by We all want to look our best this Christmas, but busy days and late nights can make it difficult to find the time to take care of yourself. Fortunately, help is at hand. Here, we weigh your holiday beauty dilemmas, as well as share tips and tricks for achieving a healthy glow this holiday season.
I always look shattered in Christmas Day photos. Some advice?
It’s tempting to run down the stairs in your pajamas and smudged makeup before nightfall, but trust me, when you look back at family photos, you’ll wish you’d brushed your hair and applied concealer. You don’t have to be Joan Collins, but the person holding the camera is unlikely to recognize daylight from her flash, so be prepared.
Having done nothing and everything, I’ve found that these few tricks work best. As uncomfortable as it sounds, rubbing an ice cube on your face after cleansing will do wonders for puffiness — think of it as wild swimming for your face, waking up sagging skin and giving you a healthy glow.
If you’re feeling fancy, you can prolong the benefits by massaging your contours with a cryogenic metal tool, placed in the freezer the night before, which will drain your lymph nodes of toxins and restore your jawline and cheekbones (makeup artists do this on models before of filming).
As far as makeup goes, enhancing the eyes gives the most bang for your buck. Bring a gel pencil to the upper waterline for definition. I like Victoria Beckham’s Satin Kajal Liners. Then – this is magic – line your lower waterline with a cream shade, which will instantly brighten.
Mascara is obvious, but don’t forget its power. Your foundation can wait, but apply a dot of concealer concealer to the inner corner of your eyes where there’s a groove and push it in gently (don’t rub). Do the above and you’ll look well rested, if not 10 years younger.
I’ll be cutting back on beauty appointments in the new year: Which treatments should I ditch and which ones can I try at home during Twixmas?
Hair color should be applied in a salon for the best result, though you can definitely drag out time between appointments to save money and use touch-up sprays in between. Ditto for eyebrow grooming: Excessive hair removal can end up being permanent, as eyebrow and eyelash hairs become sparser with age.
If you’re old enough to remember a time before shellac nail polish, you’ll be about to paint your nails at home, so this is an ideal opportunity to hone your skills. The best thing you can do is oil your cuticles every night to improve nail strength – CND’s SolarOil is unrivalled. Color-wise, Dior’s Vernis Couture Color Gel Shine Long-Lasting Nail Polish can’t be beat for drying time, and its Nail Glow is a lovely clear with a pink hue.
That said, a facial can be the most satisfying at-home treatment. Start with a meditative cleanse using a cream or balm to remove all traces of makeup, dirt and pollution, massaging it in for a few more minutes than usual. If your skin is oily, follow it up with a second cleanse using a gel or foam.
Facialists tell me that exfoliation is the single best way to mimic a salon facial, revealing brighter, more vibrant skin underneath. Don’t use anything too scratchy—I prefer daily exfoliators that gently peel off, like Dermalogica’s Microfoliant powder or, in liquid form, Ren’s Ready Steady Glow, an AHA-based toner that leaves skin radiant and silky-smooth. silk.
Apply a luxury face mask tailored to your current skin condition, apply eye patches or cucumber slices, and relax. Remove with a warm flannel – a spa-like touch – and continue applying your serum and night cream, which is another opportunity to massage your face and, if you do nothing else, will do you and your complexion good .
I just need one simple thing to upgrade my look on New Year’s Eve. Some advice?
Choose between eyes or lips. If you’re confident enough to sport red, this will have the most impact, but don’t ignore variations on the hue, like plum or even fuchsia, which are just as beautiful. Matte is the most elegant finish for a bold lipstick, as shimmery tones tend to look outdated.
Take some time to prepare your lips by exfoliating them with a washcloth and apply a balm 10 minutes beforehand to ensure a smooth canvas. Beginners should try a liquid lipstick, which will create a highly pigmented stain and require fewer touch-ups, if any. Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick has a range of reds for most shades.
If you prefer to make your eyes pop, first create a smoky eye using a pencil (this is the key to making it long-lasting), blending it with a brush to blend the edges before applying eyeshadow. I prefer dark brown over black, as it tends to be more flattering.
To make it even more special, use a finger and press a shimmery similar-toned eyeshadow into the center of the lids and near the tear duct. Charlotte Tilbury’s Luxury Palettes come in a mix of matte and soft shimmer tones that look good on everyone.
Hair and makeup by Elizabeth Hsieh
Relaxing radiance
Luxurious Eyeshadow Palette in Queen of Glow
£43, Charlottetilbury.com
Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
£9.99, lookfantastic. com
Copper satin Kajal lining
£22, www.victoriabeckhambeauty.com
Cryo sticks
£90, olivierewilson. com
Ren Ready Steady Glow AHA Toner
£28, cultbeauty. com
CND SolarOil cuticle oil
£9.95, sephora.co.uk
Read more: Three Party Makeup Looks Every 40+ Woman Should Know
