weren’t aware that their make-up bag was the most valuable thing they took out with them on a daily basis.”

In the survey conducted with over 2,000 customers of the Escentual.com website, the average costs of make-up in their bags was calculated from the cost of all the beauty items the women would regularly carry. Lipstick, £14, eyeliner, £11, mascara, £23, foundation £27, concealer £11, eye-shadow £16, blusher £11, bronzer £11, eyelash curler £5, eyebrow pencil £5, lip-liner £5, lip-gloss £11, and the grand total came to £172 for the average UK make-up bag. And that’s not taking into account the cost of the bag itself.

Emma Leslie added: “The women surveyed admitted having quite a few products in their bag that they rarely used, but they took them out just so they could be ready for every eventuality.

“When they realised the cost of the make-up bag they were quite shocked. I’m sure most of them will want to check whether they would be insured if they lost it or had it stolen.”

Had your make-up bag stolen?

Escentual.com are offering 15% off to any woman who contacts them with a valid police crime number and will replace any products that they stock on the website at 15% off the price. To be eligible just email makeup@escentual.com with your crime number and details and they will send a promo code for the 15% discount.

Words by Katy Pearson

A survey of British men has found that one in ten men admit to secretly using make-up, with men from Newcastle being the most likely to wear make-up; closely followed by men from Essex.

More than 1,800 men were surveyed by designer secret sales website HushHush.com to investigate men’s attitudes towards make-up and toiletries, as well as the number of British males who admit to wearing make-up.

When asked ‘Do you ever secretly wear make-up?’ 11% of respondents admitted that they did. When asked how often they did so, the majority, 52%, of these respondents said they did so ‘regularly’; while 21% admitted that they wore it ‘every day’.

These respondents were then asked to highlight which make-up products they used. The top five products used by those who said they secretly wore make-up were:

1. Concealer – 71% (of make-up-wearing respondents stating they used it)
2. Lip gloss – 64%
3. Eyeliner – 49%
4. Mascara – 31%
5. Bronzer – 18%

More than a third of the men taking part (37%), said they used fake tanning products; with the majority of these, (68%) preferring to use at-home products. The remainder said they preferred to go to spray-tanning salons and 14% of men also said that they regularly used tanning beds.

The survey then asked respondents who secretly wore make-up which town or city in the UK they lived in, revealing that Northerners are more likely to wear make-up than their Southern counterparts; with just three of the top ten towns and cities being located in the south.

The towns or cities in which men were most likely to secretly wear make-up were revealed as:

1. Newcastle
2. Essex
3. Liverpool
4. Leeds
5. Edinburgh
6. Manchester
7. Exeter
8. Nottingham
9. Cardiff
10. Middlesbrough

Mark Pearson, founder of HushHush.com, said: “With men in the public eye wearing make-up, including X Factor winner James Arthur, it appears to be becoming more acceptable. Despite this, the majority of men who wear make-up feel that they have to do so in secret, although in reality, people around them are bound to have noticed but, in true British style, are probably too polite to bring it up!”

Words by Katy Pearson

Did you get a beauty product you didn't want this Christmas? You're not alone.

The average British woman throws away two Christmas beauty gifts, worth an average £26.36, according to new national research by BlanX.

But beauty binning isn't just for Christmas. British women will throw away an average of one beauty product every month of the year, the nationwide survey shows.

While the average UK woman buys almost three (2.91) new beauty products for herself per month they tend to stick to the same tried and tested brands they know and trust.

More than seven out of 10 women say they continue to buy the same beauty products because of “positive usage” whereas just 12.4% buy on the recommendation of others.

A further 18.5% buy the same beauty brands out of loyalty and some 24.7% buy the same brands because of habit.

Senior Brand Manager for BlanX, Louise Marks said: “British women are very loyal to their favourite brands and tend to want to stick with the beauty products they know and love.

“They very rarely choose a new beauty product based on a recommendation from others and choose their make-up and other beauty essentials out of habit, loyalty and, most importantly, because it has had a positive result for them in the past."

Words by Katy Pearson

With almost three quarters of us (72%) starting 2013 unhappy with our weight and almost a fifth (18%) of dieters admitting to feeling fat every single day of the week, new research from XLS-Medical Fat Binder, reveals that our New Year diet confidence suffers after just two weeks.

Almost two fifths (39%) of dieters admit to giving up by mid-January primarily as a result of following a restrictive programme alongside coping with the demands from work and home.

The top diet plan that slimmer’s are most likely to stick to, is one that is easy to follow and doesn’t impact on their daily routine (42%).

Nicole Ehlen, Marketing Manager for XLS-Medical Fat Binder, comments: "Many dieters lead busy lives and don’t have the time or energy to spend hours following a complex weight loss regime. A plan that can be easily incorporated into a dieter’s normal routine will have a higher likelihood of making those weight loss goals a reality."

The research also found that boosting a dieters confidence is central to combating the yo-yo diet mentality. A simple and sincere compliment, like ‘have you lost weight?’(66%) or ‘you look great’ (53%) helps motivate 85% of dieters to stick to their weight loss regime.

More than a quarter of dieters (26%), said they lose motivation when their weight loss efforts go unnoticed. 

Shockingly the research also reveals that almost one in ten of us (9%) admit to actively encouraging a dieter to fall off the wagon. Furthermore, dieters are increasingly encountering the rise of the ‘compl-insult’ – a compliment that is intended to be an insult. The most common code words for fat were revealed as: ‘Well-nourished’ (37%); ‘Curvy’ (36%); ‘You’re looking well’ (33%)

Perhaps this explains why dieters are welcoming the attention of wolf whistles from strangers. More than half (54%) would like to be on the receiving end of a wolf whistle and 28% regard this as one of the biggest motivators to weight loss.

And it seems our lack of genuine compliments may be having a more serious impact on the resolve of New Year dieters in the UK. While many of us shrug off our New Year’s resolutions, this lack of commitment has harsher consequences for dieters. Half of the people feeling overweight said they will avoid going swimming, 1 in 5 refuse to socialise with new people because of their size and worryingly, 1 in 10 parents feel their size prevents them from taking part in activities with their children, demonstrating the far reaching consequences of being overweight.

Words by Katy Pearson