With the clock ticking and the festive days pretty much exhausting us with dinners, lunches, parties, family gatherings and festive preparations; looking glamorous and 'fresh' on New Year's Eve seems almost impossible. That's why we discovered simple little tips to win back our shine and look gorgeous on New Year's Eve and every day.
Alina Loi
A woman who knows beauty secrets is the beauty editor of the Telegraph, Lucia Ferrari, who shares simple and practical tips to look "fresh" and glamorous at the New Year's Eve, but also every day.
Beautiful hair
We all feel and look better with beautiful hair. Knightsbridge-based hairstylist Michael Charalambous, who combs many European royals, tells clients they don't have to go to the salon all the time for a hairstyle.
"To keep your hair looking like you just blew at the salon, after day four or depending on when your hair needs it, just lean over the sink and wash the front, then put on one or two rolls of Velcro."
Spray with L'Oreal Professional Tecni.Art Pli Thermo Hair Styling Spray. "It's a classic heat-activated product that will give you a 90s-style Cindy Crawford look on the root and body," says the top hairdresser, who, something tells us, has Greek roots.
Adding a bow
Adding a bow to the hair in a ponytail or on the back of the head may not appeal to everyone, but if you like it, you can add that touch à la Catherine Deneuve to your New Year's look.
Get rid of face puffiness
Whether it's chocolate or something salty, combined with the extra alcohol of Christmas, the effects on many of us are immediately seen in the form of puffiness.
How can you fight it? The Telegraph's fashion editor, Lucia Ferrari, says she gets a mini lymphatic drainage massage every night and morning. A process that, he says, takes just 30 seconds.
How is it done? Quite simply, massage using your hands or a gua sha tool. For swelling and fluid retention, use your index and middle fingers together and lower them from your earlobes to the collarbone. Repeat several times and then use a gua sha tool along the jawline and towards the cheekbones to decongest.
Glowing skin
Skincare is a good spot to brighten your face. You can, for example, use an exfoliant or a milky face moisturizer spray that leaves a beautiful glow on the skin. And of course, you can have one inside your bag for when your skin needs toning.
Eyes looking young
When it comes to makeup, star makeup artist Wendy Rowe always uses 111Skin eye masks before dyeing one. Cryo De Puffing Anti Tiredness masks may be expensive, but they're worth every penny.
Of course, there is always the option of using ice to help relieve congestion under the eye area, but Dr Ash Sonny, a plastic surgeon, tells The Telegraph that a good eye cream will do more. For example, Retinol Eye Gel's
Getting rid of the dark circles
Makeup artist Erika Taylor says: "The dark circles under the eyes aren't grey – they're a mix of red, blue and grey, so if you're using concealer to cover these bags, don't use a very light one, because they'll just look cakey, greyish and unflattering in photos. Choose one that's the same color as the rest of your face, but never lighter."
Make your eyes look big
Don't be tempted at Christmas or New Year's to apply a volume or fake effect mascara. Wendy Rowe explains, "The heavier your mascara, the smaller your eye looks, and you also look older if you wear a lot of mascara." Diorshow's Iconic Overcurl Waterproof waterproof waterproof mascara, it is accurate and does not smudge.
It all comes to cheekbones
Makeup artist Caroline Bames (her regular clients include Kylie Minogue) says that after a certain age we should all put on blush much higher than we were originally taught. "You need to put more of your cheekbones a little higher, as this will naturally lift your face," she reveals.
Lip volume
Lips get smaller with age and fortunately the excessive filling with injectables has finally been overcome. Most of them, of course, would not touch the lip fillers anyway, but by discreetly using a lip pencil, you can achieve the desired result.
When applying the pencil, do it only around the arc of 'love' on the upper lip and the corresponding area on the contour of the lower lip. Do not put a pencil on the edges of the lips, as this will pull them down and emphasize the cheekbones. Instead, focus only on the middle part of the mouth. Continue with your favorite lipstick.
Manicure at home
Well-manicured nails, like beautiful hair, make you feel better. But there's not always time (or money), especially at this time of year. In this case, Manicurist Paris' Brightener is the ideal solution. It is essentially a nail strengthener, but in two layers that gives the perfect no-mani mani (ie natural color), glossy chic finish.
Finally, studies have shown that anxiety will appear on your face causing it to look dull, gray, dehydrated or pimpled. And because holidays and stress usually go together, try to remove it naturally such as relaxation and calm exercises, soothing candles and air fresheners, a nice warm bath with candles and soft music or a relaxing shower (try to stay long enough under the hot water with your eyes closed and think of something beautiful, enjoy relaxing drinks and teas with honey and cinnamon. And above all! Think positive!
