As the festive season fast approaches, looking every inch the party goddess has never been more important. But as the stresses and stains of endless soirees take their toll, it’s vital to invest in a little more ‘me time’ to ensure you can maintain flawless party sparkle that lasts well into the New Year.
Melanie Knock, Spa Manager at the Best Western St Mellons Hotel in Cardiff offers top tips on surviving the festivities:
“In addition to maintaining a good skin care regime, including the three most important steps – cleanse, tone and moisturise, a facial is a great way to treat your skin and bring it back to life. The run up to Christmas and the New Year can be a stressful period, preparing for the family to visit and elbowing your way through the high street for those last minute presents, with your skin usually showing the telltale signs of stress.
“A treatment, such as Elemis Oxygen Skin Calm Facial, is perfect for this time of year. Incorporating a combination of gentle massaging techniques with calming actives help rebalance delicate, fragile and sensitive complexions. Packed full of superior properties, the treatment offers immediate comfort to stressed and irritated skin encouraging radiance – I swear by it!
“For skin that is more prone to breakouts, the overindulgence in rich food, one too many glasses of bubbly or forgetting to remove your make-up after a heavy night makes regular treatments a necessity. For this type of skin the Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair treatment works to restore skin balance, whilst cleansing and drawing out skin impurities. It will also reduce unwanted shine, making your party make-up look fresher for longer.”
You can also give your skin a bit of a rest from heavy party make-up as this season its all about looking effortless and glowing, Melanie says: “Traditionally dark colours are the seminal pallet for winter make-up but this year things couldn’t be different. Instead of a heavy matt finish, a sheer, rosy glow now forms the basis of any party look, leaving your skin a chance to breathe and the chance to experiment with subtle colour.”
But it isn’t just your face that can show the signs of excess partying and late nights, Melanie continues: “Alcohol can cause your skin to be dehydrated, leaving it in desperate need for replenishment. The Elemis Exotic Frangipani Body Nourish Wrap drenches your skin with moisture and provides ultimate radiance and vitality to the skin. It also smells absolutely gorgeous and levels an immediate softness that you can’t help but notice.”
Pale and interesting is the hot look this season according to Melanie: “It’s really easy to continue your summer skin routine into winter, but it’s not the most flattering. Instead why not give your skin a chance to show its natural radiance and give the bronzer and fake tan a miss in favor of luxurious shimmer lotions and leave it glowing with regular exfoliation - you’ll be a natural beauty before you know it.”
In the winter months our nails can also lack a little luster, but will a little tender loving care they can be revived and looking party fresh in no time at all.
“Beautifully manicured hands can really make an outfit. So often you see celebrities on the red carpet in an outfit that costs thousands, but it’s always the chewed, unkempt nails that hit the headlines in the glossy pages – and it’s something that takes a matter of minutes to put right.”
Like many things, to achieve the end result you want its all about the preparation you put into it, “It’s really important to get the basics of good nails right before you even think about colour. Make sure your nails are in tip-top condition, your cuticles are kept under control and nails moisturised, that way you’ll have a fantastic, long lasting finish.
Melanie Knock, Spa Manager at the Best Western St Mellons Hotel in Cardiff offers top tips on surviving the festivities:
“In addition to maintaining a good skin care regime, including the three most important steps – cleanse, tone and moisturise, a facial is a great way to treat your skin and bring it back to life. The run up to Christmas and the New Year can be a stressful period, preparing for the family to visit and elbowing your way through the high street for those last minute presents, with your skin usually showing the telltale signs of stress.
“A treatment, such as Elemis Oxygen Skin Calm Facial, is perfect for this time of year. Incorporating a combination of gentle massaging techniques with calming actives help rebalance delicate, fragile and sensitive complexions. Packed full of superior properties, the treatment offers immediate comfort to stressed and irritated skin encouraging radiance – I swear by it!
“For skin that is more prone to breakouts, the overindulgence in rich food, one too many glasses of bubbly or forgetting to remove your make-up after a heavy night makes regular treatments a necessity. For this type of skin the Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair treatment works to restore skin balance, whilst cleansing and drawing out skin impurities. It will also reduce unwanted shine, making your party make-up look fresher for longer.”
You can also give your skin a bit of a rest from heavy party make-up as this season its all about looking effortless and glowing, Melanie says: “Traditionally dark colours are the seminal pallet for winter make-up but this year things couldn’t be different. Instead of a heavy matt finish, a sheer, rosy glow now forms the basis of any party look, leaving your skin a chance to breathe and the chance to experiment with subtle colour.”
But it isn’t just your face that can show the signs of excess partying and late nights, Melanie continues: “Alcohol can cause your skin to be dehydrated, leaving it in desperate need for replenishment. The Elemis Exotic Frangipani Body Nourish Wrap drenches your skin with moisture and provides ultimate radiance and vitality to the skin. It also smells absolutely gorgeous and levels an immediate softness that you can’t help but notice.”
Pale and interesting is the hot look this season according to Melanie: “It’s really easy to continue your summer skin routine into winter, but it’s not the most flattering. Instead why not give your skin a chance to show its natural radiance and give the bronzer and fake tan a miss in favor of luxurious shimmer lotions and leave it glowing with regular exfoliation - you’ll be a natural beauty before you know it.”
In the winter months our nails can also lack a little luster, but will a little tender loving care they can be revived and looking party fresh in no time at all.
“Beautifully manicured hands can really make an outfit. So often you see celebrities on the red carpet in an outfit that costs thousands, but it’s always the chewed, unkempt nails that hit the headlines in the glossy pages – and it’s something that takes a matter of minutes to put right.”
Like many things, to achieve the end result you want its all about the preparation you put into it, “It’s really important to get the basics of good nails right before you even think about colour. Make sure your nails are in tip-top condition, your cuticles are kept under control and nails moisturised, that way you’ll have a fantastic, long lasting finish.
