Add Beauty to Your Holiday Countdown

Plan now to make this a stress-free festive season. The only reason the "stressful season" has become synonymous with the festive season is that we allow it to become so.

Start your preparation countdown well before the festivities. Take a serious look at your hair, checking for split ends and faded colour. Make an appointment with your hairstylist early in December to allow time to try a new cut and to discuss a change of hair colour. Before you leave the salon, schedule an appointment for a follow-up trim.

If you prefer to colour your own hair, allow an extra week just in case the colour is not to your liking. Henna home colouring kits give a rich tint to mousy browns.

Whether or not you change the color of your hair, you need to update your cosmetics with the winter season. Exfoliate end-of-summer tans before you choose a foundation, lipstick, or eye colour. An exfoliating masque with clay, sage, or thyme will benefit oily skins. Choose a masque with soothing aloe and camomile for dry and sensitive skin.

Pamper Yourself

Mark a date on your calendar in early December for "facial night." Plan your facial at least three to four days ahead of the party season as exfoliation may cause a temporary, uneven colouring of the skin. Be sure to use a quality herbal moisturizer after exfoliating.

Alternatively you could book into a day spa and get pampered. Check the options at the spa such as a steam cleanse, which is good for opening the pores (but not recommended if you have facial thread veins). Ask about Moor mudpacks, which bring nourishing nutrients to the skin.

In the first week of December, book a manicure either with a friend or at the spa. Check out magazines for the nail polish colours. If your preference is to go natural, set dates on your calendar early and late in December to spend time on a home manicure.

Stay on Your Toes

Finally, and not to be forgotten, are your feet. If you want to dance the night away or spend days out snowshoeing or skiing, your feet need attention well ahead of the event. A weekly scrub with a pumice stone will prevent patches of hard skin from developing. After showering and before going to bed, rub some cool, refreshing peppermint lotion into the soles of your feet to make them feel great. A pedicure early in December and again two weeks later will prevent ingrown toenails and give you time to treat corns and calluses. It's not easy to look happy when your feet are hurting, so consider your feet-treat sessions as essential preparation times.

Remember when you were a kid how you counted down to the "big day"? Bring some of that excitement back into your life by marking off your calendar with the things you really want to do, ahead of the frazzle days. Many people, friends and family included, make unreasonable demands on your time. When your calendar is marked up and ready to go, practise saying no to unwanted invitations, shopping with your least favourite sister-in-law, or running that last-minute errand for your mother.

With a time-for-yourself plan, you can now look forward to a season of relaxation and enjoyment.

What is Moor Mud?

Moor mud, harvested from an area close to Salzburg, France, is comprised of herbs, flowers, leaves, fruits, and seeds that grew thousands of years ago in a rich, fertile valley. Each constituent of the mud contributes healing properties, vitamins, and minerals in a unique molecular structure. Moor mud is a detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and antiaging treatment available at many health spas.