A VERY BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS
Three chic women reveal their beauty tips, party prep and what’s at the top of their wish lists
Reena Hammer
The managing director of beauty and wellness destination Urban Retreat is thinking about bathing rituals and a pair of Manolo Blahniks
Christmas isn’t about pyjamas in our house. I’ll live in dresses by Self-portrait, with flats for practicality, though I’ll add a heel from Manolo Blahnik or Louboutin if we go out for lunch on Boxing Day. My husband just treated me to a Nikos Koulis ring that I’ve been obsessed with for the past five years. It’ll be my party piece this season.
This is when the glitter comes out to play. Kryolan makes amazing metallic pigments that never fall or fade, and I’m obsessed with nail art, usually an accent nail or glitter detail on a nude base, or a French manicure with bright tips. My hair’s usually up in a bun, so I will wear it down with sparkling grips and slides.
It’s so easy to burn out at this time of year. I plan on locking myself away at Urban Retreat for a day in the lead-up. At our flagship location, there’s 12,000 square feet of beauty and wellbeing, from colonics to infrared saunas, meditation and intravenous drips. I’ve heard so many people rave about the health benefits of transformational breathing techniques and I’d love to try it (urbanretreat.co.uk).
I try to take time out for self-care at home. I pour a generous amount of Epsom salts into the bath for a long, hot soak; it’s such a great muscle relaxant. When I am out of the bath, I apply a body oil by Aromatherapy Associates. My ultimate gift would be a retreat or spa trip, with no screen time, a full body MOT and lots of pampering.
I’m a big believer in skin prep. Weleda lip balm is the best for hydration and makes a great base for lipstick, and I use an Hourglass primer for an extra shot of moisture under my make-up. It sinks straight in and layers really well. At night, I massage my face with a crystal Gua Sha tool and a few drops of serum, to get my circulation going and prevent puffiness.
If you’re buying for me, you can’t go wrong with Tom Ford or Aromatherapy Associates. I’ll be giving my girlfriends one of the pretty make-up brush holders designed by my talented mum, make-up artist Ruby Hammer.
Bobbi Brown
Jeans, jewels and at-home spinning sessions are essential for the iconic make-up artist and founder of new supplements range Evolution_18
I have more fun when I’m comfortable, so the holidays are really casual; I usually wear jeans, a white James Perse T-shirt and a cosy cashmere jumper. I always choose flats over heels and have so many pairs of trainers, from New Balance and Asics to Stella Mccartney. I rely on jewellery to add glamour and have some great pieces from J.crew, Parisian designer Shourouk and New York jeweller Ted Muehling.
My family is obsessed with food and fitness in equal measure. We have many different religions and nationalities in our household, which means a lot of food and drink! I have a Peloton bike in my bedroom, so there’s no excuse not to stay active, and I wear my Garmin watch to monitor my steps.
Fragrance instantly changes the way I feel. I love the freshness of Chanel Cristalle, then I’ll apply Chanel No.5 to take my mood from day to night.
My seasonal beauty tip is to stay hydrated inside and out. If you do nothing else, drink lots of water and massage in a nourishing face oil every evening before bed.
Sparkly eye colours are a fun update on my everyday black or brown. Foundation is too heavy for my skin these days, so I just use concealer where needed. Then I line my eyes with kohl, apply lashings of mascara and I’m ready to go. I used to wear a lot of dark nail colours, but I’ve noticed some can look harsh in the colder winter months. I now go for brighter tones, and if I want to embrace something a bit deeper,
I’ll opt for a burgundy or plum.
I truly believe that the healthier you are, the better you look and feel. My new brand launches in the UK in January, featuring supplements for hair, skin and general internal health, including a probiotic that dissolves on your tongue for a health hit on the go. De-bloat is brilliant when you’ve been over-indulging.
It sounds crazy, but the gift I’d really love would be to have a professional stylist come and organise our garage, so it looks more like something from an interiors magazine! I’m buying all the special women in my life an Augustinus Bader moisturiser. I’m the biggest fan and use it religiously. It’s expensive, but it really works, and you don’t need anything else. What could be better than the gift of glowing skin?