Look, when it comes to high-end skincare that actually gets the job done, I’m always going to point you in the direction of Augustinus Bader.

I’ve written before about the brand whose products Dua Lipa famously reported that she ‘can’t live without’, so much so that their Eye Patches and The Rich Cream have a permanent place in her (and now my) handbag.

Their cult-favourite moisturiser cleared my period-spot riddled skin up in just seven days when I first tested it, so when Augustinus Bader announced that they were bringing its cell-renewing TFC8 tech to a brand-new, delicately scented Rose Geranium body range I couldn’t have said yes to testing it out faster if I could.

Before you say ‘what the heck is TFC8’, it’s the brand’s secret sauce: a proprietary blend of natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and peptides that supports the body’s capacity to renew.

According to AB, the body cream is clinically proven to deliver firmer, smoother, deeply hydrated skin. In fact, a 12 week study carried out by the brand reports a 75% reduction in cellulite (with 92% of users saying they saw a visible reduction).

As someone who (thanks to a whole lot of weight lifting, spin classes, swimming and a passion for dinners out) has a battle with cellulite and stretch marks across my thicc thighs, I was hoping for big results.

I’ve also never been a body moisturiser girlie and now in my mid 30s, I’m definitely paying the price – as a recent convert to regular waxes my legs now permanently feel like they need a good long glass of water. Luckily for me, the body cream’s blend of shea butter and geranium and rose essential oils promise to “deeply hydrate and lock in moisture for plump skin with greater bounce back.”

Now just to see if it works…

As with any product testing here at HuffPost UK, we don’t do it half-arsed. Armed with a fresh wax, a slight tinge of sunburn and dryness from regular dunks in chlorinated water, my skin was not about to give the Augustinus Bader The Geranium Rose Body Cream an easy ride.

For thirty days solid I committed to applying the cream to my body twice a day every day – once after my morning shower, and once before bed.

The new scent is incredibly spa-esque and made for a strong and invigorating way to kick off the day. Despite how thick the cream comes out the tub, it soaked in quickly without leaving a greasy film (because god knows there’s nothing worse than post moisturiser clothes cling).

Thirty days on, my skin feels soft yet lifted, smooth yet firm – and if you’d told me a month ago that I wouldn’t think twice about going out without my beloved tights on, I’d never have believed you.

Alongside the longer term effects, the cream offers an almost blurring effect in the same way facial primer does – marks, bumps and rashy bits all immediately looked significantly less noticeable after my morning application.

Over time, my thighs’ dimpling has lessened dramatically and although it’s not gone completely (hey, no product can erase them altogether), I’ve found myself not giving it a second thought (a rarity!).

As with any Augustinus Bader product, this body cream doesn’t come cheap (£160 for 200ml) however, I will always bang the drum that anything the brand makes is worth the investment. More so because a little goes a long way, even with using the cream twice a day (probably worth noting at this juncture that I’m also almost 6ft, so there is PLENTY of leg to moisturise), I’ve still got plenty left in the jar after a month of near religious use.

Sorry tights, I may never need to pull you out my drawers again.

Labour would win a general election if it was held now – but lose more than 150 MPs and the party’s huge Commons majority.

A new study of recent opinion polls suggests Andy Burnham would return to 10 Downing Street as prime minister.

However, he would be forced to do deals with other parties to govern after falling well short of a majority in parliament.

The UK Polling Report findings come amid speculation at Westminster that Burnham could call a snap election within months to capitalise on Labour’s resurgence under his leadership.

The party is now leading Reform UK in most opinion polls – a dramatic turnaround from when Keir Starmer was still PM.

A poll of polls by Election Maps UK puts Labour on 26%, with Reform on 24% and the Conservatives on 20%.

According to UK Polling Report, an election now would see Labour return 239 MPs, 173 fewer than in 2024 and wiping out the party’s 167-seat majority.

Reform would come second on 128 seats, one ahead of the Tories on 127.

The Lib Dems would win 73 seats, the SNP would surge to 41, with the Greens on 6 and Plaid Cymru on 4.

Such a result would leave Labour 87 seats short of an overall Commons majority.

In that scenario, Burnham would most likely look to do a deal with Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, even though that would still not be enough to guarantee him a majority.

The next general election does not need to take place until 2029, and the prime minister has insisted that he has no plans to call one before then.

Speaking to the BBC in July, he said: “There’s no early general election. I don’t think people want it.”

