We’re nearly two weeks into the festive season and it’s beginning to take its toll.
Yet, there is a long way to go: New Year’s Eve is the pinnacle and demands us to be match fit. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so take a half-time to recharge before heading back into the throng fresh-faced and looking as if you’ve just arrived home from a wellness retreat.
Here are some top picks for being party ready, inside and out.
The de-puffing skincare treatment
Skin health takes a battering in December: it’s bitter outside, fuggy inside, you’re likely to be trowelling on layers of make-up and probably not cleansing thoroughly, plus an excess of sugar and alcohol-related dehydration all leads to a dry, puffy or spotty complexion. “If there is one system that you need to detoxify your skin, it is the lymphatic system, the body’s natural detox system,” says Professor Dr Michael Detmar, co-founder and chief scientific officer of IRÄYE (1), a brand which promises to activate the lymphatic vessels of the skin and reduce the signs of alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation and diet- induced problems. The Serum and The Cream are expensive but your skin will look and feel almost instantly healthier and firmer. Hydration is essential — so try an oil like the CE15 Bakuchiol Firming Oil which lasts ages.
From £85, irayeskincare.com
The IV drip
To keep your body flooded with nutrients and fully hydrated when it needs it most, try a vitamin and hydration IV drip like REVIV’s offering exclusively created for Harrods. The Harrods Signature IV floods your body with selenium, glutathione, B12 and magnesium, which drive the detoxification systems and even helps smooth out fine lines and wrinkles from within. A Christmas miracle.
£600, revivme.com
The hangover cures
“We can thrive, even in party season, it’s really important to know that,” says nutritionist Rhian Stephenson, founder of supplement brand Artah. Is there something to help us get over a hangover faster so as to avoid being sucked into a junk food and hair-of-the-dog vortex (always tempting, but always a mistake)? “Milk thistle, which is in our Deep Detox supplement, has been shown to reduce the inflammation associated with alcohol and can help your body support the detoxification pathways, so really great for hangovers,” says Stephenson. For hangxiety — low mood after having one too many — she recommends electrolytes (which we lose when glugging champagne and other delicious tipples) and magnesium, both found in Artah’s Cellular Hydration powder — as well as B vitamins. Both of these supplements make up Artah’s Party Essentials package (but can also be bought separately).
£58, artah.co
The party-ready pedi
It’s tempting to let your feet go into goblin mode over Christmas. But there is something undeniably chic about not letting standards slip when the temperature dips, and having the option to wear an open toe if you fancy. Margaret Dabbs London not only offers treatments that make your trotters look pretty but staff are also committed to foot health. The Medical Pedicure is performed by a podiatrist and is like giving your feet a complete rebirth: hard skin and calluses are banished and toenails will be given intensive TLC so any gnarly nightmares will be taken care of before your feet are thoroughly hydrated. Your feet will be cute even without polish, but there is always the option to add some colour.
From £85, margaretdabbs.co.uk
The hair Botox
The pressure to have consistent good hair days reaches its peak in December — it feels like a near constant wash, blow dry and style cycle that frankly many of us don’t have time for. So imagine the joy of guaranteed tame, beautiful and healthy hair every day even if you don’t wash it or straighten it. This is what The Botox Blowdry at Fe Hair & Beauty in Connaught Village offers — an intense conditioning treatment that leaves hair frizz-free, shiny and hydrated for up to 12 weeks. The emphasis is on reduced frizz and elevated condition that doesn’t compromise on volume.
From £295 for the Botox Blowdry, fehairandbeauty.com
The sound healing
We could all benefit from some calming downtime, especially in December. Sound healing practitioner Harriet Emily, who has worked with Soho House and Bare Minerals, offers a variety of one-to-one treatments at Harrods Wellness Clinic but her Balance offering is probably the one that anyone juggling work, family and partying needs most. Expect aromatherapy, Himalayan singing bowls, crystals and chimes — and a total escape from Christmas that will ensure you aren’t too frazzled to party.
£160, harrods.com
The face-lifting blow dry
Neville Hair & Beauty have brought this contouring trick to London. It takes just 40 minutes and zero invasiveness to make any complexion appear tauter and less tired. The first part of the treatment is simply a hair wash and blow dry to your specifications. Then the stylist will carefully select small sections of your hair from around your temples to tightly braid. The braids are then hidden and you’ve got an instant glow.
£65, phorest.com
The live probiotic facial
Fifty billion live microbes slathered over your face? Welcome to the UK’s first live probiotic facial by Tarryn Warren at Bodyism. Promising to be the ultimate treatment for skin, this facial reduces inflammation and improves hydration. After a deep cleanse, exfoliation and extraction, the microbes will nourish your skin and instantly restore its microbial mix.
From £180, tarrynwarren.com
