The festive season is upon us and, as diaries fill up with party invitations and time is spent shopping for Christmas gifts, getting your beauty sleep and keeping up a rigorous skincare regime can often fall to the wayside. Whether you’re spending the holidays sunning yourself in the Caribbean or cosied up somewhere cold, the effects of festive excess take their toll on everyone so it pays to be prepared with a roster of easy-to-use products to keep you looking your best no matter how busy your calendar is.
First up – preventative measures. Making sure your skin looks great is an effective way of masking tiredness and the better your skin looks to begin with the less the effects of late nights and over indulgence will show. Skinade is a supplement drink packed with marine collagen, vitamins, omegas 3 and 6 and amino acids to give you younger looking, healthier and more hydrated skin. The 30-day holiday pack includes 20 bottles and 10 sachets – perfect if you’re travelling.
30-day holiday edition, £105, Skinade
Never underestimate the value of a great day cream. Firm, clear, hydrated skin will hide all manner of sins so choose a moisturiser that is lightweight, increases elasticity and suppleness, sinks in quickly and, ideally, contains SPF. The Pro-Collagen Marine Cream from Elemis ticks all the boxes.
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, £85 for 50ml, Elemis
Applying a primer before your foundation is a great way to stop pores becoming clogged (especially if you’re at sea and using waterproof products) and comes with the added benefit of making skin look blemish-free for inevitable party pictures. Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer is feather light, oil-free and will help keep your make-up in place all night long.
Photo Finish Primer, £26 for 30ml, Smashbox
It should go without saying that sleeping with your make-up on is a cardinal sin but, if you’re arriving back late after a long night in the yacht club, it can be tempting to let the rules slide. The key here is to cut time by investing in a multitasking product like Omorovicza’s Refining Facial Polisher. This cleanser/exfoliator hybrid will remove all traces of make-up whilst buffing away dead cells and smoothing skin.
Refining Facial Polisher, £65 for 100ml, Omorovicza
If there’s ever a time to bring out the skincare big guns it’s party season and that means investing in La Prairie’s Platinum Rare Ultimate Rejuvenating Serum. Containing platinum peptides and tensing agents, apply a few drops to a freshly cleansed face before your night cream to restore your skin’s natural moisture barrier, reverse dehydration and achieve brighter, clearer and firmer skin.
Platinum Rare Ultimate Rejuvenating Serum, £578 for 30ml, La Prairie
Don’t forget your hair! A combination of heat styling, over-washing and the effects of sun, wind or snow can mean your hair sustains serious damage over the holidays. Living Proof’s Night Cap Overnight Perfector is a clever treatment that uses a patented sealing technology to revitalise dry hair, protect it from pollutants and heat damage and hydrate hair to leave it soft and bouncy. Better yet it’s non-greasy so there’s no need to wash it off in the morning and each application lasts up to five washes.
Night Cap Overnight Perfector, £30 for 118ml, Living Proof at Space N.K.
The eyes have it - especially when it comes to betraying signs of a late night. Keep a pair of Chantecaille's Gold Energizing eye masks on your bedside table and pop them on first thing to start the recovery process before you even get out of bed. Soaked in a natural seaweed based lotion infused with rosewater and a 24k Gold Serum, they promise to plump and moisturise thus eliminating dark circles and puffiness.
Gold Energizing eye recovery mask, $195 for eight pairs, Chantecaille
It may be tempting to reach for the coffee the morning after a big night out but caffeine will only dehydrate the skin and body further. Instead grab a bottle of No 1 Rosemary Water. The natural spring water will help rehydrate while the pure rosemary extract promises a whole host of health benefits - opt for the sparkling version to refresh an over indulged palate.
Sparkling rosemary water, £20.70 for six 75cl bottles, Rosemary Water