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GIVE YOURSELF A BOOST WITH A SPA DAY
Santiago Times Fashion Columnist’s Personal Guide To Beating Winter Blues
We’re in the middle of August and the weather has been quite chilly for the last few weeks. Aside from the cold, we have to cope with smog and thick grey cloud.
To help us resist the temptation to park ourselves on a couch or bed, watching TV and eating calorie filled snacks, I’ve come up with a number of ways to avoid winter blues and start getting ready for summer. I’ve christened the following ritual of pleasures ‘Spa Day,’ I’ve decided to share it with you, to help you cheer up during these dull, grey days and stand out among the crowds that fill our city streets.
First, let’s take a look at our skin. Cold weather tends to make us lose moisture. Check if your hands, arms and legs are in need of some rich body cream pampering. To give your skin a boost, exfoliate with a soft sponge or an exfoliating cream or soap. You will find great environmentally friendly ones, which will help you relax with their natural scents. Exfoliation also improves our circulation and, therefore, skin texture (say bye to cellulite!). Don’t forget bath salts if you have access to a bathtub. Indulge in a scented and relaxing bath, soft music and candle lights.
Secondly, wax. There’s nothing worse than not taking care of facial and body hair in winter. Not only will grooming look good, but it will help you look and feel sexier. For those of you who are considering permanent body-hair removal, this is a great time to start (remember that you shouldn’t sunbathe for a few weeks after the last session).
It will also be a great excuse to start showing off the new skirts you bought in the recent winter sales, or from the new spring collections. The weather will start getting warmer soon.
After you’ve gotten your skin ready it is time to give it a colour boost. I like using Neutrogena’s Instant Bronze Sunless Tanner. It is not only affordable but soft on your skin… and it’s oil free! You will find other great ones, like Biotherm’s Sunless Facial Tanner, which makes your skin shine as well. Test them in-store first and check that their scent isn’t too strong for your eyes (some may cause irritation). Choose the right perfume. Remember that some scents are more suitable for winter (woody or musky) and others for summer (more acidic, fresh scented ones). Try a few at a Department Store. You’ll also get the chance to check out the accompanying sales promotions, such as cream or make-up kits, for free.
Groom your nails. Hands are very important. They help us gesticulate while we communicate with the rest of the world and are visible in everything we do: handing over money, writing checks, signing a contract, drinking a cup of coffee or lighting up a cigarette. Our hands aren’t just important for daily functioning. They can also define our look. Wearing groomed shiny nails, some jewellery and a stylish watch will give our look its finishing touch. Try it – you’ll be amazed by the results! My personal favourite is the French look, on relatively short squared nails, with clear shine and a white stripe at the nail end. This look allows me to type without my nails bothering me and it’s low maintenance.
With your skin glowing and you feeling like Heidi Klum, you’ll be ready to face every season’s question: which hair cut is the right one? When it comes to hair, we must prioritise functionality and practicality. In my case, I take a few things into consideration: first, I hate blow-drying my hair and can’t afford to go to the hairdresser three times a week. Since my hair is straight, I never chose a short cut that may require lots of maintenance or hair products.
As I enjoy a spot of photography in my spare time, I also need my hair to be long enough to tie-up back, so it doesn’t blow in front of the camera lens or bother me. Due to my hair’s heaviness and abundance, I also have to find the right accessories that will hold it back without causing a lot of damage. Since the pollution level is high in Santiago, especially in winter, I recommend the use of a hair repair system (cream or oil) once a week. This will help your hair keep its shine all year long, and help it prepare for the summer’s strong sun rays and hot weather.
This year brings great news for latins. Brunnettes are in! Forget decolouring your hair to a fake unhealthy blond, or a carrot/copper orange. Brown is stylish: the shinier the better. This will also help us look healthier, because it will bring out the reds in our skin tone, without emphasizing the greens and yellows (which red usually does). You will also cover white hairs, without the damage caused by the strong chemicals used to achieve lighter hair tones.
After this ‘Spa Day’ ritual, you’ll feel good as new and worthy of being displayed on one of those “I drink milk” ads all over town. I find it a great way of giving my selfconfidence a boost and feeling happier despite the rain.
Remember that nothing will help us all look better than feeling good. No matter what size, shape, age or colour we are, it’s what’s inside us that counts. That is what we should all reflect through image.
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| Courtesy of bodyshop.com |
| Spa day: 24 hours of bliss for the calory-counting generation |
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| Courtesy of bodyshop.com |
| See Santiago and dye: bad news, love, this season brunettes are in! |
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