I love all festive occasions. Valentine’s Day, Easter, I could even make a case for the Harvest Festival. The jewel in the crown, however, is obviously Christmas. When I say I love Christmas, I mean I love Christmas the way Mariah Carey loves Christmas: over the top, dramatic and with lots of sparkle.
As a mother to twin eight-year old daughters, Christmas can be fairly hectic. My annual traditions include all the usual things: putting up the tree, baking, spending time with family and friends, attending school plays and singing Christmas carols in a church hall. But in order to dedicate some time to myself (and try and feel my best) I tend to gravitate towards the same specific beauty rituals, involving the same, lovely products.
For me, Christmas is about delighting my senses and cocooning my hair, skin and body in beautiful textures. This is not only to protect me from dehydrating cold weather but also to uplift my spirits from soul-destroying cold dark nights and damp drizzle.
My Christmas beauty routine can be broken down into three different categories...
Cocoon and Feel Comforted
These are the products I reach for when I want to feel as if I’m wrapping my body and soul in a big fluffy duvet. I like to hibernate over the Christmas period with my family and these products leave me feeling grounded and happy.
Cocoon and Feel Comforted
1 of 3Aromatherapy Associates, Forest Therapy Bath & Shower Oil, £49
This is the brand's first new fragrance in seven years. I had the pleasure of knowing the founder, Geraldine Howard, who was a healer and a wonderful woman. This new blend does her proud as it's packed with Peruvian pink pepper, cypress, lemon and juniper berry, which leave you feeling as if you've just come from nature itself.
2 of 3Philosophy Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookie Gift, £17.50
I have a notoriously sweet tooth and having a warm shower with this Shortbread shower gel makes your whole bathroom feel like its been converted into a bakery. Fun, warming and will bring a smile to even the most Scrooge-like among us.
3 of 3Michelle Roques O’Neil Special Edition Apothecary Jar Himalayan Detox Salts, £52
Michelle is another healer I deeply respect. Be warned: a 20 minute soak in her potent Detox Salts will knock you out, leave you feeling balanced and healed and will give you a deep and peaceful sleep. After late nights wrapping presents and being a general Christmas elf, this is what I reach for at the end of a winter's night.
Scents to make my spirit soar
I have a really powerful and sensitive sense of smell. A little like good lighting, once you’ve had it, you never want to be without it ( I did say I have the touch if the Mariahs about me). Here are some of one favourite fragrances which will be keeping me going this Christmas.
Scents to make my spirit soar
1 of 3Diptyque, Pine Candle £53
The Celine Dion of candles: powerful, evokes real emotion and it has longevity. This Pine candle burns for up to 60 hours and is laced with aromatic notes of balsam, Siberian fir, basil, sage and cedar, which will turn any space into an Aspen ski chalet. I love Diptyque.
2 of 3Jo Malone Orange Bitters Home Candle, £48 for 200g
This elegant candle is back by popular demand and is limited edition. Warming amber and sandalwood have been infused with sweet and bitter orange for an original and sensual Christmas candle, which fills me with joy.
3 of 3Miller Harris Limited Edition Figue Amere EDP £75 for 50ml
We all know the best gifts are the ones you buy for yourself. It has become a Christmas tradition of mine to give myself these two cracking fragrances. The limited edition Figure Amere makes an appearance around this time of year and makes me feel as if I've wrapped myself up in cashmere as it's fig, amber, sea moss and rose. It makes me feel decadent.
Healing Hydrators
This time of year can not only be damp and cold but also windy, which can strip your skin and hair of precious moisture. These are some of my favourites I will be reaching for this winter to keep my coils juicy and my skin plump.
Healing Hydrators
1 of 3Maskologist, The Lavender Youth Miracle Mask, £84.50 for 4 masks
I love these masks, which are infused with actual lavender petals, natural oil and extracts to help calm both skin and frazzled nerves from Christmas shopping. They are also biodegradable and, once used, are fully dissolvable in water so can also be used as a body treatment in the bath.
2 of 3Bumble and Bumble, Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Hot Oil Concentrate, 4 x 15ml, £24
My 4c coils can get very dry and fragile in winter. This hot oil treatment, which gives me flashbacks to my early teens in the 90s, is great for making my hair feel soft and supple. The oil treatment is packed with Argan oil, sweet almond oil and omega rich castor oil for super hydrated hair.
3 of 3Bamford, B silent gift set, £80
I'm not a great sleeper but I have had some restful nights thanks to Bamford's delicious products. The set comes with a Starry Night Eye Mask, Night time Temple Balm and Organic Body oil, which contains relaxing poppy seed oils, Roman camomile, lavender, vetiver and cannabis sativa.