Get Glamour-ready from head-to-toe with my best beauty buys and expert tips.
Sparkling skin
Nothing is sexier than a fresh, radiant complexion. Invest in products that have exfoliating properties to remove dead surface skin and reveal a super glow.
4 weeks out…
Clear skin Focus on ridding skin of impurities and targeting blemishes with deep cleansing.
Glamglow Flash Mud Brightening Treatment, $69USD, is a multi-targeted, multi-sensorial quick results brightening treatment for radiant, youthful-looking skin.
3 weeks out…
Deep cleanse This is when you want to focus on refining skin texture, plumping out the skin and intensive moisturization. Oprah loves the Clarisonic Mia 1 Cleansing System, $129USD, as it brightens and smooths skin whilst stimulating cell renewal.
2 weeks out…
Brighten complexion It’s now that you want to boost skin radiance with specially formulated peels and masks so skin has a super glow. Celeb favourite, La Prairie Cellular 3-Minute Peel, $225USD, uses salicylic acid and fruit acids to give a fresh, youthful glow.
1 week out…
Calm skin Gently cleanse and exfoliate, as you don’t want to overstimulate skin, causing breakouts. Use firming serum and moisturizer daily and don’t forget eye cream and lip balm.
Mary’s Tip “Firming serum applied under your moisturiser will give you super smooth, glowing skin.”
Glamglow Flash Mud Brightening Treatment, $69USD
Clarisonic Mia 1 Cleansing System, $129USD
La Prairie Cellular 3-Minute Peel, $225USD
Glossy Locks
It comes down to the super three for silky, manageable hair – cut, color and condition. A great cut means less time styling, whilst colour will add body and a weekly conditioning treatment a lustrous shine.
4 weeks out …
Cut ‘n’ color Get a cut and colour now! You want your hair to settle into its style so it doesn’t have that just cut and coloured look. Invest in a strengthening treatment like, Aveda Color Conserve Strengthening Treatment, $27USD, which is packed with morikue protein to fortify hair and sunflower oil to lock in color.
3 weeks out…
Let’s experiment Trialling different styles now will mean that when you need to dash off to cocktails you’ll be ready to whip your hair into shape pronto! If hair is dry and unruly spritz in a deluxe treatment like, Alterna Caviar CC Cream for 10-in-1 Complete Correction, $39USD, to make styling easy.
2 weeks out…
Smooth savers Boost shine and tame frizzies with an oil based hair treatment to fight frizz and soften strands. Phyto Phyto Keratin Extreme Exceptional Mask, $59USD, is an exceptional regenerative treatment for ultra-dry, brittle, and damaged hair that works to repair and transform hair instantly and over time.
1 week out…
Gloss it Refresh your colour with a coloured shampoo or get your hairdresser to give you a gloss treatment. A great DIY gloss treatment is to mix a few drops of an-over- the-counter tone-on-tone colour to hair treatments like celeb favourite Terax Original Crema, $29.95 or L’Oreal Absolut Repair Lipidium Masque, $29.99USD.
Mary’s Tip “To get the full benefits of your hair treatment lock in heat by wrapping glad wrap around your head.”
Aveda Color Conserve Strengthening Treatment, $27USD
Alterna Caviar CC Cream for 10-in-1 Complete Correction, $39USD
Phyto Phyto Keratin Extreme Exceptional Mask, $59USD
L’Oreal Absolut Repair Lipidium Masque, $29.99USD
A Faux Glow
Sun kissed skin without the burn is the tan de jour. Choose from gradual tanners to overnight wonders that give you a natural golden glow.
4 weeks out…
Start brushing! This is the best way to get a super smooth bod and minimise cellulite. Dry brushing stimulates circulation and dispels toxins that can cause cellulite. Holding a brush in each hand and starting at your feet brush in upward strokes towards your heart. Repeat daily. A cellulite bristle brush is ideal as it has gentle bristles on the front and a massager on the back.
3 weeks out…
Buff and polish Before showering slather on an exfoliating scrub like, Ole Henriksen Rub ‘n’ Buff Salt Scrub, $38USD, concentrating on dry areas – knees, ankles and elbows. Then rinse off and generously layer on moisturiser whilst skin is still damp.
2 weeks out…
Practice run. This is when you can give your tanning application a test run. For streak-free application stand in front of a full-length mirror, apply moisturiser to knees, knuckles, around angles and elbows. Then using long, sweeping movements apply tanner using a mitt like Vita Liberata PHnomenal 2-3 week Tan Mousse & Tanning Mit Duo, $54USD, as it allows fake-tan to glide on without staining hands.
1 week out…
Glowing skin You will have perfected your tan so it’s time to add a golden glow to your face. For a celebrity air brushed finish sweep on Guerlains Terracotta Bronzing Powder, $53USD and for a sculptured glow add NARS Laguna Liquid Bronzer, $40USD, just below cheekbones and blend upwards.
Mary’s Tip “A natural looking tan will be far more flattering than an over baked look, which can be ageing”
Cellulite Bristle Brush Stimulates Skin Relax Muscles, $15USD
Ole Henriksen Rub ‘n’ Buff Salt Scrub, $38USD
Guerlains Terracotta Bronzing Powder, $53USD
NARS Laguna Liquid Bronzer, $40USD
Make-up perfection
The most wanted make-up look for party season is smouldering eyes and a standout pout. Here’s your make-up checklist.
4 weeks out…
Foundation match It’s now that you need to find the perfect foundation match so arm yourself with a compact mirror and hit the counters. Ask the make-up artist to colour match you and then walk out into daylight to get a true colour. We love, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $64USD, for a radiant base.
3 weeks out…
Eye make-up Start experimenting with eye colours. If you have deep-set eyes choose lighter eyeshades and if you have wide-awake eyes choose deeper shades for definition. Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow, $62USD, has matte shades of cream and charcoal with copper and brown shimmers to suit most eye shapes and colours.
2 weeks out…
Shape up Get your eyebrows shaped by a professional and continue to follow the shape. Well-defined brows will frame the face and give you a younger, fresher look.
1 Week out …
Last minute gems: A highlighter such as Guerlain Meteorites Illuminating Powder Compact, $62USD, gives an instant cheek and brow lift. Pump up lashes with Dior Diorshow Mascara, $28.50USD, and Velour Silk Lashes, $23USD, on outer lashes. Finish with a juicy lippy like Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Trouble Maker – Holiday Kiss Collection, $17USD
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $64USD
Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow, $62USD
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Trouble Maker – Holiday Kiss Collection, $17USD
Guerlain Meteorites Illuminating Powder Compact, $62USD
