Days 14 & 15 at home mani's and pedi's

As the last weekend before Christmas approaches and many of you will be out partying and Christmas shopping, getting time to go to a salon for a manicure and pedicure will be near impossible and costly. Here is how to get salon results at home:


Manicure:

Firstly gather these things: A bowl with warm soapy water - ideally use a moisturizing liquid soap or bath foam, nail polish remover, cotton pads, a soft hand towel, a salon quality nail file (from most drugstores), a buffer, cuticle oil - Hand Perfection http://www.handperfection.com/ do a great one, hand cream - Carita Paris http://www.carita.com/ have a lovely one called Velvet Glove, an orange stick, a small angled eyeliner brush, base coat, nail polish and top coat - I love Rescue Beauty Lounges's http://www.rescuebeauty.com/ Tough Chic kit which has all these plus some really unusal colors, my favorite at the moment is Concrete, a pale grey which I've had loads of compliments on.

1. Start by removing an old polish you have on using good quailty remover and cotton pads.
2. Soak nails for a minute or two in the warm soapy water and dry gently with a towel.
3. Apply cuticle oil and let sink in for a few minutes. Using the orange stick gently push them back.
4. Dip again to remove excess oil and dry off.
5. Put a little hand cream on and massage in thoroughly avoiding your nails.
6. File nails into shape, for dark or unusal colors short and squared off looks best.
7. Buff lightly to get rid of any ridges and create a smooth surface for polish.
8. Apply the base coat and let dry for a minute.
9. Apply one coat of your preferred polish, let dry for a minute then apply a second.
10. Put on the top coat and let dry for a good ten minutes to avoid smudging.
11. Now dip the eyeliner brush in to remover and go around the edges of your nails and remove any excess without disturbing the polish.
    
    
    

Pedicure:


Using most of the above items plus a few extras: a bigger bowl of warm soapy water, an exfoliating sponge, kitchen towel (to divide toes) a foot file, nail trimmer, a pedicure cream DDF's http://www.ddfskincare.com/ Pedi-Cream is ideal.

1. Soak feet and scrub them with some extra soap and the sponge.
2. Dry off and file any rough skin with the foot file.
3. Apply the cuticle oil, let sink in then push the cuticles back as above.
4. Rinse off the excess oil and dry your feet.
5. Massage in the pedicure cream avoiding your toe nails.
6. Cut your nails if necessary and file into shape, do not round off as this can cause ingrown toe nails.
7. Divide your toes with strips of kitchen paper.
8. Paint on the base coat and let dry for a minute.
9. Add two coats of polish, leaving a minute between them.
10. Apply top coat and let dry properly.
11. Remove excess with the eyeliner brush.

Taking your time and doing all the steps above should leave you with a professional looking manicure and pedicure that will last you through the weekend if you are careful!

(Products provided by brands mentioned above)

Days 12 and 13...preparing your outfit and accessories

When it comes to going to a party or big event, I waste a lot of time on the night trying on 20 outfits and then discarding them in my wardrobe a.k.a. the floor! I more often than not end up late, dissatisfied with my outfit and uncomfortable all night. This weekend is the time to go through your clothes and/or buy a new outfit, see what fits and you look good in and see what needs to be done to make it the perfect outfit.
First of all see what skin you'll be exposing i.e back and then you can pay extra attention to making them look as good as possible. If you have a probelm with breakouts on your body, start using a body wash daily for acne prone skin and then spraying with a formula especially for the body such as Murad's http://www.murad.com/ Clarifying Body Spray. If you are going to be wearing a mini skirt, you might want to get a fake tan (look for a feature on this in the next few days) or have them waxed (another feature coming soon). You might also want to start doing specific toning exercises for these areas. If your arms are going to be your feature and you have those little hard spots on the skin (called Keratosis Pilaris) start using a treatment now to smooth and minimise them, I like http://www.dermadoctor.com/ KP Duty Dry Skin Repair Kit.
Now try your outfit on and see what needs to be fixed to make it look amazing. Do you need tape to hold the front in place if it's low cut? How about a stick on gel bra so you can wear a backless dress? Maybe a gel insert to give you a bigger cupsize?? I have just discovered a great company that does all these and more http://www.purestylegirlfriends.com/ they literally can cover your every need! You can wear the skimpiest outfit with confidence that it'll stay put and you have the support where needed!
What about your shoes? These are the bain of my life, as I love wearing really high heels but hate walking about in them. I have a few things that I use including a blister stick and gel insoles (available at most drugstores). These help with strappy sandals and can prevent blisters. My usual get out is to wear my knee high black boots, they are really high but at least I don't have straps cutting in. They can also bring nearly any outfit up to date. I got mine 2 years ago at Bebe http://www.bebe.com/ and people still ask me where they are from, so if you get a good classic pair they will last you for years and be a good investment.
Now if I can only follow my own advice I might be on time for once!

