New Year is a time to eat, drink and be merry so make sure you’re looking and feeling fabulous with help from the UK’s top holistic experts
New Year is a time to eat, drink and be merry so make sure you’re looking and feeling fabulous with help from the UK’s top holistic experts.
Get glowing
Healthy, glowing skin and a trim figure will help you to shine at all those social gatherings. The following three-day detox programme, taken from Naturally Gorgeous by Charlotte Vøhtz (£9.99, Ebury Press), will flush out any toxins and leave you svelte and glowing. However, plan your detox diet well ahead. The week before, hide any processed, fatty and sugary foods; cut out tea, coffee, sugar, bread, meat, alcohol and tobacco. Drink lots of fresh water and introduce more organic fruit, vegetables and juices and eat lots of brown rice and steamed vegetables. Prepare your system by taking a spoonful of psyllium husk or linseeds with a large glass of water.
Day one
Morning: Drink a glass of cooled boiled water with the juice of half a lemon.
Throughout the day: Eat grapes whenever you feel hungry. Aim to eat at least 1kg during the day. Drink plenty of filtered or bottled water; herbal teas and freshly squeezed carrot, celery and apple juice. Dilute all juices 50:50 with filtered or bottled water. Aim to drink a minimum of eight glasses (200ml each) of liquid a day with no more than half of this being diluted juices – the rest should be water or non-diuretic herbal teas.
Day two
Morning: Drink a glass of cooled boiled water with the juice of half a lemon.
Throughout the day: Drink filtered or bottled water, herbal teas and vegetable juice made from organic vegetables. Again, dilute with water: one part vegetable juice to one part water and aim for a minimum eight glasses of liquid during the day, at least half of which should be water or herbal teas.
Day three
Morning: Eat raw fruits from the list shown in the box-out. Eat as much as you like. Drink plenty of filtered or bottled water and herbal teas.
Lunch: Vegetable medley made from organic vegetables from the list – raw or steamed, as you prefer. Drink plenty of filtered or bottled water and herbal teas.
Supper: Soup made with vegetables from the list. Drink plenty of filtered or bottled water and herbal teas.
After your detox
Reintroduce coffee, alcohol, sugar, bread meats and so on very slowly – and only at all if you can’t live without them. The detox diet can be repeated every three months.
Cleansing energy
Incorporate the following fruits or vegetables into your detox Apples, Broccoli, Grapes, Cabbage, Kiwi fruit, Carrots, Lemon, Celery, Pears, Lettuce, Strawberries, Nettle, Artichoke, Onion, Beetroot, Watercress
Three Christmas crackers!
Try these targeted beauty treatments to shape up in time for the party season
Banish fat
The Indiba Proionic System produces amazing results by raising the body temperature to break down fat deposits. It also gives better definition by draining excess waste and toxins, while tightening and firming the muscles. Treatment costs from £100. Contact The Skin Company on 020 8416 3939 or visit skincompany.co.uk
Boost radiance
The ESPA Super Active Repairing and Restoring Facial uses plant oils and phyto-active extracts to help even out skin and counteract the effects of too many harsh products. This 90-minute treatment costs £120 and is available at Danesfield House hotel and spa. Visit danesfieldhouse.co.uk
Firm and tone
The Reviber body conditioning machine can help to improve muscle strength, increase metabolism, and reduces body fat in just 10 minutes a day. Costs £169 from zenlifestyles.co.uk
On the day…
A typical New Year’s day’s food can add up to a massive 6,000 calories. Make some simple calorie cuts and you’ll stay in shape over the festive season, says Liz Tucker, health consultant and co-founder of Be Happy Be Healthy (behappybehealthy.co.uk )
Crisps, peanuts and other savoury nibbles can really pack the calories, so avoid them totally.
Mince pies and cakes often pack up to 500 calories per portion so try to limit them.
After a big meal, try to find some way of walking, whether it’s a lunchtime walk or a wintry stroll after dinner.
