PlatinumMarch 2024的目錄

I know Christmas is long gone and Strictly season is almost over (if you count the tour), but I’m so pleased that we have Angela Rippon on our cover (page 16). I was a huge fan of Come Dancing back in the day, which she presented, and who can forget the famous Morecambe and Wise moment when the nation got a flash of those long, flexible legs of hers? I know Angela has done, and still does, plenty of diverse TV programmes, but for me she’ll always be associated with dancing, especially now she’s part of the Stricly alumni – I’ve been after her for a cover since she was announced as a contestant. Reading about her early days in TV has been fascinating and inspiring – and I won’t…

I’ve worked in women’s magazines for 17 years and been a beauty junkie even longer. I scour INCI lists (collated ingredients used in cosmetics), aiming to understand and seek efficacious ingredients and weed out products with undesirable additives. It’s been a huge learning curve, which continues to this day as skincare continues to evolve. I now shudder to think back to when I would wash my poor face, body and hair in moisture-stripping, sulphate-containing, harsh chemical-filled products. My younger skin was more tolerant, so I had no idea the damage I was doing, but have since learned what tends to dry out my skin (sodium lauryl sulphate I’m looking at you!). Now, with my skin often parched, crépey and flaky like the drifting sands of the Gobi Desert (leg dandruff,…

LOUISE MINCHIN The TV presenter and author shares news of her latest daring escapades and sporting trials. ADELE PARKS MBE Bestselling author Adele rounds up her six favourite new reads for us this month. JANE MOORE The Loose Women presenter shares the latest on her life, including wedding dress shopping! DR DAWN HARPER The author and GP advises on the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. DOTTIE MONAGHAN Platinum’s resident make-up artist shares her 12 top tips for great midlife hair. SUZY GLASKIE Health coach Suzy invites you to bring out your creative side and reap the mental benefits. HEATHER JACKSON Menopause champ Heather decides a spring clean of the heart is in order. GAIL ROLFE Fashion expert Gail adds colour to your wardrobe with vibrant knitwear. ELIZABETH JOSEPH Our…

My mother is now in her 90s, and a few years ago, failing eyesight meant she struggled to handle her own paperwork. She asked me to become her power of attorney, and thank goodness she did. For I’m not sure how she would have coped with the increasing alienation of the elderly by some of the country’s largest companies in their relentless pursuit of “going digital”. Heck, I’m only 61 and sometimes struggle to navigate the twists, turns and frustrating dead ends of trying to get anything done online. They tell you it’s for efficiency, but clearly that doesn’t apply to the customer experience. PLEASE FORM AN ORDERLY QUEUE Whilst trying to sort out an issue with British Gas not long ago, I started with one of those frustrating chatbots…

While the weather usually takes time to catch up, the beginning of spring is a hopeful season. A time to look forward and embrace the possibilities of what’s to come. Spring is also a great time for a spot of cleaning – out with the old and in with the new. That might be a scrub of your house from top to bottom, or maybe just a little declutter. The funny thing about doing a big clear out is it makes you realise just how much stuff you accumulate over the course of a year. Maybe you’re someone who likes to keep hold of things just in case they come in handy; things that deep down you know you’ll probably never need, but you don’t want to get rid of…

I personally believe you should strive to achieve great hair, not great hair “for your age”. Forget about out-dated sayings and statements, just be yourself. If you’ve always been adventurous with cut and colour, carry on. Equally, it’s never too late to make a bold change. After all, it’s only hair which will grow back. That said, your hair may have its own agenda. It can start to become dry, brittle, thin, or more coarse in texture, or even change to curly! Of course, greying colour may make it harder to keep the style you love. Results will always be better if you work in harmony with your hair and its evolving texture, rather than against it. Just 10 minutes with the right product and a little knowledge can completely…

Rich in history and nestled in the village of Crawfordsburn, just 10 minutes from Belfast ciy centre and 5 minutes from the seaside town of Bangor, The Old Inn is the perfect rural retreat. Dating back to 1614, it’s labelled as one of the region’s most historic hotels. With cosy dark corners, log fires, glorious grub, and elegant interiors, the property oozes Jacobean character and charm and is the perfect boutique-hotel hideaway, served up with heartfelt personal service and an easygoing “at-home” atmosphere. ROOM WITH A VIEW Kick off your shoes, put your feet up and make yourself at home with a room for every mood. The unique traditional design exudes character with a combination of comfortable furniture and classic designs. Petite rooms are individually decorated and are the cosiest…

