Many Australian women would ditch their friends or risk their credit rating rather than go make-up free, according to new research. The research commissioned by leading online Australian beauty and haircare retailer RY.com.au, reveals the extremes to which Aussie women will go in the name of beauty.

It found 46 per cent of respondents would rather cancel a dinner with friends or scrimp on the weekly food shop if they needed the money to replace their foundation.

An even more hardcore bunch, 12 per cent of those surveyed, were prepared to borrow money, skip paying a phone bill or even overdraw their bank account rather than be forced to go foundation free.

RY.com.au co-founder James Patten said the research uncovered the extent of Australian women’s love affair with their beauty products.

“It has echoes of the so-called lipstick effect, which suggests that consumers will still buy luxury goods even when facing a crisis,” he said.

RY.com.au’s research also provides clues as to which age-groups are more likely to indulge in this make-up mania, with women aged under 35 leading the pack on how much they spend each month on skin, hair and beauty treatments.

A quarter of women aged under 35 spend more than $150 a month on treatments compared to just seven per cent of those aged over 55. The younger demographic was almost twice as likely to splurge on beauty products when they felt down or stressed.

And it was the youngest women surveyed who are reaching for top shelf items; with women aged under 25 the most likely to buy top-of-the-range expensive products, perhaps overdrawing their bank accounts in the process.

With winter almost upon us, it is time to start looking for sleepwear to keep you cosy and warm at night.

Undercover Sleepwear in Forbes has brought in a new label, Papinelle, for win- ter sleepwear.

The designer is based in Paddington, Sydney and uses beautiful cotton and delicate fabrics, including quality flannelette and twill. The label has a variety of pieces to mix and match to suit your own comfort and style. Papinelle specialices in pyjamas, nighties, robes and loungewear, and has a small range of girls and boys pyjamas from size 1 to size 7.

Owner of Undercover Sleepwear, Marg Duggan, feels this label will sit well with all other sleepwear labels in store to offer all customers a choice and option for everyone. She says sleepwear can cross over to lounge wear to relax around the home over the weekend.

1. Eat primally: Common sense dictates that the best diet is one based on foods we’ve been eating the longest. Studies show that a diet made up of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, as well as meat, fish and eggs, is best for weight control and health.

2. Keep hydrated: Water makes up two- thirds of the body and performs a plethora of functions, including acting as a solvent, carrier of nutrients, temperature regulator and body detoxifier. Drink enough to keep your urine a pale yellow colour.

3. Eat mindfully: In our fast-paced world, we often eat while distracted and shovel in more than we need. Avoid eating when dis- tracted, eating more slowly and taking time to taste food properly. Also chewing thoroughly – not only will it help to savour food, but it also assists the digestive process.

4. Get plenty of sunlight in the summer…:Sunlight, and the vitamin D this can make in the skin, is associated with a wide spectrum of benefits. As a rule of thumb, vitamin D is made when our shadow is shorter than our body length, ie when the sun is high in the sky. While burning is to be avoided, get as much sunlight exposure as possible for op- timal health.

5… and in the winter: Low levels of sunlight in the winter can cause dark moods. It pays to get some external light exposure in the winter, say during lunchtime.

6. Get enough sleep: Sleep has the abil- ity to optimise mental and physical energy. About eight hours a night are linked with reduced risk of chronic disease and improved longevity. Shutting down the computer or turning off the TV early in the evening is often all it takes to get to bed earlier.

7. Walk regularly: Aerobic exercise, including walking, is associated with a vari- ety of benefits for the body and the brain. Aim for a total 30 minutes of brisk walking every day.

8. Engage in some resistance exercise: Resistance exercise helps to maintain muscle mass and strengthens the body. Do exercises at home, such as press-ups, sit-ups and squats.

9. Practise random acts of kindness: It is good for givers and receivers alike. It could be a quick call or text to someone, showing a fellow motorist some consideration, buy- ing someone lunch or giving a spontaneous bunch of flowers.

10. Practise the art of appreciation: It is easy to fall in the modern-day living trap of acquiring material. Spend more time focusing not on what we don’t have, but on what we do, and give thanks for anything from our friends and family to a beautiful land- scape or sunset.

(Source: Psychologies website)

• Make friends with food: Think healthy, moderate eating!
• Make your own food: Know your ingredients and influence what ends up on your plate.
• Focus on the experience: If you enjoy what you eat, you’re less likely to fall into the restrict and binge cycle.
• Reinvent your favourite naughty dishes: If you like ice cream, try making it with coconut milk and stevia instead.
• Keep it social: Invite your friends to bring a dish.

  If you are struggling to stick to your resolutions – try these tips:

• Make one change at a time.

• Break it up into smaller goals.

• Lift your Spirits.

• Give your willpower some wiggle room: avoid making 100% resolutions.

• Write down things you’re proud of, right down to ‘I get out of bed when I don’t want to.’

• Draw on the strength of images: put up a photo of a thinner you on the fridge, or a picture of a Caribbean beach in your wallet to remind yourself of the holiday you’re saving for.

(From WebMD and other internet sources)