1. Bronzer is a great way to achieve a year-round glow. The most
natural-looking bronzers have predominantly brown tones (with a bit of red)
to them. Avoid orange-toned or frosted bronzers. Pick your shade based on
how you tan naturally. If you have a porcelain complexion, even the lightest
bronzers will look unnatural on you. Use a soft pink or apricot blush to
warm up your complexion instead. The secret to a really natural look is to
apply bronzer only where the sun would hit your face - your forehead,
cheeks, nose and chin.
I love the “back-to-school” feeling of September, and cleaning out your
make-up bag is a great way to start. Dump everything out on the floor and
throw out anything that's two years old or anything you haven't touched for
six months.
Every make-up bag should include... Moisturiser: when skin isn't moisturised,
it looks dull and tired. A good face cream livens up the skin, giving a
fresh, smooth look. Concealer: a creamy, yellow-toned concealer instantly
camouflages dark circles and makes you look well-rested. Foundation stick: a
great double-duty product. You can use it to even out skin tone and cover
blemishes. Blush: a pop of colour on cheeks makes anyone look prettier.
Bobbi Brown, make-up artist
2. There are a lot of winter blooms this season - lots of purple or lavender
spriggy prints, which are cheering. People will smile at colour and print,
and it's exactly what you want when you get back from holiday and the
weather, the newspapers - everything - is grey. Red is the colour of the
season and will push you to the top of the ladder; people notice you when
you wear it. When there is a recession, or things are feeling a bit low,
this is the time to pick yourself up and stand out in a crowd. Red doesn't
need to be worn from head to toe - a cardigan, jacket or skirt will all give
you a boost.
Veronique Henderson, director of Colour Me Beautiful and co-author of Colour
Me Younger, published by Hamlyn
3. Tell people that you are back two days after your actual return. That way,
you won't have to rush. It is the telephone and obligations that make people
tense. In terms of your wardrobe, devour the new fashion supplements and
break down the autumn/winter look into four categories: colour (mustard,
emerald, berry reds, black), shape (modern, minimal curves), hair (sleek)
and make-up (dark lips). If you already have a good staple wardrobe, it will
just be a case of adding in extras. Try to do things differently. What have
you not worn before? How can you wear that coat in a new way? Finding
something fresh can make you the same carefree, happy person you were on
holiday.
Annabel Hodin, personal stylist (020-7431 8761)
4. Freshly polished skin is the best beauty pick-me-up. Face and body scrubs
will get rid of dead skin cells so that skin is freshly polished and ready
for moisturising. Don't worry, you won't lose your tan. Book in for a
pedicure, too, to get rid of any hard skin from walking in the sand. And
this is the last chance to wear brightly coloured nail polish before dark
winter colours set in. I use Space NK Laughter body lotion after a holiday:
it instantly brings me back to the place it was created, the Spanish
Mediterranean.
Nicky Kinnaird, founder and president of Space NK
5. I defy anyone to deny the ability of hair to transform the way you look and
feel. Simple but effective, I would always recommend a post-holiday cut -
the quickest way to get hair back into condition is to trim off all the dry,
split ends that leave it looking dull. Once hair has been cut back into
shape, it will look sleek and shiny without much extra effort.
If you love the sun-kissed highlights around your face and on the tips of your
hair, take a photograph of it - that way, your colourist has a reference and
can recreate the look later.
Diet plays a huge part in the health of our hair: to boost condition, you need
all the B vitamins, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), fish oil, linseed oil and
antioxidants including beta-carotene, vitamins C and E and the minerals
selenium and zinc. And keep your protein levels high.
Charles Worthington, hairdresser
6. On holiday, I think we usually dress more in tune with who we are,
therefore we tend to feel better about ourselves. With this in mind, an
important step in prolonging that holiday feeling is choosing pieces for
your everyday wardrobe with which you have an emotional connection. These
are usually the “favourite pieces” in your wardrobe - the ones you have had
for ever and still absolutely love because they really suit your body shape
and express your personality. It's well worth investing in these kinds of
pieces so the cut and fabric is gorgeous and will last. This will totally
lift your mood.
Maria Grachvogel, fashion designer
7. Rather sad, I know, but I set myself a little challenge to stay in a
holiday mood... how long can I stay bare-legged before having to give in to
the inevitable black opaque tights? It is a sort of psychological cling-on
to the last trace of summer.
There is something so nice about brown skin with grey flannel trousers or a
black lace dress. It makes you feel sort of Italian. If I play it well, and
flights permit, I can combine a business trip with an extra hour or two of
soaking up the sun, which can keep the momentum. Once, I managed the bare
brown leg look until Christmas.
There must be many rather more important challenges that I could set myself in
this time of economic downturn and political strife. But hey ho. Brown legs
do it for me.
Anya Hindmarch, accessories designer
8. If you're suffering from post-holiday blues at the inevitable loss of
colour and radiance as you return to work, don't despair - self-tanners are
a great and safe way to keep the body glowing, and have the added benefit of
making limbs look somehow longer and more lithe. Just be sure to exfoliate
carefully before applying it, to ensure that the colour goes on evenly.
If you really cannot bring yourself to leave your face off the self-tanning
map, I suggest getting a good, deep pore-cleansing facial before your next
session, as well employing painstaking yet gentle exfoliation, followed by
moisturising prior to application. You can always avoid the
blackhead-boosting side-effects of DHA (a key ingredient in most non-stain
self-tanners) by opting for bronzing powders and golden-toned foundations.
These give a wonderfully natural result.
If your skin is dry and peeling, a deluxe body-smoothing cream will replenish
and hydrate it. Covering your skin with a good moisturiser every morning
will also prevent the TEWL (trans-epidermal water loss) that happens as skin
gets older and the intracellular lipid barrier weakens.
Ultimately, a positive attitude will serve you best - you may be in your first
week back at work, but you are also one week closer to your next vacation.
Marcia Kilgore, founder of Soap & Glory and FitFlop
9. I don't like arriving home the night before I start work as I'm not relaxed
and can't rely on airlines, so I try to phase myself in gradually. In terms
of how to boost your skin post-holiday, some of the work should have been
done while you are away. Wear an adequate sunscreen and, if necessary, a
hat. When you return, invest in a good recovery cream and a soap-free
cleanser - Dermol 500 is brilliant. If you are a smoker, make a resolution
to stop again. People lapse on holiday, but smoking ages the skin, while
excess drinking can increase the number of spider veins.
Dr Nick Lowe, consultant dermatologist, www.drnicklowe.com
10. Treat your return to work like a new term at school. It is the start of a
new season and a great opportunity to refresh your wardrobe and get some new
looks for autumn. A sharp trouser suit (trousers are essential this season)
is a must and there is a great charcoal one from our Autograph Essentials
range. Wear it to the office with a crisp shirt, or a silk top for the
evening. A new pair of shoes is another quick way to update your look.
Failing that, treat yourself to a new hairstyle or some new make-up colours.
These will give you a boost and help you to feel in control and full of
ideas for the first day back at your desk.
Kate Bostock, executive director of clothing, Marks & Spencer