When you think about work, the word “stress” may not be far behind. There are undoubtedly more stressful types of jobs and work environments, and it’s important to remember we all respond differently – what may be stressful for one person may not be the same for another. Stress is not always a bad thing however, with some levels of stress being motivating and performance-enhancing. But when stress becomes chronic and excessive, it can have negative effects on both physical and mental health. Midlife women are no strangers to juggling lots of responsibilities too, which can lead to stress. As well as work and financial responsibilities, you might have family and social commitments, and for some looking after ageing parents. And if that was not enough, your body is or…

Do you ever wake up at stupid o’clock to discover your duvet on the floor? Have you ever been disturbed by a yelp in the night, only to realise you’ve just kicked your partner in your sleep? Twitching legs, also known as Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), affects women twice as much as men. While not necessarily caused by perimenopause, it is most certainly very common amongst those in perimenopause and/or midlife. This is something I really suffer from; mine is less restless legs and more fish on land. According to my husband I leap around and kick and flail and gasp. I am mostly unaware of what I am up to but I certainly wake up feeling exhausted, so I don’t disbelieve him. He would also have to be fairly…

As a personal trainer, I was already aware of the benefits of exercise, but once I started digging into the research around menopause and midlife, I realised that not only was movement a non-negotiable part of the journey, but that what we do and how we move is just as important. I have seen first-hand from working with women who never exercised before, the transformative power movement can have when it becomes a daily habit, a non-negotiable. An effective workout is not determined by the amount of sweat produced, your inability to move the next day, or the amount of time it takes. Any movement is beneficial, but it does need to elevate the heart rate at least 3-4 times a week. Ideally, you will also add some resistance to…

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HOW MUCH? ● The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises people to aim for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week to lower LDL cholesterol. People that increased their walking to an hour a day, five days a week, had a reduction in the amount of LDL cholesterol and an increase in their HDL over a 24-week walking study. What is particularly positive is that there is no need to run! A 2013 comparative review showed that as long as the amount of energy you expend is the same, both moderate walking and vigorous running reduce the risk of a number of heart-related cholesterol issues by the same amount. WHEN TO WALK? ● There is evidence that walking in the latter part of the day may have…

Adele Parks MBE is the author of 23 bestselling novels including Just Between Us, Lies Lies Lies and Just My Luck. She writes compelling, twisty psychological thrillers that are popular all over the world, with five million English language editions sold. She is dedicated to spreading the joy of reading and is a proud ambassador of The National Literacy Trust. She loves hearing from readers so keep in touch with her via X (formerly Twitter) @adeleparks or at instagram.com/adele_parks. AN IDEAL HUSBAND by Erica James (£16.99, HarperCollins) Erica James is known for her uplifting, wryly humorous family dramas. After 30 years of marriage, and a wonderful family Christmas, Louisa is stunned when husband Kip asks for a divorce on Boxing Day. She can’t comprehend it; he’d never seemed unhappy and…

With our climate, investing in cosy knits will never be money wasted. But maybe it’s time to step away from that comfort zone of reliable neutral jumpers that we love and cherish, and venture into the bold and brave arena of vibrant hues. Forget the much-loved wardrobe staples of black, navy, grey or camel, and instead think about adding a blast of colour. This is the kind of style dopamine hit we all need right now. Investing in a jumper ticks so many boxes: cosy, comfortable, chic, stylish, timeless, ageless, useful. When you think about it, we probably spend more time wearing knits than we ever do in flimsy clothing. Jumpers bring a warm hug that you can always rely on. Right now, there is a kaleidoscope of choice in…

With spring still some way away and the evenings dark, now’s the perfect time to don your pyjamas, cosy up and lavish some attention on your skin. And we’re not talking about just popping on a face mask – this is the time to make your bedtime beauty routine really count. ‘The concept of beauty sleep isn’t a marketing notion,’ says dermo-pharmacist Dr Colette Haydon, founder of Lixir Skin (lixirskin.co.uk). ‘Science shows that good sleep is essential for repairing, regenerating and restructuring the skin. During the day, your skin’s main job is to keep hydrated and protected against dirt, pollution and UV rays, so repair takes a back seat. But when you’re sleeping, skin switches into recovery mode.’ It seems your skin is hardwired to get busy at night –…

