Here’s how to look your sparkling best and get noticed under the mistletoe!
Here’s how to look your sparkling best and get noticed under the mistletoe! Preparation is key when you’re getting ready for the onslaught of Christmas soirees and who better to get tips from than the best natural beauty experts? From long-lasting make-up to the perfect,effortless up-do, we have the must-read tricks to get you party-perfect in no time.
Body work
The most effective way to get glowing skin is as simple as a scrub and a buff!
“Body brushing is designed to stimulate circulation and lymphatic flow, and sheds dry skin cells. It is extremely useful f or encouraging cellulite deposits to disperse and for decongesting all the systems of the body,” says Noella Gabriel of award-winning natural beauty brand Elemis.“Begin at the soles of your feet and continue working up the front and back of the legs in an upward direction towards the heart. Then continue with your hands, arms,tummy and back,” she adds. Nicola Elliott, founder of skin care brand Neom suggests finishing off with a decent exfoliator.“To get skin in shape for the party season, make sure you invest in a body scrub that really works. Look out for key ingredients such as safflower and jojoba, plus lots of vitamin A and E, as they will fully hydrate skin,all set for party season ahead,” she says.
A deep cleanse
Before applying your war paint, you need a beautiful base. Here dermatologist Che rNicholson from Cherylin (cherylin.co.uk ) gives you these tips for a salon-worthy facial:
Start by removing all traces of surface grime with a gentle cleansing balm. Massage for one minute with circular motions, to help boost blood flow. Remove with a warm muslin cloth.
Gently apply a facial scrub, paying particularattention to the nose and forehead. Rinse in warmwater and pat your skin lightly with a clean towel.
Add a couple of drops of lavender essential oilto a bowl of hot water. Place your head over thebowl and cover with a towel so that the heat isenclosed. Steam for about five minutes.
Apply a mask suitable for your skin type – a clay based mask will deeply cleanse congested skin and a cream based mask will hydrate and balance dry, damaged skin. Rinse with tepid water and apply a toner to close pores.
Face Facts
Forget botox, this facial massage from expert dermatologist Emma Hardie founder of the eponymous skin care brand will knock the years off naturally:
Firmly pinch the skin and muscle of the eyebrow from the bridge of your nose to the outside corner of your eyebrow. Hold each pinch for a count of three and visualise and feel your eyebrow relaxing. Repeat three times. Now do the same to the skin and muscle of the lower eye area and upper cheek. Pinch and hold from the sides of your nose to the outside corner of your eye.
For the cheeks, gently pinch the cheekbone by placing your thumb firmly underneath the bone and two fingers on top. Starting at the corner of your nose, move along the cheek bone to the outside of your face.Repeat three times.
To help improve and firm the jaw area, repeat the cheek routine to the jaw bone. Work with both hands from the centre of the jaw outwards, finishing under the ears.
To help tone the neck, firmly pinch the skin and muscle using the whole length of your thumb and second finger
Perfect paws and fabulous feet
Mavala nail expert, Lynn Gray shows you the quickest route to gorgeous nails
For a mini mani:
Clean nails with a soft-tipped cuticle stick and then file them into your desired shape – oval is a great classic for the party season.
Apply a protective basecoat to the nails to help the polish last longer and prevent staining.
Using long strokes, apply polish down the centre of the nail in one stroke, from base to tip, leaving a small space between polish and cuticle. Lift brush and stroke one side of nail from base to the tip, avoiding the cuticle. Stroke the other side of nail from base to tip.
For a mini pedi:
Cut toenails and file to desired shape using an emery board.
Add a handful of bath salts to a warm bowl and soak your feet for 10 minutes.
Dry and apply a drop of cuticle oil to each toe. Then massage any callouses with a foot scrub. Delicately roll cuticles back with a manicure stick covered with cotton wool and then wash feet clean.
Moisturise feet focusing on any particularly dry or rough areas.
Polish the surface of your toenails with a buffer. This stimulates circulation in the nail bed and gives a smooth and shiny look to the surface.
Continue with a coat of chemical-free polish on the entire nail surface.
Hair today
At a glam party, a flat barnet will not do! Kerry Campwell of natural haircare company, Nature’s Dream, has a sneaky trick:
“Colouring your locks can add thickness as it swells the cuticle of each hair. A multi-tonal colour will give the illusion of volume by adding depth and interest. You can also try some styling techniques,” she says.“Increase volume by using velcro or heated rollers to add lift at the roots,” she adds.“There are a number of finishing products such as texturising sprays that will help make this added height and thickness last.After washing, turn your head upside down when you blow dry the hair, to give further lift at the roots.”