Nevertheless, many senior Labour figures believe Burnham should capitalise on his current popularity by going to the country at some point between now and next spring.

Former Labour adviser Liz Bates told HuffPost UK’s Commons People podcast: “I would be tempted, if I was him, to go for it because you get the new manager bounce, Farage is looking bonkers to be honest … the Greens seem to be in a bit of a tricky spot as well.

“It’s probably not going to get better than this [for Burnham]. They will think it’s going to get better than this because it feels like ‘we’re great, we’re better than Keir, look at us’.

“When things get tough and the pressure comes on to have a general election, if you’re down in the polls at that point, all your options narrow. I would do it when things feel sunny and positive.”

Her comments echoed those of former Theresa May pollster James Johnson, who has said an election by next spring is Burnham’s best chance of securing his own Commons majority, defeating Reform and destroying the Tories.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

It doesn’t really matter which fruit and vegetables you choose – the British Heart Foundation (BHF) says that eating at least five portions a day can lower your risk of heart and circulatory disease.

And eating roughly two servings of fruit and three of veg daily could even lead to a longer life.

But once you’ve hit those goals, the kinds of produce you choose might make a good thing even greater.

Cardiologist Dr Francesco Lo Monaco, founder of the National Heart Clinic on Harley Street and author of Heart Saviour, has shared a vegetable he deems “underrated” for heart health: beetroot.

It’s “one of those foods that looks simple, but works on your cardiovascular system in remarkable ways,” the expert said.

Beetroot is high in nitrates, which our bodies turn into nitric oxide. And nitric oxide is really good at helping our blood vessels to relax and dilate.

“This means better circulation, lower blood pressure, and a healthier endothelium, the inner lining of your vessels,” the expert said.

Some small studies have linked beetroot juice consumption to lower blood pressure, though the BHF has said kale, spinach, celery, bananas, and strawberries are also high in nitrates.

“Beetroot helps your arteries stay elastic, something medications alone can’t always achieve,” Dr Lo Monaco explained.

One study, which focused on men over 60, found the result after giving them beetroot juice supplements. Again, though, the study’s lead author said: “it doesn’t need to be beetroot juice, just a good, healthy source of nitrate.

“A big green leafy salad does the same thing. The added benefit of fresh vegetables is that they also have the ability to reduce oxidative stress, another problem that increases with age.”

“Beetroot can reduce the damage caused when blood flow returns to the heart after being temporarily restricted,” the cardiologist stated.

A 2014 paper found that patients who’d suffered an ischemia-reperfusion injury saw better heart function after consuming beetroot juice.

“Hypertension, diabetes, inflammation, high homocysteine – beetroot supports many of the pathways that become dysfunctional in these conditions,” Dr Lo Monaco.

Among those with type 2 diabetes, eating 100g of raw beetroot a day for eight weeks was associated with better metabolic health and improved cognition. And the nitric oxide effect we mentioned earlier may make the food especially beneficial for those with high blood pressure.

So, while it should never be used to replace medication and though a balanced overall diet is still better than consuming one “superfood”, the cardiologist ended: “Beetroot actively supports vascular repair, arterial youth, and heart performance in ways most people never hear about.

“Making small changes such as this is how you improve retention and longevity.”

Kemi Badenoch has been accused of “shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic” after she axed two Tory big beasts as she freshened up her top team.

The Conservative leader sacked former cabinet ministers Priti Patel and Mel Stride in the second reshuffle of her leadership.

Andrew Griffith – one of the architects of Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-Budget – replaced Stride as shadow chancellor, while Tom Tugendhat takes over from Patel as shadow foreign secretary.

Tory rising star Katie Lam replaces James Cleverly – who is bidding to be the party’s London mayoral candidate – as shadow housing secretary.

Another member of the Conservatives’ 2024 intake, Rebecca Paul, has been appointed shadow culture secretary.

Former cabinet minister Damian Hinds returns to the Tory frontbench as shadow health secretary, taking over from the sacked Stuart Andrew.

Other changes include Harriet Cross becoming shadow Scottish secretary.

She takes over from Andrew Bowie, who is replacing Claire Coutinho as shadow energy secretary.

Coutinho, who is currently on maternity leave, becomes shadow business secretary.

A Reform UK spokesman said: “Kemi is simply moving the deckchairs around the titanic with this reshuffle.

“She has promoted ardent supporters of net zero and the ECHR into senior positions, despite saying she wouldn’t .

