Breasts can be a problem at any age, but when you’re hovering around the 50 mark — let’s say 49 — you may develop a bit of a complex about them.

So what’s the answer? Firm breasts at 50 is not a human right, so let’s take some action to bring it about.

The following easily-made up lotion is said to firm the connective tissue around the breasts.

Just add some fresh or dried herbs, such as mint, basil, lavender, rosemary and thyme, to a bottle of cider or white wine vinegar.

You can also use essential oils if you prefer : bois de rose, rose, peppermint, ylang-ylang and lavender all work well.

Aromatic vinegar lotion for breasts
* 6-10 tbspn dried herbs, or a handful of fresh herbs, or 15 drops of one of the essential oils mentioned above.
* Slightly less than a pint of cider or white wine vinegar.
* One and one-third of a pint of boiled, cold water in a bottle.
* Add chosen herb or essential oil to the vinegar in the bottle. Keep in the dark for two weeks. Add the water.

Apply the lotion in circular movements with cotton wool to each breast. Do this a few times. Let dry.

Use this lotion daily for two months.

Adapted from “Secrets of Youth and Beauty” by Daniele Ryman

Recently we wrote about a University of Missouri study that said that women develop feelings of inadequacy about their bodies when viewing images of magazine ad models. Now this story in the Daily Mail says that a third of all women are so self-conscious about their bodies, that they won’t even get naked in front of a husband or partner.

One woman in ten won’t undress unless all the lights are out and one quarter of women won’t enter the bathroom if her husband or partner is already in there.

But while women are becoming more body-shy, men still enjoy being naked and spend nearly double the amount of time per day without clothes that women do.

The results are from a survey of 3500 women taken by SHUC.