Prepping for a Stress Free Season
It can be the best of times - fun, friends, family, parties, shopping (endless shopping). And the most stressful of times. We have so much to do at Christmas and we also want to look our most fabulous. Carissa Casey picks the products that will get her through the highs and lows of the festive season.
I’ve decided that the best beauty treatment I can give myself this Christmas is to set a conscious intention to relax and enjoy the ride. That means accepting that things will go awry – plans may change, the new dress might not fit, the turkey might burn, the dog might eat the ham (actually happened one year) and that particular person will almost definitely get on my nerves. Sure what is Christmas for if it doesn’t throw up a few surprises and annoying people?
That said, I’ll be relying on a little more than a calm disposition. The onset of cold weather and central heating plays havoc with skin. Throw in a few late nights, a little more alcohol, a less than perfect diet and some extra attention is most definitely required.
I’ll be using a gentle exfoliant, a good quality hydrating serum and a lovely soothing moisturiser as part of ‘me time’ (bathroom door closed, phone out of hearing) morning and night.
Having switched this year away from shower gels in favour of more environmentally friendly soap bars, I’ll be buying some lovely festive scents to slather on in the shower or bath. I find the old school quality of a bar of soap, strangely comforting and reminiscent of childhood, which is kind of nice at Christmas.
I won’t be leaving the house without three essentials in my bag. A hairbrush, a face mist and a small jar of Vaseline, which I use not just to protect my lips but also my hands, believe it or not. Smooth the tiniest amount on – otherwise it gets too greasy – and no amount of cold winds or harsh sanitisers will dry them out.
Finally, since I’ll be doing most of the organising, running around and present buying, I will be treating myself to lovely facial, in particular a nice hydrating, plump up the skin youth bomb.
With that all in place, I’ll be ready for anything.
1>> DERMALOGICA LIMITED EDITION DAILY MICROFOLIANT €65, visit dermalogica.ie Gentle enough for daily use, this comes packed with polishing and brightening agents.
2>> L’OCCITANE IMMORTELLE OVERNIGHT RESET SERUM €60, visit ie.loccitane.com A light water-gel, this is a powerful antioxidant which soothes and plumps the skin; IMMORTELLE DIVINE CREAM €89 visit ie.loccitane.com Using a Retinol alternative and a natural antioxidant, this is a powerful moisturiser that glides on beautifully.
3>> DR. HAUSCHKA’S RADIANT ROSE SET €34.95, visit drh.ie If you haven’t discovered this rose based moisturiser, now is the time to try. A cult classic it leaves skin glowing.
4>> THIS WORKS MY WRINKLES CBD BOOSTER + GRANACTIVE RETINOID €48, visit eu.thisworks.com We know CBD helps support sleep and this serum combines it with the plumping action of a retinoid.
5>> CODEX HARVEST AND HOLIDAY SOAPS €20, visit codexbeauty.ie Beautifully scented with softening agents.
6>> AVENE THERMAL WATER SPRAY €9 visit boots.ie For hot flush moments.
7>> MINI MAGIC HAIRBRUSH €14.95, visit magichairbrush.ie For the pre-lunch fix after a hard morning shopping.
8>> VASELINE PETROLEUM JELLY from €1.60, available widely Don’t leave home without it. Perfect for lips and hands but use only the tiniest amount and massage in well.
9>> HYDRAFACIAL from €125, visit fitzgeraldprivateclinic.com New to the market, this super facial rejuvenates the skin, through deep cleansing and exfoliating, followed by an infusion of hyaluronic acid, antioxidant and peptides. Helps with pigmentation and ageing. And it’s wonderfully relaxing.