“The Conservatives haven’t learned a thing from their failures in office.”

Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said: “Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives have learnt nothing since they were kicked out of office by the British people.

“Promoting a key architect of Liz Truss’s disastrous mini Budget tells you all you need to know about Badenoch’s complete lack of judgement.

“The Tories’ top team is crammed full of the same vandals who hammered family finances and left our public services crumbling. No wonder they’ve made no progress in the last two years.”

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Labour’s attempts to stop asylum seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats are “bearing fruit”, according to Shabana Mahmood.

The home secretary made the surprising claim as new data revealed the number of crossings this summer was the lowest in seven years.

Her comments came less than a week after nearly 500 migrants arrived in Dover in a single day.

A total of 102 small boats brought asylum seekers over the Channel between June and August this year, a lower number than any year since 2019, when 57 vessels made the journey.

Some 7,371 migrants made the perilous journey this summer, which is lower than any year since 2020, when 3,307 crossed from France.

Home Office figures released last week also showed that the number of small boat crossings is down 23% compared to last year.

Mahmood said: “This government is committed to restoring order at our border.

“This work is beginning to bear fruit, with June, July and August recording the lowest number of small boat crossings in seven years. But we know there is more to do.

“We will be relentless in targeting the criminal gangs behind these crossings, and we will continue to remove the incentives that draw people here on unsafe and illegal routes.”

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp rejected Mahmood’s claims, and insisted that bad weather was the cause rather than government action.

He said: “Labour’s returns deal with France has been exposed as total sham. I saw with my own eyes the reality on French beaches this summer, as gendarmes stood idly by while migrants boarded dinghies bound for England.

“The home secretary should not be taking credit for rough seas in the Channel.

“Every day the waves are low, hundreds of illegal immigrants flood in. Praying for choppy seas is not a border security strategy.”

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Kemi Badenoch’s new shadow chancellor praised Liz Truss’s mini-Budget even as it sent the UK economy into a tailspin.

Andrew Griffith was one of the architects of the former prime ministers’ disastrous plan for £45 billion-worth of unfunded tax cuts.

In the days after the “economic growth plan” was delivered by the then chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng in September 2022, interest rates soared, inflation spiked and the value of the pound collapsed.

With the money markets in turmoil and Truss’s premiership in crisis, Griffith went out to defend the mini-Budget, insisting it would deliver economic growth and benefit ordinary people.

He said: “We think they’re the right plans because those plans make our economy competitive.

“What we politicians are responsible for is making the economic decisions that will drive continued growth.

“One of the things that’s bedevilled our economy is our inability to reach that top 2.5% rate of growth. It happened before the 2008 financial crisis, we can get back to do so with the programme of supply side reform that was embedded in the growth plan.”

He said Truss’s government should “get on and deliver that plan”.

“That’s what I, the chancellor, my colleagues in government are focused on – getting on delivering that growth plan,” he said. “That is what’s going to allow consumers to benefit.”

But within days, Kwarteng was forced to U-turn on his plans for huge tax cuts.

He was then sacked, with Truss herself being forced to resign shortly afterwards after a revolt by Tory MPs.

Nevertheless, Badenoch has decided to give Griffith the plum job of shadow chancellor after sacking his predecessor, Mel Stride, as part of a Tory frontbench reshuffle.

A senior Tory source said said Griffith would be “a no-nonsense, pro-growth shadow chancellor with real business experience”.

The source added: “Andrew and Kemi are in complete lockstep on how we back business, bring down taxes and regulation and get Britain working again.”

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Donald Trump has been criticised after he suggested America could withdraw its support for Britain over the Falkland Islands.

The US president said he was “reviewing” his position on the British Overseas Territory.

Argentina claims the Falklands, which it calls the Malvinas, belongs to them.

That is despite the fact that a referendum in 2013, 99.8% of those living there said they wanted to remain British.

At the recent World Cup, Argentina’s players sparked controversy after unfurling a banner saying “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” (the Malvinas are Argentine) after they beat England 2-1 in the semi-final.

America’s official position is that it is neutral on the islands’ sovereignty, which in practice means it supports the status quo.

However, it has been reported that the Trump administration could instead support Argentina’s claim because the president does not believe the UK is spending enough money on defence.

Asked on Monday whether he was reviewing the US’s position, Trump said: “I always review positions, and that’s one of them.”

His comments sparked an angry backlash online, with one social media user accusing Trump of behaving like a Mafia boss.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.