Relax, unwind and look gorgeous with these
pampering tips from the fabulous and the fashionable
Something
for the weekend
1. Day of rest (and recuperation)
‘During the week, work takes over and, at
best, you can squeeze in a lunchtime treatment’, says Nicky Kinnaird, founder
of Space NK. ‘But, on Sundays, we can properly relax. A spa treatment helps to
put things back in perspective and prepares you for the week ahead’. Restore
energy levels by treating yourself to a detox, massage or body therapy such as
The Ultimate Escape, $345 for three hours and 15 minutes, at Spa NK; the
three-and-a-half-hour Ayurvedic Escape, $592.5, at Espa; and Top to Toe
Rejuvenation, $427.5 for three and a half hours, at Elemis, loved by Pixie Lott
and Kristen Stewart.
2. Home haven
Scented candles are a great way to
de-stress. ‘After I put (son) Indio to bed, it’s “me time”, says Jodie Kidd. ‘I
lie on my bed and read or soak in the bath, but a Neom candle is always
burning’. We love Neom Organic Treatment Candle in Tranquility, $56.5, and Jo
Malone Diffuser in Lime, Basil and Mandarin, $67.5.
3. Take a hike
‘I love walking my dog and riding in the
fresh air – gyms are so stuffy and there’s really no substitute for a scenic
backdrop’, says Sienna Miller. As well as helping to lower blood pressure and
lose body fat, walking outdoors is associated with mental well-being. ‘It helps
self-esteem and symptoms of depression’, adds Simon Barnett, Ramblers director
of walking programmes. Invest in fur-lined Ugg Adirondack walking boots, $330,
and a copy of Rambless Best Walks Britain ($37.5, Collins), and you’re set.
Take
a hike
4. 4. Healthy hair
How do celebrities colour their hair over
and over again without damaging it? ‘It’s about lots of deep-conditioning
treatments’, says Nicola Clarke, celebrity hair colourist at John Frieda.
Madonna looks after her hair with Alterna Caviar Anti-Ageing Seasilk Moisture
Shampoo, $40.5. John Frieda Full Repair Deep Conditioner, $8.99, repairs any
damage caused by overstyling, while Lauren Laverne relies on Aveda Damage
Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment, $32,5. ‘I try to keep my hair looking
healthy and damage-free with a deeply moisturizing mask at the weekends’, she
says.
Healthy
hair
5. Perfect polish
‘Concentrating on a nan-work-related
activity, such as a manicure or pedicure, calms the mind,’ says Jenny
Longworth, Revlon’s nail artist, who has worked with Jessie J and Rihanna.
Cuticle oils are popular with models running from job to job: ‘I always have to
get my nails done for work, so I make time at weekends to give them some love
with Nails Inc Cuticle Pen [$18],’ says model Poppy Delevigne. ‘It smells like
lavender, so I apply it before I go to bed on a Sundsy night.’
6. End of week treat
Get in the mood for a weekend wind-down
with a treatment on a Friday. ‘At the end of the week, my clients often hold
immense tension and fatigue not only in their bodies but in their faces too,
which alters how they look,’ says Anastasia Achilleos, legendary facialist. ‘I
use deep manipulation lymphatic drainage and cranial therapy to create a sense
of letting go, balance and stillness.’
7. 7. Complete mental calm
Can’t get away to a distant paradise to
chill out? Try transcendental meditation (popular with super-humans such as
Gisele Bundchen) at home. ‘We use a technique that show a racing mind how to
relax but still be alert, while also giving the body a rest,’ says teacher
David Hughes, whose clients include Katy Perry and Heather Graham. A retreat
condenses the benefits of four to six months of normal meditation into four
days of ‘industrial strength’ meditation. Visit londonmeditationcentre.com.