Laid back and loose
Strut your stuff with this on-trend style, from Joseph Bilton and Jennifer Manzi at the Daniel Galvin Jr salon. Sexy, messy buns are extremely hot right now! Perfect for hair style novices:
Loosely pull your hair back into a pony tail, leaving it messy at the front, securing with a hair band. If you like you can comb or brush your hair to smooth out any bumps.
Push the ponytail up to create volume on the top of your head then gently wrap the ponytail around the hair band to form a loose coil, and secure the bun with hair grips.
Gently pull strands out of the bun to create an intentionally messy look.
Check with a hand mirror to see if you want it more messy, add hair grips to hold hair in place.
Mess up the front by pulling strands to frame the face.
Finish off with hair spray to keep the messy bun in check.
Make it up
Here celebrity make-up artist Sarah Jagger gives her inside tips for a perfectly polished festive look:
It’s always best to apply sparkly or glittery eyeshadows before you apply your foundation –that way you can wipe away any fallen specs without ruining your base.
Start with a cream tone which will add depth and smokiness, as well as providing any sparkly eyeshadows with a tacky base to adhere to.
Follow with a black or dark brown pencilused closely along the lash line. Apply to the top and bottom lashes and smudge with a brush.
A sparkly brown eyeshadow is foolproof, no matter your age or skin tone! Apply it just to the centre of the eyelid.
Black mascara really frames eyeshadow and will make your irises look brighter. Apply two coats.
Now you’ve finished your eye make-up you can apply your base. Begin with a primer that will fill infine lines and open pores.
Now apply a sheer foundation with a matt finish.Conceal any red areas and pay particular attention to under the eyes.
Powder your entire face with a light dusting offinishing powder.
Follow with a warm shade of blush to complement the metallic eyeshades.
To keep the focus on the eyes, try teaming the look with a honey, toned lipstick.
Get party fit!
Try these simple toning yoga exercises from our resident asana guru, Sue Fuller:
Yoga is the perfect way to get in shape for the party season. Not only does it help to firm up pesky problem areas, but it brings balance and harmony into your life at the same time. So if youw ant to shine like a true star this Christmas, this is the practice for you!
Bingo wings
Dolphin is a fantastic posture it will strengthen the upper body and is especially useful for toning the upper arms.
Begin on all fours and then lower the forearms onto the floor and interlink your fingers. Curl under your toes and straighten your legs so that you are performing a posture similar to downward facing dog. Push the floor away with your forearms allowing the hips to move back. Lift your chin a little and as you inhale move your whole body forwards so that your chin is in front of your hands. As you exhale move your body back to your starting position.Continue like this for twenty complete breaths. If possible hold the body in the forwards position for ten slow complete breaths.
“Yoga is the perfect way to get inshape for the party season”
Bulging tummies
The boat will help produce strong abdominal muscles.Begin by sitting on your bottom, bring your knees in towards your chest, hold onto the shins and make sure that you draw up your lower abdominal muscles to support your spine.Now extend your arms forwards with the hands shoulder width apartand the palms facing inwardstowards each other. Slowly begin to straighten your legs. Hold for five complete breaths and repeat againat least two more times
Saggy bottoms
Warrior postures are fantastic for tightening the bottom.
Make sure that you bend the frontknee to form a right angle. You might need to bend your knee a bit more than you think
Begin with the feet about one metre apart, lift your arms out level with your shoulders and turn the left foot in a little and the right foot out,bend your right knee to form a right angle and turn your head to look along the right arm, hold for five complete breaths. This is warrior two. Now rotate the whole torso 90 degrees to the right and lift the arms up to create a prayer position above the head, keep the front knee bent, this is warrior one. Hold for five complete breaths and then repeat on the other side.
Natural Health loves…
Get your mitts on these pampering products
Logana Colour Cream Indian Summer, £14.50 Surprise your friends by changing your hair colour! This semi-permanent product is 100 per cent natural. Exclusively available from beautybazaar.co.uk
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Sol Healing Hair 10, £29.95 This star product contains 10 oils to cleanse, repair,stimulate and regenerat eyour hair and scalp,making your mane look thick and healthy.
NUDE Perfect Cleansing Facial Oil, £22 A gorgeous oil cleanser that removes dirt and impurities in seconds, leaving skin fresh and clean.
Dr. Hauschka FacialSteam Bath and Cleansing ClayMask, £37.50 An easy way to give skin an at-home facial to ensure it is cared for.
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