It’s the season to look fabulous! With a marathon of parties and festivities crowding your social calendar from now until the confetti clears, it’s imperative that you look and feel your absolute best throughout the month of December – you never know who you’ll run into at your next event!
To ensure you’re at the top of your beauty game this holiday season, we’ve teamed up with the beauty and wellness experts at Acqualina Spa by ESPA to devise a week’s worth of glow-inducing beauty prep to help you sail through the season.
Follow our step-by-step and we guarantee you’ll stand out for all the right seasons.
One Week Before any Event…
Invest in a Good Facial
About one week before your first big event, book a comprehensive facial that delivers lasting results. “This is the time to boost your skin’s hydration, reduce any fine lines, and improve the overall texture and appearance of your skin so that your complexion is smoother, firmer, and photo-ready.” – Jocelyn Farmer, Spa Director. Jocelyn recommends Acqualina Spa by ESPA’s Refining Enzyme Facial to her clients who are looking for a pre-party reviver. This facial offers an intensive cleansing and skin brightening treatment and also deeply exfoliates the skin, removing any dead skin cells. ESPA’s Lifting and Smoothing Mask is applied to give your skin a plumper, firmer appearance.
Green Tea
Add a cup of green tea to your daily routine. This magical elixir is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients to help you eliminate toxins and remove water weight, so that you can squeeze into those gorgeous cocktail dresses you’ve been waiting to wear.
Adequate H2O
Believe it or not, drinking enough water on a daily basis can be the answer to your biggest beauty problems (think dull skin, thinning hair, breakouts, brittle nails, etc). Like green tea, water helps flush out toxins, leaving your skin fresh and radiant as a result. Staying hydrated also helps you maintain your skin’s natural elasticity and suppleness.
Scratch the Salt
A diet high in sodium isn’t going to do you any favors when it comes to slimming down or feeling lighter, so literally just quit. Cut out anything processed and stick to real foods that do not contain added sodium.
Cool Down Your Shower
This may seem odd, but if your bathroom fills with so much steam that you can barely find your towel after a shower, then the water is too hot. Piping hot water robs your skin of moisture and can lead to flaky, dry skin. Try a lukewarm shower for a week, trust us your skin will look and feel much better for it.
Tweak Your Diet
The age old saying, “You are what you eat” is especially true when it comes to your skin. Unhealthy dietary choices, i.e too much caffeine and alcohol or a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, will show on your face. For one week, try starting your day with a fresh green juice – this will get your metabolism going, filling you up and promoting healthy eating throughout the day.
5 Days Before your Event…
The Face Mask
To rid your skin of all impurities and dead skin cells, Acqualina Spa by ESPA’s Spa Therapy Manager, Kim Cooke, recommends applying an at-home face mask. Kim recommends a DIY pumpkin-inspired face mask. Pumpkin is full of antioxidants and vitamin C. Click here for her DIY recipe.
The Hair Mask
For lustrous hair that shines as bright as the holiday lights, Kim Cooke recommends using ESPA’s pink hair and scalp mud. This intensely nourishing hair treatment eliminates any dryness and conditions your hair, leaving it smooth and soft to the touch. Vitamin C-rich watercress and Apricot kernel oil soothe and nourish your scalp, while red clay stimulates circulation to help boost growth and strengthen your hair.
The Day Before your Event…
Mani/Pedi
Make time the day before your holiday event for a fresh manicure and pedicure. A classic bright red on your fingers is always in vogue and as festive as it gets!
Exfoliate the Body
Make sure your skin is soft and smooth with a full body exfoliation the evening before your event. ESPA’s exfoliating body polish is formulated to gently sweep away dry, rough skin. Infused with spearmint and aloe vera, this scrub also hydrates and nourishes your body, leaving your skin glowing (and everyone else envious!)