8. 8. Give your skin a break
According to a survey by Olay, more than 58
per cent of women in western Europe diagnose themselves as having sensitive
skin. ‘Hyper-sensitivity has increased with the rise in high-pressured jobs,’
faces Adele and Elle Macpherson. ‘Lack of sleep, environmental pollution,
hectic lifetyles and an overload of products all contribute to skin flare-up,
red patches, burning and itching. I tell my clients to stick to simple
products, such as rose facial oils, and cut out heavy foundations during their
down time,’ says Joss. Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque, $50.5,
is the most popular DIY face-saver among the Hollywood hard-hitters, with
Victoria Beckham duding it ‘a little ambulance in a tube’.
Give
your skin a break
9. Head in the clouds
‘I love essential oils in my steam room –
Neal’s Yard geranium and rose calm and uplift me,’ says Kate Moss. For those
without the luxury of an in-house spa, put a few drops of marjoram, $16.5, and
ylang ylang, $11.5, in a bowl of hot water, cover your head with a towel and
take deep breaths.
10. And relax…
‘What my clients crave in a fragrance is
the equivalent of a lazy weekend,’ says Lyn Harris, celebrity perfumer.
Victoria Beckhaam and Alexa Chung love Miller Harris Le Pamplemousse, $135,
which includes soothing tree moss and cedar. Salvatore Ferragamo Signorina,
$84, contains comforting musky wood notes, while Hermes Santal Massoia, $234,
is inspired by country air. And Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude EDP, $51, is a
‘musky, neck-nuzzling scent’, says senior vice president Karyn Khoury.
11. Forget the
frowns
‘At weekends, our facial expressions change
subtly from the way we pursue our lips and furrow our brows when we are
stressed at work,’ says Dr Doris Day, a dermatologist at Philosophy. When we’re
more relaxed we’re less prone to making these negative expressions, which, in
turn, creates a happier mood.’ And now UK-based facialist Debbie Costello tells
us there’s a move away from Botox and fillers. ‘People are looking more into
results-driven products. Use a skin-plumper, such as Elizabeth Arden Ceramide
Premiere Day Cream, $9, or Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Complex, $44.99,
which contains micro-filler powders to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
12. Glow and
go
A subtle tan is the lazy girl’s way to an
instant healthy look. ‘If I’m tired, a St Tropez spray tan boosts my
confidence,’ says model and DJ Bip Ling. Organic tan Vani-T Velocity – love by
Cameron Diaz – doubles as a skin treatment thanks to marine collagen. For a
temporary fix, Givenchy Mister Radiant Body, $48.75, is an antioxidant-rich gel
with a hint of golden colour, while Dior Self-Tanning Oil, $42, also gives a
gleam.
Glow
and go
13. Clever
catnaps
‘Weekends are generally when we sleep more,
and when the skin repairs itself,’ says Dr Day. ‘Having a catnap or sleeping in
for an extra hour is like a mini holiday for your skin.’ Make like Amy Adams
and switch to a super-soft Skinsilk pillowcase, $58.5 – it has the same pH as
skin, which helps maintain moisture levels. Encourage skin to boost cells the
same pH as skin, which helps maintain moisture levels. Encourage skin to boost
cells while you snooze – Lily Donaldson applies Biotherm Skin Viivo Uniformity,
$36, before she sleeps, and Lisa Snowdon is a fan of Clarins Extra-Firming
Night Cream, $72.
14. Pinch of
salt
Forget bubble bath - a tub of salts is the
smart way to relax and unwind. ‘Magnesium sulphate can be absorbed through the
skin, and it’s claimed to lower blood pressure faster than taking it orally,’
says Margo Marrone, co-founder of The Organic Pharmacy. No wonder Rachel Weisz
uses Ila Bath Salts for Inner Peace, $64.5, as part of her weekend ritual. ‘I
use them on Sundays to relax before the week ahead.’ For an indulgent treat,
Katy Perry books in for Ole Henriksen’s Hydrotherapy Soak – you can do it at
home with his DIY Rud N’ BuffSalt Scrub, $70.5.
Pinch
of salt