Inflight beauty

As it's getting close to the time of year most people travel home for the holidays, I thought I'd let you in to a few of my secrets on how to arrive looking great, even after a long haul flight.

I travel a lot for work and like to be comfortable and for it all to go as smoothly as possible. So to start with, I always make sure I have a few essentials with me:

• My own pillow - I like to try and get some sleep and those little pillows they give out just won't do! Take your own and even if you don't sleep it's far more comfortable to lean on!
• A wrap or throw - I use the blanket they give out on my feet and legs, they are a bit scratchy so like to have my own wrap to put around my upper body to keep me warm.
• Noise cancelling headphones - their headphones don't usually work so well. My ones also block out the sound of all the commotion around me so I can sleep or catch up on movies in peace!
• A big bottle of water - get this after you've passed security and sip throughout the flight to keep you hydrated. I also like to bring a packet of Glowelle http://www.glowelle.com/ to add to it to give my skin a boost.
• Fruit - you can make a fruit salad at home or bring pieces with you. These also help to keep you hydrated and is better for you than all the salty snacks the crew pass around. Be sure to eat it all or get rid of it before you land though - you can be fined for bringing it in to other countries!
• Makeup remover wipes - I like to take my makeup off after I've gotten on to the plane. Wipes pass the security measures too.
• A bag with travel sized beauty products - I put my beauty travel items in a clear plastic bag before I leave the house. It enables you to pass security quicker as they are already together and within the limits of what you are allowed to take on.
• I bring: Liz Earle http://www.lizearle.com/ Instant Boost Skin Tonic - the travel size of this comes in a handy little spray bottle. I spritz with this throughout the flight to stop my skin from drying out.
• Arcona http://www.arcona.com/ Peptide Eye Serum from the Four Your Eyes Only kit. The serum helps repair and moisturize the eye area and also helps depuff, ideal after a long flight. The rest of the kit is great for travel too, I keep it in my checked baggage for the rest of my trip!
• Talika Eye Decompress http://www.talika.com/ These amazing little eye masks are in tablet form that you immerse in the liquid they come with. They transform into an instantly cooling and soothing mask that refreshes tired eyes and helps smooth fine lines. I put one under my sleep mask (www.dreamessentials.com do great ones that are molded so they don't press against your eyes) just before the lights come back on!
• Janson Beckett http://www.janson-beckett.com/ Alpha Derma CE comes in a small bottle too so that you can take this on with you. I moisturize with this at the start of the flight when I've removed my makeup, it keeps your skin from looking dry and tight at the end of your flight.
• Orlane http://www.orlane.com/ Morning Recovery Concentrate is a miracle in a little bottle! Just before you reapply your makeup at the end of the flight, apply this and give it a minute to work. It revs up circulation and gives you a glow making you look like you slept even if you didn't! It's also non greasy so you can put your makeup on straight over it.
• Colorescience Pro http://www.colorescience.com/ Lip Serum looks like a gloss so it does double duty, but is really an intensive treatment for dry, parched lips.
• Jonathan http://www.jonathanproduct.com/ Pocket Redo freshen up wipes are an ingenious product! They not only freshen your skin but are for use on your hair too. Removing smells and grease and leaving a subtle scent. Perfect for 'redoing' your hair just before you deplane.
• Pacifica http://www.pacificaperfume.com/ have a great selection of solid perfumes. I like to take these onboard as obviously they pass regulation and don't offend other passengers by clouding the air! Leave the plane smelling as sweet as you got on with a quick swipe of this behind the ears and on the wrists.

