Hangovers, Tiredness and Fatigue - We Don't Want These To Be Part Of Our Christmas Holiday Season - Here's How To Avoid Them

Yes, the Christmas and Holiday party season will soon be upon us, and for many this means a constant whirlwind of drinks, dinners, parties and late nights. This is a time for fun and festivities, but can your body (and mind!) keep up, particularly if you are working all day and partying away all night? Here are some of the main culprits for giving us unseasonable feelings of exhaustion and also happily, some remedies to help you party with sparkle through into next year.

Alcohol

The holiday season is the time for many of us to enjoy a few seasonal drinks with our friends and family. But the havoc caused by just a few too many tipples can be drastic, not only dehydration, headaches, tiredness and irritability, but also feelings of depression after the buzz of the alcohol has gone. Its not great for the look of your skin either. But, hey, we are not saying that you can't go out and have some fun, just try and remember to mix in some glasses of water along with the wine, even have it with soda or lemonade, and you will be thankful in the morning. Stay away from spirits (especially the darker ones, such as dark rum or brandy) if you don't normally drink them as they are especially likely to give you a bad head the next day. If you do wake up with a hangover there is little you can do about it unfortunately, apart from keep yourself hydrated, and if possible try and sleep off the worst symptoms.

Rich and Fatty Foods

Who doesn't look forward to mince pies with cream, Christmas cake, a lovely roast Christmas dinner, after dinner chocolates ... the list of goodies to indulge in at Christmas is unending, and it would be wrong to try and avoid them all over the holidays. It takes your body a great deal of energy to digest a huge Christmas meal, hence the classic feeling of tiredness after a large Christmas lunch. It is actually better for you to take a nap and let your body get on with digesting the food rather than diverting it's engergies away by taking a walk. How nice to know that you are doing your body a favour by taking a classic Christmas nap in the afternoon after your dinner! Other things you can do to avoid total meltdown of your digestive system is to swap a few foods for alternatives which are just as yummy. Instead of a box of milk chocolates indulge in a bar of high cocoa dark chocolate, rather than salted crips and nuts, go for a handful of unsalted almonds, walnuts and peanuts, and try to give the marzipan and icing a miss from the cake, as it is mainly just sugar which can give you a blood sugar high which will then dip leaving you feeling more tired.

Late Nights and Colds and Flu

Yes, these are related, because if you allow yourself to become run down and tired by burning the candle at both ends, drinking too much alcohol and eating too many unhealthy foods, you are more likely to catch any germs that are doing the rounds. Seasonal changes in weather can encourage cold and flu germs to breed, and if you are not looking after yourself you will become their victim. Try and get at last seven good hours of sleep a night, avoid drinking alcohol every day and if you feel you are not getting at least 5-a-day fresh fruits and vegetables, then take a multi-vitamin to cover all bases. Remember too, to wash your hands, or use a hand cleanser gel to keep germs away. Only Rudolf looks good with a red nose at Chrismas!

How To Get Beautiful Clear Skin By Changing Your Diet

There are many factors which can take a toll on our general skin health and appearance, such as tiredness, everyday stress, pollution from the environment, smoking, exposure to UVA and UVB rays and just advancing age. All of these can give us bags under our eyes, acne and blemishes, dark circles and fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin. Sounds nice doesn't it?  Pamela, who is 44 and pictured below, has stated that she does not have a skincare program and never uses a sunscreen even though she is often out in the Malibu sunshine which may cause wrinkles and brown spots.

It's now usual to hear that friends and acquaintances are having treatments such as Botox and even facelift surgery to try and turn back the years. But what do you do if you don't want to take risks with procedures on your face, you are worried that they may not look right, or you don't have the money to invest in these treatments? The healthier and safer option is to give yourself a facelift from the inside - by eating the right foods you can drastically improve your appearance, and here are the top five super foods which can give your skin a beautiful and natural boost.

Avocados

Avocados are often thought of as high in fat and calories. However the fat contained in avocados is high in omega-3 fatty acids and an average avocado contains just over 200 calories - think about that when you next dive into a packet of crisps - a juicy avocado could be an alternative. Avocados will help increase collagen production which will prevent wrinkles. Avocados also contain lots of Vitamin E which helps fight off premature ageing and keeps skin healthy. The fruit also has anti-inflammatory properties which will reduce acne and psoriasis.

Bananas

Puffy faces and bags under the eyes are caused by too much water retention. Once you start getting bags under your eyes, this can damage and stretch the skin and cause lines to appear. The major cause of water retention is too much salt in the body, but this can be balanced by reducing your salt intake and increasing your intake of potassium. Bananas are a great morning snack and they are high in potassium too, take one with you to work each day. Other high potassium foods are avocados (see they are amazing fruits), raisins, apricots, baked potatoes, dried prunes and tinned tomatoes. Natalie Portman, who is 30, is a strict vegetarian, and her diet will be rich in vitamins and minerals, which may be one of the reasons she has a beautiful, unlined and blemish free skin.

Garlic

If you suffer from acne then garlic should be your best friend. It is a natural antibiotic which cleanses the blood, helps boost your immune system and has antibacterial properties. If you can eat it raw and crushed it can help reduce future breakouts of acne and its anti-inflammatory properties will help treat any current breakouts. Crushing or chewing the garlic helps to release its healing properties, so unfortunately swallowing a clove whole will not be as effective.

