London - With less than a month to go before Christmas, there is still time to make sure you look and feel fabulous this festive season. The main thing is to avoid last-minute panics when, quite frankly, we all have enough to do. I asked the experts what can be done right now...
GOAL: RADIANT, GLOWING SKIN
The expert: Sarah Chapman, whose High Definition Facial (£130) is almost as famous as her client list, which includes Queen Rania of Jordan, Naomi Watts and Jemma Kidd.
She says: Facial massage every other day is unbeatable for getting an instant glow. Use your knuckles (held in loose fists) and finger tips to roll, knead and drum life back into your skin.
These movements stimulate lymphatic drainage on puffy complexions and boost the vital supply of oxygen and nutrients to the skin. Massage used in combination with your skincare products increases their performance.
Once a week, try a mask to brighten, clarify and lift skin. Layering a serum underneath a face mask packs an added punch.
You can make your own nourishing mask using a mixture of honey, a dash of olive oil and natural yogurt or avocado. Or mix together some yogurt and large oatmeal flakes for an exfoliating at-home peel.
Best tip: For a cooling, de-puffing and revitalising treatment straight from your kitchen, pour a small amount of water into a balloon, leave in your freezer and simply wrap in a cloth and roll all over the face before you apply your make-up.
It ends up looking like a giant icecube sausage. This mini treatment will de-puff and bring an instant rosy glow.
GOAL: SHINY, HEALTHY HAIR
The expert: Daniel Galvin Junior, an award-winning colourist whose clients include Kelly Brook, Holly Valance and Amanda Holden.
He says: The most important things to focus on are detoxifying and nourishing the hair.
An Organic Bespoke Detox Hair Treatment and blowdry at my Belgravia salon costs £100, but you can do an at-home treatment by mixing a quarter of a tablespoon of vitamin C powder, the same amount of cider vinegar and half a cup of hot water to freshly washed hair for a deep cleanse.
You can also deep condition your hair at home with a detox mask. When applying a hair mask at home, gently warm a hand towel in the microwave and wrap it around the hair for 20 minutes - the heat intensifies the treatment, helping it last around three weeks.
Remember, if you’re planning a haircut or colour before Christmas, book appointments now before salons get booked up.
Best tip: If you are going to try an up-do over the party season, start practising a week before and go through ‘dry runs’ to figure out how long it will take and to avoid any pitfalls.
GOAL: A SMOOTHER DECOLLETAGE
The expert: Skincare specialist Nichola Joss, whose A-list clients include Zoe Ball, Elle Macpherson and Tilda Swinton.
She says: The skin on your decolletage is really delicate, so be gentle with it. You don’t need special products for that area; use the same ones you use on your face.
Cleanse, tone and moisturise your face twice a day and include your neck and chest.
Using facial toner on the area really helps tighten the skin. Always apply plenty of moisturiser with an SPF during the day.
Before bedtime, substitute facial oil for moisturiser, which will hydrate more deeply.
Skin in this area is too sensitive for exfoliation, but to make skin look plumper and more radiant, apply a firming mask twice a week.
Best tip: Disguising crepey skin with deep lines on your chest area is difficult. Don’t apply foundation to the area - it will simply sit in the grooves, which can be ageing. Instead, try using an illuminator mixed in with your day cream. It gives the impression of more radiant skin.
GOAL: FEWER WRINKLES
The expert: Cosmetic dermatologist DrVeronique Simon, whose clients include actresses Charlotte Rampling and Catherine Deneuve.
She says: If you are considering Botox (where small injections are applied locally to facial muscles and temporarily paralyse them to reduce fine lines and wrinkles) or fillers (where substances like hyaluronic acid are injected into deeper lines to plump them out) before Christmas, this is the best time to have them, as you may need at least a one-week healing period after these treatments.
As a rejuvenating treatment, I recommend mesotherapy. This involves several small injections to the face that contain a cocktail of youth-boosting vitamins and plumping hyaluronic acid to improve the quality of the skin.
The effects can be seen after one treatment, but have a couple of sessions two to three weeks apart for best results.
Best tip: I always recommend my clients follow three rules: peel - I prefer micropeel, which is deep peeling to eliminate dead skin and promote collagen production; hydrate; and protect - guard the skin against free radicals with a good dose of antioxidants from a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. Daily Mail