The idea for Vintage Playing Cards came from a beautiful pack of 1920s Art Deco playing cards.Unfortunately one card was missing, making the deck useless for playing with, so I decided to turn them into greeting cards instead. That idea then expanded into handmaking frames using cards from a vintage spelling game. I have always been interested in art and design. I’m also fascinated with reusing things and love the idea of giving something vintage a new lease of life. Our designs are created using upcycled vintage games and every product is handmade or finished in our Suffolk studio. Our customers are often the source of our inspiration. Many of our designs can be personalised, so it is always charming when families or couples choose a particular phrase, quote or…

‘It’s been quite the transition for me and I’m proud of myself’ Kim Hughes feels her story is one of stepping out of the shadows and into the light. Born with congenital limb loss, without fingers on one of her hands, Kim wasn’t initially aware she was different from others. But it wasn’t until she changed schools, at the age of eight, that people started asking questions for the first time. ‘I distinctly remember that from that point on I started to hide my right hand,’ she says. Kim found her teenage years particularly difficult, and when it came to moving away from home to go to university, ‘I just couldn’t cope – especially with meeting new people, there was a lot of hand shaking. I hadn’t found my way…

There are around 8,100 new diagnoses of ovarian cancer in the UK every year. In fact, it is the sixth most common cancer and accounts for four per cent of all new cancer cases in women in the UK. Experts are predicting that we could see a significant increase to 9,400 new cases by 2040. The symptoms of this cancer can sometimes be vague in the early stages and are often mistaken for the much more common condition of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which means that the diagnosis is often made at a later stage. Like all cancers, the earlier the diagnosis, the better the outlook, and as March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss the symptoms to look out for.…

When I mention getting healthy, your mind probably leaps to thoughts of workouts and green smoothies. But how about “creative wellness”? Now, that might immediately trigger you to think: “But I’m not creative. And I don’t have time for all that, I’m far too busy!” When my clients first come to see me, it’s often with the expectation that I will focus exclusively on their diet and exercise. Many of them are taken aback when I gently encourage them to make time for activities that uplift them and put them in a state of “flow”. The state of flow has been studied extensively and found by renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to be an essential component of your wellbeing. He discovered that flow is not only essential to being productive at…

CODEWORD Each letter of the alphabet has been replaced by the same number throughout this grid. Use the decoded letters given to work out the identity of other letters and fill in the grid. The alphabet list and reference grid will help you to keep track of the letters you’ve decoded. WORDWHEEL You have ten minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the wheel. Each word must be three letters or more and contain the central letter. Use each letter once, and no plurals, foreign words or proper nouns are allowed. There is at least one nine-letter word. AVERAGE: 20 wordsGOOD: 25 wordsEXCELLENT: 30 words CELL BLOCK Fill the grid by drawing blocks along the gridlines. Each block must contain the number of squares indicated…

When it comes to walking, the exercise benefits can be quite obvious. Regular brisk walking can help you burn calories and manage your weight, both of which are important for your cardiovascular health. But when it comes to managing your cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk, walking can offer the body some extra benefits without having to spend masses of time dedicated to your exercise. WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL? A type of blood fat that’s made in the liver, cholesterol together with triglycerides are often called lipids. Your body needs this waxy, fat-like substance for good health, but in the right amounts. Cholesterol in your blood is carried on lipoproteins: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is sometimes called “bad” cholesterol because too much of it can clog up your arteries and lead to health…

I am not sure I can agree with Ann; it is misty, wet and my shoes are slipping on the slick tarmac. She has just overtaken me running up Beast Banks, which is the aptly named steep hill that leads out of Kendal into the mountains that overlook the beautiful town in the heart of the Lake District. Ann is running with dogged determination, but I am not. To my shame I am already walking, and I am only about five minutes into what I know is going to be a very tough 10k trail race. Even though I run a lot, I often struggle with it, and recently even going out for a short jog has felt hard. A couple of months ago, I went over on my ankle…