Fashion & Beauty
New Year,
New You
By Helen Taylor
You’ve had a fantastic Christmas and a fabulous
New Year but as great as all those champagne-filled
parties were, the late nights, weeks of socialising and
care-free indulgence will have certainly taken its toll
on your skin, hair and, not to mention, your waist line.
It’s that seasonal vacation from the watching the
calories, skipping the daily skin-care routine and using
heat styling tools excessively on your hair, that leaves
us all crying out in January for some products and a
routine that will put back what the partying took out.
So, it’s definitely the right time to detox. Firstly, getting
rid of the telltale dark circles that have emerged after
countless late nights will immediately create a fresher
looking face. Use a specialised eye cream and
remember to apply lightly, so as not to rub or pull at
the delicate eye area.
Putting much needed moisture back in to dried-out
skin, instantly reveals a more youthful and refreshed
look. Alcohol consumption, harsh winter weather and
centrally heated rooms sap essential oils from the skin
- with all three combining at this time of year, fine lines
and wrinkles are sure to appear.
Refreshing the skin with a detoxifying and cleansing
face mask is the first stage for post-party pampering.
Thoroughly removing deeply ingrained make-up -
that’s been lurking in the pores will ensure a blemish-
free complexion and a perfect base to absorb much
needed moisture.
Gentle exfoliation removes blackheads and prevents
the on-set of blemishes, but can be a little harsh on
sensitive skin, so use a fine grain and apply with care.
It’s easy to assume that oily skin doesn’t need to be
moisturised, but it certainly does. Always choose
specially formulated products that will not be too rich
for greasy skin.
Typically defined by having dry and oily parts,
combination skin has a greasy T-zone (forehead,
nose and chin), combined with flaky, dry cheeks,
and so, needs to be treated with special care. It is
worth investing in quality products that will address
this problem without exacerbating either part of the
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skin. In extreme cases though, the only real solution is
to treat sections separately.
Always speak to a specialist skin care consultant
when trying to find out what will work best for you.
Expert advice and free samples - that you can try
out at home - will be sure to save you money in the
long term.
It takes time to improve the look of tired, dull or
blemished skin, but with perseverance you’re
sure to look glowing.
To complete your newly refreshed and
rejuvenated look, turning attention to your
locks is vital. Left frazzled after weeks of curling,
straightening and styling, hair needs to be
nurtured back to health.
If you’re finding that dry, split and unsightly
ends are making your tresses totally
unmanageable, not to mention unsightly,
then now is the time to book in with your
stylist and try a whole new look for your
hair. Loosing a few inches will greatly
improve the appearance and feel of
your lengths.
Forget home hair colouring and instead
opt for a salon applied colour that will
even out dry hair and instantly add a
gleaming shine. Avoid blonde and
instead choose light-reflecting hues
of deep brown, red and copper for
sumptuous locks.
Use intensive conditioning
treatments weekly to repair weak
ends and ensure that you make
time to properly care for your hair.
Remember: a glossy mane
is key to creating a youthful
appearance so when its
combined with a fabulously
refreshed complexion, it will
leave you looking totally
flawless for the coming year.