With these tips and products you can arrive looking as great as when you left, even after an 11 hour flight - I do this a lot!

Day 10....eyelashes

I'm obsessed with my eyelashes and so are most women I know. It is the one thing that I always do - wear mascara. Now there are treatments out there that can grow them thicker, longer and darker, and others to keep them that way. Read on for some products recommendations and tips to keep yours looking good.

Firstly it is important to make sure you remove your mascara throughly but gently every night before you go to sleep. Leaving mascara on all night can cause lashes to become brittle and break. Use a good eyemakeup remover such as Talika's http://www.talika.com/ Lash Conditioning Cleanser. As the name suggests, this not only removes eyemakeup but conditions weak or damaged lashes. I also like Liz Earle's http://www.lizearle.com/ Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion which takes off light eye makeup and is extremely gentle. You can also use it as a compress to soothe tired eyes.

To maintain or enhance your eyelashes without I love B.Kamins http://www.bkamins.com/ Eyelash Fortifier which conditions thinning lashes and brows to help them grow stronger. Revitalash http://www.revitalash.com/ is another good option for sparse lashes, helping them regain their vitality.

If you can go without mascara sometimes to give your eyelashes a break, do so and just wear a lash conditioner instead a couple of days a week. If you are like me and don't want to to leave the house without it, Cargo's http://www.cargocosmetics.com/ Lash Activator is great. It's a black mascara that boosts the appearance of your lashes and helps prevent lash loss with it's marine algae extract.

Days 8 and 9....hands & feet

Sorry day 8 is a day late! I had 3 jobs yesterday and I was sooooo tired I couldn't keep my eyes open long enough to write when I got home. So here are days 8 and 9 together!

Hands can be the first thing to give away your age. Most people make sure they look after their facial skin but neglect their hands, and considering the beating they get with the elements and just general use, they need looking after too! I suggest you start by changing from washing with soap to a moisturizing hand wash as soap can be very harsh and drying. Next twice weekly use an exfoliating treatment to smooth the skin - Talika's Kit Rituel Des Mains http://www.talika.com/ contains an exfoliating gel and serum that works to eliminate dryness and brighten the skin lessining age spots. I find it best to do this just before bed so the products have a chance to work properly.

Using a hand cream daily is also essential, try to use one every time you wash your hands. I like Hand Perfection Complete Day Cream by http://www.handperfection.com/ This was developed by an ex hand model and really works.

If your hands are really dry you could also try Hand Therapy Gloves http://www.talika.com/ These gloves feel strange (they were developed using post surgery healing technology) but after wearing them for half an hour the results are amazing! Your hands feel baby soft and there is no trace of greasiness. I wear them whilst watching TV!

There will be no point in taking great care of your hands and using all these treatments if you don't protect them from the elements, so during the cold weather wear gloves and if you are somewhere sunny make sure you put SPF on them too!

If you intend to wear sandals to any of your holiday parties you better start attending to them now! If you are anything like me they have been bundled up in boots for a couple of months now and need a little help if they are to make an appearance.

From today make sure you scrub them in the shower with a moisturizing body wash and exfoliating gloves, the body shop do great ones http://www.thebodyshop.com/ as does the Rescue Beauty Lounge http://www.rescuebeauty.com/ . Get rid of rough skin on the heels and sole with a foot file or ped egg while the skin is still soft from the warm water and then slather on a cream especially designed to eradicate the thick, dry skin like http://www.ddfskincare.com/ Pedi-Cream which softens calluses, soothes skin and cools hot,tired feet after a long day of Christmas shopping!

Another great thing to do, is to put a thick layer of foot cream (on clean feet!) last thing at night and then put some cotton socks on to help it absorb,without getting it all over your sheets.

