It’s easy to overdo the partying at this time of year, and late nights and over indulgence will take their toll on your looks.

Hangovers can leave you with some beauty dilemmas, but you don’t have to go out disguised in dark glasses after a heavy night if you follow some simple steps to recovery.

Dehydration is the main effect of alcohol indulgence. You can combat this by drinking plenty of water both before you go to sleep and on waking. Water will help flush the toxins through your system as well as rehydrate the body. Diluted orange or grapefruit juice will help rejuvenate you with a Vitamin C boost.

Dehydrated skin can be pepped up with the use of a gentle facial scrub and the application of a good moisturiser. Products containing lavender or aloe vera have healing properties as well as offering moisturisation.

Puffy eyes from lack of sleep or the build up of toxins can be dealt with by wearing a cooled gel mask for half an hour or so. Alternatively the antioxidants in cooled tea or green tea bags will help reduce the swelling and combat unsightly eye bags. Combat dry eyes with a few eye drops, or try Eyebright tincture, which is soothing, calming and works wonders if you prefer a natural solution.

If you’ve overdone it on the cigarettes you might be left with slight yellowing on the skin of the fingers or stained fingernails. Nicotine stains can be easily removed with a little lemon juice. Remember to moisturise your hands well because smoke can prove drying, especially to the cuticles. Visit your local salon and enjoy a relaxing paraffin wax treatment to rejuvenate your hands.

Sip a cup of herbal infusion made from Violet leaves if your head is fuzzy or try Peppermint and Fennel if your stomach is the problem. Before you head for the oxygen bar, which is reported to work wonders on a hangover as well as promote clear skin and a healthy system, brighten and even out your skin tone with an application of tinted moisturiser.

Smoky eyes are a Christmas classic showing no signs of going out of fashion.

This is a look that suits all ages and skin tones, complementing your outfit with a touch of glamour. What’s more, it’s both quick and easy if you know how…

To create the perfect smoky eyes you will need a black eyeliner, a lengthening mascara and two shades of matte eyeshadow – one light and one dark. The lighter colour can be a taupe, pale pink or grey, whilst the complementary shade should be dark grey or navy blue for a classic look. More vibrant colours, pearls or shimmers can be selected for a modern touch.

You will also need several good eyeshadow brushes for lining and shading, one of which should be fine.

Firstly, ensure that your skin is prepared with an application of your favourite foundation. Using an eyeshadow base helps your makeup last longer, and is especially handy when you plan to move from day to night-time engagements, without much time to freshen up in between.

Carefully use the black liner to outline your eyes, starting with the top lid, as close as possible to the lash line and finishing halfway along the lower lid, which creates a more open looking eye. Then apply your base colour all over the top lid and towards the brow, using a thick eyeshadow brush to gradually build up an even coverage.

Then, using the thinner brush, apply the darker colour all around the eye line, blending it with the liner as much as possible. Take the darker colour into the crease of the eye socket and define the desired shape of the eyes towards the outer corner.

Finally, blend the shades well using a soft, slightly thicker brush and finish off your look with a dramatic application of mascara applied to both sides of your lashes for extra length and curl.

Careful shading along the line of the cheekbones and a coat of pale lip gloss will enhance the drama of your smoky eyes. You’re ready to hit the town and start fluttering those lashes with confidence.

Are you suffering from dry, cracked heels after wearing open backed shoes too much during the summer?

Cracked heel problems can range from being relatively mild, with dry or flaky skin, to the most painful and sever cases where hard skin growth and deep fissures can appear, which are prone to bleeding and make walking uncomfortable.

Cracked heels will almost certainly look unsightly in your party shoes, so now’s the time to take action. Be aware that being overweight, standing for long periods, regularly using water that is too hot and continuing to wear unsuitable shoes are contributory factors to this problem. However, having a regular home pedicure routine will help to combat cracked heels.

Soak the feet in a bowl of warm water or use a foot spa to improve the circulation and blood flow. Use a natural foot scrub and a pumice stone to slough away any dead skin that has been saturated at the soaking stage. It’s sometimes easier to get someone else to do this for you. I find I usually have a willing child who will volunteer for the task.

Avoid cutting away dead skin using blades or using harsh metal implements as this could promote the growth of further hard skin. Push back your cuticles and trim the toenails. If you are using a nail file for shaping, remember to only file in one direction, otherwise you could encourage splitting.

After thoroughly drying the feet, smother them in a specialist product for cracked heels, which usually has a highly concentrated emollient base, petroleum jelly or a healing, natural oil, such as olive or sesame. Slip on a pair of cotton socks and leave the magic to work overnight. Paint your toenails in the morning for a pretty finishing touch.

Follow this routine once a week, along with making sensible shoe choices and it will quickly make a noticeable difference to those unsightly heels and should have your feet feeling smoother and ready to dance the night away in no time.

Rhian Gibbings

We all know that one of the risks of tea, coffee and red wine drinking and smoking is that we might end up with stained teeth, but let’s face it – most of us still partake of at least one of these everyday habits.

Having shiny, pearly white teeth has become standard amongst celebrities and the young and beautiful, but teeth whitening procedures can be costly and generally involve the use of unpleasant, chemical-based products. So are there any natural ways to improve the appearance of your teeth that don’t involve a huge expenditure and utilise pure ingredients?

Brushing the teeth with strawberry pulp is one method of removing dental discolouration. Strawberries contain malic acid, which will remove staining over time and improve the appearance of your teeth. However, be aware that the sugar and acid in this juicy fruit could do damage to the enamel if you use the method too often, and to be on the safe side it is not a good idea to use strawberry pulp more than once a fortnight.

Baking Soda is an abrasive that can be used to remove plaque from the teeth, leaving them looking bright and shiny. Once again, however, too much use of an abrasive agent could leave you at risk of enamel damage.

Lemon juice and peroxide both contain bleaching agents. However, lemon juice is extremely acidic and peroxide surely tastes awful. It should be stressed that you have to be extremely careful when using peroxide solution and this is a definite ‘no’ for someone with sensitive teeth, gums or skin.

Probably the most appealing whitening method, therefore, is to use a paste of sage leaf and salt, combining abrasive action with a natural whitener. Sage is an ingredient in some of the manufactured whitening products on the market and is not too unpleasant in flavour.

Finally, remember that there is no substitute for regular, thorough toothbrushing with a good paste and the daily use of dental floss.

Avoiding tea, coffee, red wine and cigarettes will always help, as will eating raw vegetables and apples and drinking water after meals to flush the mouth through between brushing. In time you’ll be well on the way to a Hollywood smile without having to resort to drastic measures.

Rhian Gibbings