Newmarket's own Jackie Reynolds waxes lyrical about even more of her Christmas quirks... hold onto your hats!

Yes, it's that time of year again, already. Is it really twelve months since nan was snoring on the sofa, the cat brought down the entire Christmas tree in the early hours of Christmas morning (obviously scared by the visitor emerging from the fireplace) and dad realised that an iron was NOT a suitable Christmas present whilst being completely frozen out by mum for the entire day?

And now the shops are stuffed full of indulgences that could never grace our tables at any other time of the year.  Why partake of a single roasted bird when you can have three, all at the same time.  And what’s not to love about an entire fruit nestling in the centre of what used to be a traditional Christmas pudding, and then there’s the lobster (obviously) and the smoked salmon, and smoked salmon mousse, and smoked salmon parcels, and smoked salmon roulade….who knew it was so versatile.   

And no matter where you go, somewhere piped through an invisible network of all encompassing speakers, are the joyful strains of Wham, John and Yoko, Band Aid and of course….It’s CHRIIIISSTTMMMAAAAAAAS!!!  So,  it’s confirmed.

Now if you’re planning a quiet one with a few select gatherings thrown in,  driving home for Christmas to see family, or heading out to half a dozen glitzy parties to see old friends over the festive period, no doubt you’ll want to look your best.

A quick glance in the mirror tells me I need a few  Christmas beauty tips if I want to stand even the slightest chance of looking gorgeous for those under-the-mistletoe moments.

So, the beauty editors seem to be in agreement that a make up must have is the ‘smoky eye.’   You know the one,  dark, sultry and favoured by supermodels.  Can’t be that difficult…except my finished result is more smudged, charcoal and favoured by pandas.  Thankfully in these days of You Tube its not too difficult to find step by step instructions online.

Next is the lipstick… berry red for Christmas obviously.  Now I kid you not, I found the following instructions online for ‘Christmas lips’

To master the look, line your lips with a light coloured lip pencil and add foundation to the corners of your mouth. Then apply a creamy lipstick using a lip brush before using a flat brush to add on your glitter. You can finish with a gloss. To glam up your lips even more add some clear lip gloss.

Now if like me, you don’t feel the need for a six step lipstick application programme, particularly one that is likely to rule out eating, drinking or indeed any form of lip action ;-) then can I suggest you invest in a festive all in one product and just keep it in your bag for top ups.

Late nights, centrally heated shops and offices, cold winds and seasonal over indulgence in the alcohol department guarantee dull, dry skin and less than appealing puffy eyes.  Your greatest weapon in the fight against all of the above is water, water and more water.  

By drinking water you flush out toxins and eliminate the dirt that clogs the pores of your skin, giving you a healthier glow.  Water helps keep you hydrated, which is important because every single cell in your body needs it in order to absorb nutrients and expel waste products, thus ridding you of that heavy, bloated feeling.  It’s also extremely kind to your liver following a night of over indulgence!

Beauty routines, regimes and rigmarole are all well and good but let’s face it, there’s a LOT to be said for a bit of pampering, especially at this time of year.  Step forward Newmarket!

Beauty

If you want to shine centre stage, why not venture Behind the Scenes!  One of Newmarket’s longest established beauty salons you can indulge in facials, manicures, tanning and waxing.  They can even offer you a non surgical facelift (yes please!)

Behind the Scenes strive to make you look beautiful and feel wonderful.  Concerned that your nails will be very much on show this season (mostly wrapped around a champagne glass we hope) then treat your hard working hands from a  full choice of manicures and nail extension treatments.  Whether you go subtle or sparkly, the results will be stunning. 

Speed up your make up routine with eyelash and eyebrow tinting, get yourself silky smooth with a wax treatment.  And to make sure that party frock fits just perfectly, why not treat yourself to a body wrap to trim away a few inches.

Find Behind the Scenes Beauty Salon on Crown Walk, just behind Newmarket High Street.

De-stress

If, alongside your beauty treatments, you’d like something to take away the stresses that seem to go hand in hand with the festive season, why not put yourself in the capable hands of the White Tara Complementary Health and Beauty Clinic.  Here you will find a range of complementary health and beauty treatments designed to leave you relaxed yet energised, concentrating on both your physical and emotional wellbeing.

White Tara’s treatments include waxing and tanning, Reiki and reflexology and they offer a wide range of packages so you are sure to find one to suit.  Why not treat yourself or a loved one to a luxurious beauty package from White Tara Complementary Health and Beauty Clinic as a special Christmas treat or gift?  Conveniently based on All Saints Road in Newmarket many of their grooming and complementary health treatments would be perfect for the stressed out businessman too!

For further details about White Tara's range of therapies and treatments, please click here.

Hair

One major secret to a stress free Christmas is an easy care hairdo you can rely on.  It may seem like a good idea to go for a glamorous new look for the festive season, but if that should turn out to involve hours of styling, copious amounts of product and a risk of your ‘do’ collapsing before you’ve even made your grand entrance then it’s probably more stress than it’s worth.

Award winning hairdressers Venus Hair & Beauty are right in the centre of Newmarket and can offer you the benefit of their 20+ years’ experience and professional, London trained stylists.

As you would expect, their skills and dedication to customer service mean they will discuss every aspect of your style with you, ensuring that whatever you choose is right for both you and your hair type.  Cutting, colouring, straightening and creative styling using the latest techniques mean Venus Hair & Beauty will give you a crowning glory to be proud of this Christmas, with not a bad hair day in sight. 

Please click here for more information about Venus Hair & Beauty.

So here in Newmarket all your Christmas beauty needs are catered for, bar the one only you can provide… the beauty from within that comes from the most important part of Christmas, simply enjoying yourself!