Day 7....body care

Time to get down to a serious regime for baring your skin in your LBD!

Start by twice a week exfoliating seriously with a good body scrub such as Jurlique www.jurlique.com Body Exfoliating Gel for gentle exfoliation or with Sampar http://www.sampar.com/ Lap of Luxury Sea Scrub for a deep exfoliation that leaves you radiant. A good tip is to apply these to slightly damp or even dry skin all over before you get in the shower or tub.
After you've emerged from either, dry off with a warm fluffy towel and apply body moisturizer straight away to trap any moisture left on the skin. Good body lotions to try are Juice Beauty http://www.juicebeauty.com/ Green Apple Extra Firming Body Moisturizer which not only smells delicious, it sinks in right away and firms with continuous use. Another one I like is DDF http://www.ddfskincare.com/ Glycolic 10% Body Lotion - this helps exfoliate andy dry patches and leaves your skin silky.
If you want to use specific treatments for problem areas now is the time to do it, when the skin has shed it's dead layer and can absorb the active ingredients properly. For your bust area try Clarins http://www.clarins.com/ Bust Beauty Extra-Lift Gel to tighten and lift the natural bra area. If your concern is more to prevent a crepey decollete, I recommend Liz Earle http://www.lizearle.com/ Superskin Bust Treatment which is a great deeply moisturizing but non sticky serum, allowing you to dress right away.
If cellulite is your problem, massage daily with a cream specifically for that. Both Murad's http://www.murad.com/ Firm and Tone Serum (they also do a whole regimen with supplements) and Karin Herzog's http://www.karinherzog.com/ Silhouette 4% Oxygen give great results if used regularly.

Start now and have skin worthy of baring in your backless dress or mini skirt this holiday season!

Day 6....beauty sleep

In preparation for the coming holiday parties and get togethers, now is the time to make the most of your beauty sleep. I've put together a list of products and ideas to help you look fresh and get through party season without it showing on your face!

• Try to get your 8 hours a night if possible in the run up to the holiday season. Make sure your room is at a good temperature for optimal sleep, not too hot or cold and with blackout curtains. It gets light pretty early now so unless you get up at 5am it helps to block out the light!


• Sleeping on a satin pillowcase helps guard against those creases that you can wake up with on your face as it has that slippy factor - unlike cotton which molds to your face. It also helps stop your hair getting frizzy overnight.


• Keep a glass of water by your bed in case you wake dehydrated, but try not to drink a lot at least an hour before you sleep so that you don't have to get up during the night - if you get my drift?!


• If you have trouble sleeping there are a lot of over the counter remedies and also Melatonin which is a natural hormone that induces sleep (check with your Doctor before taking any remedies though). I also have tried and like Murad http://www.murad.com/ Sleep Reform Dietary Supplement which contains Melatonin but also vitamins, minerals and REM Matrix with GABA which encourages muscle relaxation and in turn relaxes wrinkles (please check with your Doctor before starting this too).


• There are a lot of products out there that are especially for overnight use. This is the time when your skin regenerates itself and products get to work without interference from the elements.


• Good ones to try are: Nocturnal Lifting Mask by Sampar http://www.sampar.com/ I've been using this and it's not at all greasy as you may expect. It dries on and you rinse it off in the morning. It leaves the face feeling more toned and smooth and glowing with health. Eye Dream by Talika http://www.talika.com/ is an eye mask that regenerates the delicate skin around the eye contour area. It diminishes puffiness and leaves the skin throughly moisturized. Although this is not specially formulated for night use, I like to use Orlane's http://www.orlane.com/ Extreme Line Reducing Lip Care just before I go to sleep. I put a generous layer on and around my lips so that it can work it's magic overnight. For your hair try John Frieda's http://www.johnfrieda.com/ Frizz-Ease Overnight Creme Serum. It's an easily absorbed treatment that leaves no residue on your pillow. It mends and strengthens hair while you sleep and doesn't need rinsing in the morning.

If you follow some of these tips you should wake refreshed and looking more alert and vibrant and ready to face the next party!