As the invitations roll in and the social calendar fills, it’s important to prepare. Enlisting the help of those in the know is non-negotiable. With this in mind, we’ve created a countdown guide to the essential beauty prep you need to consider for a flawless festive season.
Three weeks out
First and foremost, ensure you have a consistent skincare regime going. If not, we recommend adding Emma Lewisham’s Blemish Serum and Illuminating Exfoliant to your skincare arsenal immediately. Or, if you really need that seasonal glow-up, pick up the brand’s Holiday Glow Trio, a set of mini versions of Emma Lewisham’s Illuminating Oil Face Cleanser, its cult-followed Skin Reset Serum and its Supernatural Face Crème Riche. Elsewhere, book a consultation with the experts at Clinic1 to assess your skin’s needs. From facials and peels to Botox and more, the team there will be able to help implement a game plan of treatments to have you looking your best.
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Two weeks out
Lock in a facial or two a couple of weeks out from any major event, preferably one that includes rigorous massage, active products and tools to give you a stunning glow. At Spring Spa the Codage Paris Deep Pore Cleansing Facial ticks all the boxes, where Spring’s expert practitioners will use the multifunctional, celebrity-endorsed Facify wand and magnetic pulse therapy to penetrate the skin, remove dirt and debris, promote lymphatic drainage and improve fine lines and wrinkles. Serums by Codage Paris are applied to tone, firm and lift the skin, followed by a warming eye compression and a face and scalp massage, designed to make tension melt away. With instant results, this facial is a must before any event this silly season.
Three days out
Now is the time to lush up those lashes and brows. We recommend you book in for a Yumi Lashes 2.0 treatment and brow package at East Day Spa. The former (harnessing a keratin-infused serum that naturally lifts and extends the lashes, lasting up to 10 weeks) will give you the effect of extensions, without the added damage, while the latter (particularly with the popular Brow Henna Package or the Tint Package) will get your eyebrows shaped, refined and perfectly tinted.
The day before
If a spray tan is what you seek, booking an appointment for the day before the event will ensure a bronzed, streak-free glow. Spring Spa in Ponsonby has ample parking nearby, making the dash to and from the booth (sans bra) a breeze. Tan in the City also comes highly recommended. If you don’t have time to pop to the salon, master the art of self-tanning with our guide to the best at-home fake tan products designed to give you the perfect glow.
This is also your last chance to get your talons tended to with a luxurious mani-pedi. Favourites Spring Spa, The Art of Nails and The Nail Bar Ponsonby offer expert services that will see your nails shaped, tidied and finished with a lick of gel polish.
On the day
Book in to have your tresses tousled and tamed with one of Auckland’s best hairdressers. Need some guidance? Consult our guide to the very best in town, whether you want a quick trim, a life-changing cut, a bouncy blowout or a sleek treatment.
The final, and arguably most important pre-party step, is putting your best face forward with professionally-applied makeup. Whether a natural, dewy look is your signature, or full-on glam is more your speed, trust an expert to take the stress out of achieving it on the day. We recommend making an appointment with Phoebe Watt, Alexandra Stanworth-Brown or Rae Sacha — these talented makeup artists know how to enhance your features and always give us exactly what we need.
