On your marks, get set... prep!

Does your usual pre-party preparation consist of smearing on a slick of lippy in the cab on the way to the venue? Don't worry, you're not alone. What with presents to choose and decorations to put up, getting your body ready to rock around the Christmas tree throughout December might well be bottom of your list of priorities. But start preparing today and you'll be the belle of the ball!

PARTY POOPER: BRITTLE AND FRIZZY HAIR
Get set to prep: Use a hair treatment that continues to deliver moisture and shine even after a multitude of hair horrors, such as too much blow-drying and straightening. Step forward Daniel Hersheson Hair Polish, £25. Ingredients such as mango oil sink deep into the hair, tame frizz and continue working magic for up to five washes, so your tresses will stay glossy right through the party season. Simply shampoo and rinse hair, then massage in a penny-sized blob. Leave for 15 minutes, then rinse and condition as normal. Use twice a week for the rest of the month.
Top tip! No time to wash and go? Sprinkle talc on the roots of your hair, wait for two minutes, then ruffle it out with your fingers. It'll absorb any excess grease.

PARTY POOPER: STUBBLY LEGS
Get set to prep: Sugar waxing has been used for years as the most efficient way of keeping hair-free for longer, and it doesn't come much better than Sugar Stripease, £9.99. Pop this sugar syrup in the microwave until warm, then spread it onto your skin with the spatula. Immediately apply the fabric strips, press down, then pull them off. Why so good? Because the wax is warm, it opens up the pores. And, whereas regular wax attaches to live skin cells, the sugary kind only sticks to the hairs and dead skin cells, making the process almost painless while leaving you with silky-smooth pins.
Top tip! If you'd rather use a razor, add baby oil to your bath. You won't need a shaving foam and your legs will gleam afterwards.

PARTY POOPER: SHOW-STOPPING SPOTS
Get set to prep: To make sure your big night isn't ruined by an even bigger zit, apply a spot treatment a few weeks beforehand that treats pimples and prevents future breakouts. M Lab Blemish Control Spot Treatment, £26, is a cooling rollerball stick that contains maple sugar and fruit extracts to exfoliate, and honey, bran and boswellia herb extracts to tackle redness and irritation. Simply roll directly on to breakouts or spot-prone areas up to twice a day, so when the time comes to party you'll be festively flawless.
Top tip! If you do get a corker before a big night, place an ice cube wrapped in a clean cloth over the spot for as long as you can bear and the swelling should subside. Then pat some concealer on top.

PARTY POOPER: PUFFY EYES
Get set to prep: Partied-out peepers aren't a good look, so make sure you get bright- eyed with Biotherm's Hydra-Detox eye cream, £25. It ticks all the right boxes for tired eyes, packing in vegetable and wheatgerm extracts to get rid of toxins and reduce puffiness, as well as ginkgo biloba and caffeine extracts to banish dark circles. Use twice a day and come party time, you'll look like you've had eight hours' sleep, even if you've only had four!
Top tip! Swap your regular black mascara for a plum shade. It'll make the whites of your eyes look whiter and your eyes appear more sparkling. Result!

PARTY POOPER: DRY SKIN
Get set to prep: No one wants dry skin under the mistletoe, so in the weeks leading up to Christmas make sure you're exfoliating regularly. Using a coarse scrub more than once a week will leave your skin feeling and looking dry as it can strip away natural oils. Instead, use a gentle daily scrub that exfoliates and moisturises skin. Say hello to The Body Shop's Black Velvet Apricot Body Smoother, £6. The scrub contains super-gentle walnut, almond and apricot seed particles, softening black apricot to cleanse the skin and a huge dose of fair trade honey that will leave your skin so rehydrated you won't need to use a body lotion afterwards. Thorough daily use will mean you won't have to exfoliate or moisturise all party season.
Top tip! Make your scrub twice as effective - and twice as long-lasting - by applying it with a body puff, available from chemists for around £1. The tiny folds of the puff turn the smallest amount into a thick lather.

GIVE YOUR FACE STAYING POWER!
Make-up slipped by midnight? Here's how to keep it in place:

SKIN

• Prime your face and revive tired skin with Guinot's Instant Radiance Vials, £13 for two. Apply a vial over your day cream, then wait five minutes before applying your make-up. Madonna won't go on stage without it!

• After applying foundation and concealer, dust some sheer, loose powder over the top to set it and prevent it slipping.

LIPS

• Exfoliate your lips with a wet flannel to remove any dry patches and ensure your lipstick doesn't fade unevenly.

• After applying lippy, finish with a slick of Lipcote, £3.25, to seal your lip colour. For a more matte look, press some loose powder over lipstick to keep it in place.

EYES

• Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion, £11, is make-up artists' favourite way to keep eyeshadow crease-free and in place. Smooth over lids, then apply your eye colour - and it'll last all night.

AND TO FINISH...

• Spritz Clarins Fix' Make-Up, £17.50, all over your face. This spray also contains vitamin C to brighten your complexion and silica to control shine. Now you're ready to paaaarty!

PHOTOGRAPHY: DONNA TROPE/SERLIN ASSOCIATES/TRUNKARCHIVE.COM, PIXELEYESPHTOGRAPHY.CO.UK STOCKISTS: BIOTHERM (BOOTS NATIONWIDE), CLARINS (UK.CLARINS.COM), DANIEL HERSHESON (DANIELHERSHESON.COM), GUINOT (0800 590094), LIPCOTE (BOOTS NATIONWIDE), M LAB (HARRODS.COM), SUGAR STRIPEASE (VICTORIAHEALTH.COM), THE BODY SHOP (THEBODYSHOP.CO.UK), URBAN DECAY (BOOTS NATIONWIDE)

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