With these tips and tricks you can maintain that post-summer-holiday glow throughout the winter.
Holiday hair
You don’t need to board a plane to get sun-kissed highlights, says Jack Howard, international colour director at Neville Hair & Beauty and the man responsible for Poppy Delevingne’s sunny blonde mane. ‘You can recreate the same flattering glow using balayage [a freehand technique]. This allows your colourist to apply highlights where the sun would naturally lighten hair. ‘Go a maximum of two shades lighter than your natural colour,’ says Howard. ‘Get your colourist to apply it around the hairline to frame your face and then run a few pieces through the top section. Most people tie their hair up on the beach, so these are the bits that get naturally sun-bleached.’
Holiday Toes
Most of us only remember we have feet when we’re about to expose them to the world in flip-flops. The rest of the time, we give them no attention whatsoever. But there’s something cheering about having pretty, polished toes all year round. Massage feet at least three times a week with Origins Reinventing The Heel, £18.70. Once they start to respond to your attentions, ignore the season’s diktat for berry shades and add a splash of beach-bright colour such as Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Don’t Stop Believin’ £16, or Only Fingers + Toes Nail Lacquer in Aphrodite, £16. If more drastic action is required, book a session with a podiatrist, such as the Margaret DabbsMedical Pedicure, £80. It will make your feet feel as soft as Seychelles sand.
Holiday skin
One reason your skin looks so good after a holiday is that you tend to eat better, according to foodie sisters Melissa and Jasmine Hemsley, authors of The Art Of Eating Well, £25. ‘It’s easy to eat antioxidant-rich fruits and salads when you’re in a nice warm climate, but when you’re back home in cold, rainy Britain, you need something comforting as well as healthy,’ says Jasmine. ‘Warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cayenne and turmeric are our secret weapons,’ adds Melissa. ‘They’re packed full of antioxidants and they’re great for circulation, both of which are crucial for radiant skin.’
So make yourself a bowl of cinnamon porridge and while it’s on the hob, give your skin a two-minute massage with Sarah Chapman Skinesis Morning Facial, £45. Even if you haven’t had a holiday in months, it will guarantee you a bit of getup and glow.
Holiday tan
If you want the healthy glow of a fortnight in the sun, there’s nothing for it but to hit the bottle. If you’ve been put off by streaky, unnatural looking tans in the past, think again. ‘Today’s formulations are so good, even I sometimes struggle to tell the difference between a faux glow and the real deal,’ says tanning guru James Read. ‘The most important bit to get right in winter is your face; the rest of you probably won’t be on show.
People make the mistake of applying fake tan uniformly all over the face, but that’s not how a natural tan looks. The sun hits the most prominent parts of your face more intensely, so apply a little self-tan all over and then blend a bit extra along your forehead, the bridge of your nose and cheekbones.’ If you end up with orange palms, you’ll fool no one, so use James Read BB Gradual Tan Face, £22.50, which has a brush applicator so you can apply it hands-free.
Holiday glow
A few sneaky make-up tricks will elicit ‘Wow, you look well’ compliments all year round. Start by buffing a sheer, light reflecting base such as Max Factor Luminizer Foundation , £11.99, or Estée Lauder Enlighten EE Even Effect Skintone Corrector, £28.90, all over your face. Also use a fluffy brush so you don’t apply too much.
Then take a step back from the mirror and assess which parts of your face are making you look tired (dark, under-eye circles are the main culprit). Hone in on those bits with a colour corrector such as Tom Ford Correcting Pen, £28.90. One end is a pinkbased shade to neutralise under-eye darkness; the other is a yellow-toned concealer for camouflage.
Next, get a cream blusher at least two shades brighter than you’d usually wear – Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Calypso Coral, £16.15, is a good choice. Use a synthetic brush such as Real Techniques Stippling Brush,£11.99, to blend the colour in a crescent shape from the apples of your cheeks to just below your browbone to recreate a fortnight of fresh air and freedom.