Alcohol makes us eat more, so prepare a healthy nibble for when you return home if you’re prone to eating junk food.
Have fun and enjoy yourself on the party day, but make sure you return to healthy eating straight after.
Style it up
You’ve toned up your figure and your skin’s glowing, but now you need to make sure you’re ready to impress before you make your big entrance. Try these tips from the Style Coaching Institute (stylecoaching.co.uk ) to make sure you’re looking party perfect!
Practise confident physiology. Walk into a party with your head held high, shoulders back, a smile on your face and walking with a purposeful step, ready to have fun.
Dress to suit yourself. Make sure you are feeling great by wearing what you really love. Choose a ‘wow’ colour and wear heels, but make sure they’re comfortable.
Plan ahead. Have any beauty treatments done well beforehand and have a dress rehearsal to make sure you’re 100 per cent confident in what you’re wearing.
Keep a clear mind. Alcohol obviously affects how we feel so try sticking with fruit juice or sparkling soft drinks, or alternating them with alcohol to make sure you have the best night possible.
Shape up!
If you want to make sure you knock ‘em dead in your party dress, then some serious exercising is in order. “Bums, bellies and bingo wings are common problem areas for women,” says Ben Pratt, Research and Development Manager for Premier Training International. “By doing two to three sets of each exercise three times a week and improving your diet, you will tone up problem areas and see a significant difference in time for the Christmas period.”
Legs & bums – The lying wall angel
Lie down on your side with your back against a flat wall
Position the soles of the feet against the wall with knees at a 90° angle
Raise the upper leg, driving the knee outwards towards the wall
Hold the uppermost position for 6-8 seconds, lower and repeat
Ensure your back remains against the wall throughout
Bellies – The plank
Lie facing down
Lift the body up off the ground suspended between the elbows and toes
Hips should be held in alignment so the body forms a straight line
Keep good back alignment and shoulders retracted throughout
Hold for 20-60 seconds
Keep breathing steadily during the hold
Bingo wings – The single arm dumbbell driver
Stand in a split stance with a dumbbell in the same hand as the forward foot
Bend forward whilst simultaneously driving the arm backwards
Quickly extend the legs whilst accelerating the arm forwards and upwards overhead
Allow the elbow to bend overhead to decelerate the dumbbell
Return to the start position and repeat
4 of the best pick-me-up skin treats
A decent face mask can cover a multitude of late-night party sins, so invest in one of these skin saviours to stay fresh-faced.
Barefoot Botanicals Rosa Fina Rejuvenating Face Masque,£21.95
100 per cent natural, this is made with rosa mosqueta oil, a high grade oil from the Chilean Andes, scientifically proven to work on purifying the skin while reducing fine lines andreducing any scarring.
Dermalogica MultiVitamin Power Recovery Masque, £33
Concentrated vitamins and botanicals calm stressed skin, reduce redness and restore suppleness. VitaminsA, C, E, F and provitamin B5 help to repair skin while liquorice, comfrey and burdock soothe skin.
Organic Surge First Class Mask, £6.99
This five-minute dual-action wonder mask deeply cleanses and nourishes to give dull, dehydrated skin a boost. Organic essential oils purify and deepcleanse, while chamomile and marshmallow soothe, and natural oils give a valuable burst of moisture.
A’kin Instant Radiance Facial Masque, £16.99
This deluxe masque helps restore the appearance of skin’s elasticity, tone and plumpness. The formulation is enhanced with a blend of rosehip and pomegranate to help deliver a youthful, more even-looking, smooth and radiant complexion.
