Health & Beauty

By Nottinghamshire Life on November 30th 2011

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You may have been snuggling into your winter woolies, but with the festive season coming up, it’s time to expose your skin again. Sadly, as the temperatures drop, the skin can respond to the change in conditions by becoming dry and cracked so, to guarantee you sparkle at your Christmas party, it’s vital to get your skin looking gorgeous.

Start by getting a good night’s sleep – around seven to nine hours (the average number an adult needs) helps prevent sagging skin and permanent dark circles. My customers always ask me why this is so and the reason is that our blood pressure is higher when we’re asleep and this causes fluid from our blood vessels to leach into our skin, which stretches it slightly. When we are asleep, all that fluid in our face is absorbed back into our body, but if you never get enough sleep, the fluids never fully reabsorb, leaving the skin stretched.

The same fluids that cause puffiness also deposit red blood cells in skin, which stay there and show though skin as permanent circles. For this, there is hope, in the shape of Dr Brandt Dark Circles Away, £64, which delivers collagen-boosting amino acids and skin brighteners with a cooling rollerball applicator. Keep it in your handbag to circle on throughout the day.

To protect the rest of your body from the harsh winter weather drink plenty of water to keep it hydrated from the inside out and slather your body in cream to nourish and protect it. 

Aromatherapy Associate’s Enrich Massage & Body Oil has the most divine exotic aroma and will ensure the body is keep deeply nourished so you can be confident to step out in the little black dress knowing your arms and legs are not super dry.

Elemis’ latest release is Pro-Collagen Body Cream, £49, which not only deeply hydrates and nourishes the skin, it also tones the body too. With a blend of exotic oils babassu, castanha and bilberry seed oil and marine algae Padina Pavonica it visibly tones the body. The result is a beautifully smooth, luminous and firmer looking body – it’s magic!

Before pulling on your party dress, think about how much flesh you might be exposing – and book a spray tan if your skin is as white as a winter wonderland. There are loads of different spray tans available and it’s so quick you can have it done during your lunch break.

When it comes to the big night itself, try using St Tropez Illuminator, £15, to ensure you look radiant all night. Use it all over the body for a stunning iridescent sheen and it’s handbag size – so you can glow on the go!

The last thing to consider is party make-up. It’s a great time of year to throw away anything you don’t use – or that might be out of date - and pop to a make-up counter or salon. Most places will give you a complimentary mini makeover so you can try before you buy. This winter, bright and bold colours abound, so try out really bright lips and coloured eyeliner. And for that extra glamorous look add some strip lashes, available from Boots. No7 False Lashes, £7.50, come in six variations of lengths and sizes, so take some time choosing the correct ones. They are really fun once you get the hang of them!

Lucy Goodwin owns the Beauty Temple in Queen Street, Nottingham and The Owl House Spa, in the grounds of Langley Priory, Diseworth

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