3. Make the Most of What You've Got

If you really do want to look pretty, the first advice I've got to give is that making the most of what you've got starts not with bone-crunching corsets and eye-bending makeup, but with being fit and healthy.

We're not talking about regular trips to the gym here (though that wouldn't hurt), but looking after your body. For some reason, there are still men who think that being male involves washing once a year and shaving with a broken bottle. Closet transvestites seem to follow suit, just in case someone should turn around and say - 'Ooh, you use de-odorant, you must wear dresses all the time.'.

Well, it ain't true. These days, looking after yourself shows more that you're not stuck in the dark ages than anything else. If you do, you should feel better, your skin should benefit and your body will look better, however you choose to clothe it. These are my top tips for a better body:

• Wash properly. Every day use a soap-free facial wash, and clean the rest of your body whilst you're at it.
• Moisturise. Don't use harsh chemicals that leave your skin itchy or dry. Using a moisturising after-shave, rather than the old alchohol one makes your face feel so much better. You can also use moisturising aftershave after washing your face each day to give you a better complexion and healthier skin.
• Get some rest. Sleep is good for you.
• Drink. Yes - but not just alchohol or coffee. It really does make a difference to take in some liquid that your body won't react badly to once in a while (and alchohol, sugary soft drinks, tea and coffee all have a variety of 'bad' effects on your body).
• Excercise. If you can raise your heartbeat above normal for twenty minutes three times a week, you can achieve a basic level of fitness. Cycling to work, jogging to wind down in the evening or swimming during your lunch-break can all help. If you're wiped out after twenty minutes, try fifteen - or even five. If you can manage a week without too much pain, try five more minutes for one or more sessions. Remember, if it leaves you useless for the next day, it's too much - your body isn't improving, it's recovering.
• Eat properly. Five portions of fruit or vegetables each day, and not too much red meat. If you try to cut down on fatty and 'heavy' foods, you'll not get so much indigestion, reduce your chances of various illnesses and improve the way you feel. The change isn't instant by any means, but anyone who's been eating like this for any length of time will tell you how easily they notice the effects of a fatty, heavy meal.
• Learn to shave. Usually our fathers teach us how to inflict pain on ourselves. Shaving, if done properly and regulary, should be easy. Don't shave immediately after getting out of bed (your skin is puffy and more easily cut for five minutes or so after getting up). Soak your skin for two minutes before shaving, using a face cloth in warm (not hot) water. Apply shaving foam/gel. Shave with the growth of hair (down your face), rinsing the blade if it clogs up. Rinse your face in clean, tepid water, then pat dry (not rub raw) with a clean towel. Apply moisturising after-shave instead of alchohol based stuff. Feel better.