Marks and Spencer is a very old British retail store chain, dating back to Victorian times, which became famous for supplying the nation’s underwear for anyone from Royalty to chambermaids.

In recent years it has fallen on hard times, largely because it was regarded as old fashioned by many younger women, and dated even by the middle-aged.

However, in the past two years, under the guidance of Stuart Rose, it has rebuilt its fortunes. The store company now wows the public with its ultra-classy, yet populist TV adverts. The secret? Fifty-something model Twiggy, the darling of the 1960s cool scene.

The formula is simple. Take an old 1960s song in its original version and parade the ever-young Twiggy together with a few other younger women in M&S’s new fashionable clothes range.

Result? Huge reverse-exodus back to M&S. Their current adverts are probably the only ones on UK TV that viewers look forward to. And the company’s bottom line is booming.

Who says fifty-something women don’t have sex appeal?

An investigation by Dr. Joanna Scurr of Portsmouth University in England has revealed that more than half of women suffer breast pain during exercise.

Dr. Scurr analyzed the breast movements of 70 women with cup sizes ranging from A to JJ. Her findings showed that even during gentle exercise, most of the women’s breasts moved far more than ordinary bras are designed to cope with.

Bras are designed to prevent up and down movement but, according to the study, they also move from side to side and in and out during exercise. Consequently, between 45 and 60 percent of women experience actual pain, and many avoid exercise completely.

Dr. Scurr recommends sports bras whatever the cup size and however vigorous the exercise. However, for A to G cup women sports bras only reduced movement by just over 50 percent.

These findings show the need for manufacturers to design bras which reduce breast movement more effectively than even modern sports bras, said Dr. Scurr.

The best support is given by “an encapsulation bra” with separate molded cups, not the current compression bras which flatten breasts against the chest wall.

There are a number of answers to that question, of course. It all depends on which one, being the most obvious.

This website doesn’t test beauty or rejuvenating products, so we can’t give a definite reply. Here’s one such product, newly on the market, though.

Col-Pure’s Rejuvenating Face Mask is described as “incredibly refreshing” and said to visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles, while plumping and nourishing the skin.

“Its formula of bio-active ingredients quickly absorb into skin’s underlying tissue, immediately plumping the skin to reduce the look of wrinkles, while improving the tone and texture of your skin for an overall radiant complexion and also boosts collagen production and improves circulation.”

The press release says :

Here’s the quick and easy secret: The face mask contains Decorinyl, a tetrapeptide shown to help control collagen fibril growth, improving firmness and elasticity of the skin. A recent study showed an increase in skin’s elasticity after just 28 days of use. Green Tea is a soothing anti-oxidant that helps skin fight off damaging free-radical cells and is one of the main ingredients. Finally, Tripeptide-3, an advanced anti-aging ingredient, mimics the body’s own mechanism to help produce collagen giving skin a more youthful appearance.

As always, you must make up your own mind.

According to the latest research, “experts” say that women need to be complimented five times a day.

Nine out of ten women say they love to be complimented. However, according to the research, carried out by Loire Valley White Wines, only 16 percent thought they received their five a day.

Worse, two-thirds thought they were being complimented less than they were five years ago, and believed gentle flattery was becoming a lost art.

Clearly feminism has a lot to answer for, because men now believe a compliment will cause offence. On the other side of the fence, most women are highly likely to suspect the motives of anyone offering an admiring comment.

Relationship expert Christine Webber says, “In my experience, women do care a great deal about what people think about them. A compliment massively boosts self-esteem. And while it may seem frivolous, it is in fact a vital ingredient for well-being.”

She adds that many men are terrified of an innocent remark being wrongly interpreted. “I think political correctness and fear of saying the wrong thing is the main cause of men failing to compliment women who are not their partners.”

Miss Webber should be complimented on the accuracy of her observations.