Get set to sparkle
Sarah Jagger, make-up artist and author of Magic Make-up Tips and Techniques, (£13.99, Media Circus) gives us the lowdown on how to achieve the perfect Christmas party look. See sarahjagger.com
Skin
Use a primer such as Becca Line and Pore Corrector before your foundation as this will fill in fine lines and open pores. Your foundation should also last much longer. Try using a lightweight foundation which gives the skin a natural looking glow such as Becca Luminous Skin Colour Cover, followed by Becca Compact Concealer which will cover any blemishes or redness. Finish with a light veil of powder such as Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder for Normal Skin.
Eyes
This smoky eye technique is really simple and suits everyone! Begin by roughly lining the upper lashes and halfway along the bottom lashes with a black eyeliner like Jane Iredale Eye Pencil in Basic Black. Smudge and soften with a cotton bud. Follow with a creamy textured taupe or silver-coloured eye shadow such as RMS Cream Eyeshadow in Magnetic. Use a brush to blend it over the eyelid, finishing at the socket line and sweeping beneath the lower lashes. Finish with a flesh-coloured powder eye shadow like Nvey Eco Organic Eyeshadow in Seashell shimmer swept beneath the eyebrow and complete with two coats of volumising mascara like Green People’s OY Mascara in black.
Lips
If you’re going for smoky eyes, it’s best to keep the lips neutral to avoid appearing overly made up. Try a soft beige lipstick like Bare Escentuals bareMinerals 100 per cent Natural Lip Colour in Maple Syrup or a neutral, glossy rose like RMS Beauty Lip Shine in Moment.
Cheeks
The same rules apply for blusher – when you’re wearing dramatic smoky eyes, neutral cheeks work best. Try contouring the cheeks with a pink-bronze blush such as Inika Cosmetics Mineral Powder Blusher in Blooming Nude applied along the base of the cheekbone. Use a brush like Jane Iredale Handi Brush on the middle of the bottom of the cheekbone and brush upwards in short,vertical strokes toward the ear.
Doing the ‘do
Alfie Maher, creative director with Daniel Galvin Jnr London shows you how to get perfect party hair whatever your style (danielgalvinjnr.co.uk )
Naturally straight
When hair is damp, spray in some volumising spray and diffuse upside down until dry. Then use some large tongs on the mid-length to create a soft movement to the hair. Finish with DGJ shine and protect mist to remove frizziness and add shine.
Medium to thick hair with movement
The get the Cheryl Cole look wash hair with a volumising shampoo and follow with a volumising conditioner, left in for five minutes. Use DGJ Volume Spray on the roots and DGJ serum on mid lengths to ends. Rough dry the hair upside down then just before it’s completely dry, switch the setting on the hairdryer to cold. Stick some velcro rollers over the parting back to your crown, spray with hairspray then heat for 2-3 minutes and cool for another minute. Remove rollers to reveal a glamorous, bouncy style.
Hair up
To create a quick, soft up-do, put your hair in a soft side pony tail, then plait it. Tie up at the bottom then hold the ends of the hair and pull upwards towards the head – this will bunch up the plait and add loose movement. Wrap the loose plait around the base of the pony tail to add a loose bun effect, then pin it using hair grips. Finish with DGJ hairspray.
It’s all about hue…
Colour therapy is a useful tool for ensuring that your Christmas celebrations go as smoothly as possible. “Colour affects us on many different levels working through the endocrine system on all our body functions and through the mind to influence our moods and emotions,” says Suzy Chiazzari, the principal of Iris School of Colour Therapy (iriscolour.co.uk)
A glass of crimson-coloured wine or wearing a red dress will make you feel alive as red is the most energising and warming of all colours and stimulates blood flow by increasing our heart rate. Psychologically it motivates us and gives us a zest for life.
Decorate your home with golden balls and tinsel to boost your nervous system and make you unflappable. Yellow stimulates the nervous system and fights fear on a psychological level.
A green fir tree is great for taking the stress out of Christmas as green is scientifically proven to be a calming colour, hence why hospital walls are painted green!
Light a silver candle for instant inspiration. Silver is similar to white in that it reflects natural light into our eyes so increasing our mental alertness.
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