Christmas party beauty game plan for 2017 - How to prep for the festive party season like a pro
But in order to look like the belle of the ball, it's worth starting your beauty prep as early as possible. A few simple beauty tricks can do wonders for your skin and hair during a hectic festive period spent party-hopping - and eating one to many nibbles and all those glasses of fizz.
To help you nail it over the festivities, we've enlisted a few experts to share their tips on how you can look like an angel when you hit the party circuit.
3 weeks to go
Skin
“If you wish to freshen up your skin in time for the party season, you need to start working on it at least 2 months beforehand.” Says Dr. Justine Hextall, Consultant Dermatologist on behalf of The Harley Medical Group.“Products can take at least six weeks to start making a difference if you’re switching up your skincare you should start as early as possible. A good skin care regime will help to keep skin clear and hydrated. Look for anti-oxidant serums for night-time repair. I like DermaQuest B5 Hydrating Serum (£64) and Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil (£19.99).”
Hair
If you’re looking to grow your tresses, now’s the time to start taking a hair supplement, to ensure it’s looking it’s healthiest.Session stylist to Cara Delevingne, Neil Moodie says “I recommend Viviscal supplements (£51.99) to clients, models and celebrities. Nourishing the hair from the inside out is the most effective way of getting hair back on track.
"For best results Viviscal must be taken consistently or more but I promise you that the improvement in the condition of your hair will make the wait worthwhile."
Body
Now is a great time to tackle unwanted hair. For longer lasting results try professional or home waxing. If you're looking for a more permanent fix the Philips Lumea Prestige IPL machine (£425) can help significantly reduce hair growth all over your body using gentle pulses of light at the root.3 weeks to go
Skin
By this time chances are that the weather has significantly dropped and Carine Mudry, skin expert at EKIA urges you to bare this in mind, “To beat winter beauty woes like dryness, tightness, and cracking, your skincare routine will require some extra TLC and loads of hydration."EKIA’s Crème Originelle for Dry Skin (£31) combines regenerative Dragon’s Blood Sap with naturally sourced Hyaluronic Acid to revive a rough, dehydrated and dull complexion and reduce the signs of fatigue and ageing.”
Hair
If you want to try out a new style this season, now’s the time to bite the bullet so you have a few weeks to practice styling it.Neil Moodie encourages you to experiment “People get too scared to experiment. There’s nothing wrong experimenting with styles – it’s fun. Why not try? There’s always going to be someone that doesn’t like it or has a comment to make but that’s part of it. I would rather have a marmite reaction – love it or hate it. I think a mediocre reaction is the worst, when people don’t comment or don’t care. At the end of the day its only hair and it will grow back.”
Body
Nutritionist Christine Bailey on behalf of The Harley Medical Group advises on how to adapt you diet to help feel your best in the run up to party season: “If you are feeling sluggish then making a few dietary changes may help. Focus on whole foods. Avoid processed foods, takeaways, sugar, alcohol and caffeine that may aggravate your gut."Another important thing to remember is to stay hydrated. Aim to drink 2 litres of water daily.”
24 hours to go
Skin
Get a serious glow. Try a face mask like Manuka Doctor's ApiClear Purifying Facial Peel (29.99) which will lift dead skin cells, purify pores and leave skin plumped and silky soft.Hair
Neil Moodie advises on how you can avoid waking up to a bad hair day “People don’t realise your hair can get damaged while you’re sleeping. When you’re moving about your hair rubs on the pillow and it creates friction and causes breakage. A silk pillow (£22) is always a good recommendation as it causes less friction than cotton."Body
Unwind and eliminate toxins and excess water by giving yourself a pamper session the night before an event. Trilogy Aromatic Body Oil (£15) is brimming with enriching ingredients like vitamins, amino acids and essential fatty acids to deliver optimum skin softness and suppleness.Plus the fragrant essential oils of bergamot, rose and vanilla soothe and calm the mind, helping to alleviate the stress of the day.
Party day
- "Skin can become dry in the winter months, so I always start by prepping the skin with Sisley moisturiser followed by COLLECTION’s Primed and Ready Illuminating and Reviving Primer (4.99) in Warm Apricot."
- "To perfect the skin, I use Mac Mineralise Concealer (£18) and the Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (£33) to create a beautiful even base.
- "I like to do a little bit of contour using the COLLECTION Precision Contouring Sticks (3.99) to enhance the cheekbones as well as sculpting the chin, nose and forehead. These sticks are so easy to use as the cream matte formula is so blendable and their shape means you can be really precise with your placement of the product."
- "For a party look a red lip will always be one of my go-tos, I love using Charlotte Tilbury’s Red Carpet Red lipstick (£24), which creates a perfect statement lip."
- "With lips as the focus you don’t want to much on the eyes, just a little definition. I blend soft brown hues from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette (£39) and like with the COLLECTION Fast Stroke Eyeliner (£2.99) before finishing with lashings of Dior’s Black Out Mascara (£25.50)”
