As we spiral headfirst towards the season of gift-giving and celebration, one’s sense of wellbeing can require a little calibration
Shorter days, central heating, flu season, busy calendars, late nights and excessive indulgence – each with its own delights – can take a toll before we even know it. But to be forewarned is to be forearmed – with some preemptive measures and a stockpile of feelgood hacks, we can all shimmer this winter.
Embrace a witchy facial
As the days get shorter, we tend to look inward more than ever – at Salon C Stellar in Soho, the Astro Facial fuses skin science and astrology, based on the profound impact of the mind on skin health. Using a Zodiac oil specially tailored to the needs of your moon sign (this is deduced from your time and place of birth, info gleaned in advance, while booking) in combination with a hypnotic, moon-specific soundtrack played over headphones as you lie beneath a hospital-grade Dermalux MD LED light treatment. This truly trippy treatment is designed to relieve stress which, according to founder Andrea Pfeffer, “triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that can accelerate ageing and inflammation (think adult acne, rosacea and eczema). Conversely, relaxation and positive emotions stimulate the release of endorphins and oxytocin, which promote skin repair and rejuvenation.”
A guaranteed glow
“My go-to product this season will have to be Bâton de Lumière from the Gilded Memoir collection,” Lucia Pica, creative image and make-up partner for Byredo Beauty, explains. “I apply it as a base all over the face before adding any type of concealer, blush or lipstick on the cheekbones. Whether you’re going for a bold lip or concentrating on the eyes, what makes everything look more modern, fresh and dewy is a luminous transparent skin. It’s important for me to always find the balance between strong accents to the make-up and beautiful skin.”
Consider the chop
Winter is a great time to try out a hairstyle switch-up, the season lending itself to a more styled approach. “I have been starting to see a trend for a striking yet simple jaw-length bob,” star hairstylist George Northwood says. “It’s all one length – lightly chopped into to create a bit of softness. I’ve coined this the ‘Perriand’ as it invokes the principles of French design legend Charlotte Perriand who espoused timelessness, modernity and a lack of fuss.” Finish with Moisturising Cream from Undone by George Northwood to keep ends sleek.
Hook yourself up
Flu virus activity peaks between December and February in the Northern Hemisphere, so if you’re unsure about your reserves, or are already feeling a little frayed, a tailored IV drip offers an efficient fast track to curing deficiencies and boosting cell turnover. GetADrip offers at-home or office boosts of iron, hair health, energy, and anti-ageing among many others. Add boosters like antioxidants Glutathione (with near-instant skin brightening and smoothing effects) and CoQ10, or vitamin B12 for extra energy. NAD+ – or Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide – is one of the latest hi-tech supplementation innovations to go mainstream. Dubbed the ‘miracle molecule’, NAD+ is a critical coenzyme found in every cell in our body, essential for energy metabolism, DNA repair and general immune cell function and which, like many things, declines with age. NADclinic’s range of IV infusions can be prescribed to combat fatigue, jet lag, burn fat and slow the effects of ageing. This one is an intense experience – it can cause nausea and light-headedness, or have no side effects at all – practitioners speed up or slow down the delivery accordingly, so it can take between one and three hours. For something speedier, check in at 180 Health Club for a vitamin D deficiency test, or their 30-minute super cocktail infusions.
Switch-up your skincare routine
Focus on hydration to keep the skin gods happy over winter. Since the contrast between the cold outdoors and central heating inside can be very drying – a healthy, hydrated skin barrier is absolutely key. Look for rich, unctuous creams or oils to lock in hydration overnight: Rhode’s new Barrier Restore Cream with shea butter, peptides, squalane and brightening niacinamide has a delicious texture without causing breakouts. U Beauty’s exquisite Super Intensive Facial Oil – applied as the last layer, morning or night, is also the ultimate glow-giving quencher.
Step up the supplements
Look for liposomal vitamins, a delivery system devised of fat-like particles that are much easier for your body to absorb than a regular powdered vitamin. Try Nutri Burst’s Vitamin D3 + K2 gummies to counteract seasonal affective disorder; Zooki’s Glutathione capsules are a great way to access the antioxidant hero at home and the magnesium sachets will supercharge your body’s recovery process will you sleep. Sleep is a new focus at Vida Glow, one of the collagen supplement leaders (the brand’s recent release of Pro Collagen+ was a game-changer, reaping visible rewards in just two weeks): the brand’s new Sleep supplement is designed to give you eight hours of the deeply restorative stuff, without any drowsy effects.
Face jewels
For instant party sparkle, these self-stick Eye Bijoux from Violette FR, are just a delight.
Do an internal audit
Knowledge is power, so it’s worth doing an internal audit before heading into the festive season. A visit to The Liver Clinic at John Bell & Croyden in Marylebone will endow you with a lot of info about your body’s central control system – testing your liver for fat levels and stiffness. You’ll be surprised that alcohol is less of a culprit of liver damage than you’d think – processed foods and medications can wreak more havoc than a glass of good wine and knowing where you sit on the scale can help you make small adjustments that have huge health benefits. A shot of De-liver-ance – a cocktail of high-powered antioxidants – before or after an indulgent night out, will super-charge your liver’s detoxing process (and reduce a hangover – truly!). Meanwhile, an at-home hormone check (with a blood prick test) with Hertility assesses between three to ten hormones (depending on factors such as contraceptives), can diagnose hormonal imbalance, PCOS and potential fertility issues – and comes with a full doctor-written report and analysis.