Oysters

This is going to be a food which you either love or hate, but give them a chance. Oysters are high in Vitamin B12 and Iron, and if you have pale lifeless skin and/or dark circles under your eyes it may be due to deficiencies of these nutrients. If you don't like oysters then other foods high in these essential nutrients are salmon, halibut, kidney beans, soy beans, pumpkin seeds, mussels, clams and seaweed.

Spinach

Spinach is just one of the dark green leafy vegetables which is rich in lutein which is an antioxidant (others are kale, green peas and raw broccoli). Lutein can help to prevent wrinkles as it aids the skin to retain moisture and elasticity, increases lipid levels and prevents damage caused by free radicals. Spinach is also high in Vitamins K and C which can help to reduce dark circles beneath the eyes. There can be several causes of dark circles, but one of them can be poor circulation. In cases where this is the problem increasing Vitamin K and C can help by boosting circulation and strengthening capillary walls. Another benefit of lutein is that it can help to keep your eyes healthy too.

The Top Foods That Will Help You Stay Young Inside And Out

Everyone knows that a healthy and balanced diet is important to keep your body, including your hair, skin and nails, in great condition. However, there are some super-foods which can not only keep you healthy, but which are just bursting with anti-aging ingredients, which can help you look and feel younger and just altogether more beautiful inside and out. It is surprising how many of these foods are consumed by celebrities. Even though they have the cash to splash out on treatments and surgery, even they seem to prefer the natural options to help keep them young and beautiful rather than resorting to injections and surgery.

Here Are Seven Anti-Aging Food and Drinks Which Will Give You A Boost of Youthfulness

Green tea

This is surely the king of all super drinks - green tea comes top of the anti-aging list. Amongst its qualities, it helps regulate blood pressure, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol, it boosts the immune system protecting you against infections, and it can possibly help protect against certain types of cancer. It can also raise the metabolic rate slightly, which helps you burn extra pounds - Courtney Cox and Courtney Love are both fans of the drink. If you don't like the taste of green tea, try white tea which has all the same benefits, and even more.

Green Leafy Vegetables

Don't think boiled green cabage, but crispy healthy stir fried greens, flavoured with herbs and spices. Spinach is great with pepper and a light dressing of olive oil and boosts your immune system. Other greens like kale and collard greens are high in folate which helps prevent DNA and blood vessel damage - ie it looks after your circulatory system, protecting against high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.

Dark Chocolate

Yes, this is in the list really because of its high cocoa content. Cocoa is rich in antioxidants called flavinoids which help preserve healthy function of the blood vessels. Look for the over 70% cocoa bars and eat around one square a day.

Soy Products

Soy products like tofu are a great source of protein and an alternative to red meat and dairy as they have little or no fat. The Japanese diet promotes longevity, and soya is a staple of their diet, it helps to keep down cholesterol.

Yoghurt

Eat lots of low fat youghurt, as it is really full of "good" bacteria. Ignore some of the advertisements which promote certain brands, you can buy a big pot of plain old yoghurt and it will contain the "good" bacteria which will help regulate your immune system to help out your gut. Yoghurt is also a great source of calcium which helps keep bones strong.

Red wine

If you are a white wine drinker you might want to think of switching to red wine, as it is full of anti-aging elements including antioxidants, minerals, polyphenols and resveratrol. Yes, resveratrol, its a funny word, but its a great super food as it helps increase your good cholesterol levels, helps women during the menopause by reducing the risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis - the suggested intake is around a glass a day.

Water

Believe it or not after all that has been written about drinking enough water, people are still not doing it. Increasing your fluid intake will increase energy levels, aid digestion, boost your skins radiance and altogether up your anti-aging armoury. Drink little and often throughout the day - if possible keep a water bottle with you and sip at it regularly. Increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables will also increase your water intake too.

Give Yourself A Little TLC This Valentine's Day Weekend

Whether or not you have a romantic evening or weekend planned this year for Valentine's Day, we think that girls and women everywhere should celebrate the day by loving themselves and giving themselves a little TLC - and if you will be sharing the results of this TLC with your loved one later on, then all the better!

If you ever wondered how Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day on February 14th came about - it was named after several early Christian Martyrs all called Valentine and the day was originally a religious day in the Roman Calendar. The day later became associated with romantic love in the days of Chaucer (an English poet and author) when the tradition of courting or courtly love was established. It is traditional on this day for lovers to show their love for each other with cards, flowers and confectionery... and ohh, it's also traditional for us girls to look our best too.

So whatever you are doing to celebrate Valentine's weekend, here are some tips to make you look and feel amazing, whether you are simply pampering yourself, you are looking forward to a romantic evening in, or you are out for a fun night - there is something here for everyone!

Give Yourself a Facial

If your skin is feeling a little under the weather after blustery winter days and cold winter nights, treat yourself to a facial. You don't need to spend a fortune, you can do this at home with some simple, natural ingredients, making facial treatments for dry, ageing or oily skin. While your facial is working why not soak yourself in a hot and bubbly bath, which is even more relaxing - moisturise afterwards whilst your skin is still warm and it will soak up your chosen perfumed lotion - match this with the perfume you will be wearing later to add layers to your scent.

Get A Golden Glow All Over - Even On A Wintry Day

If you are planning to wear an evening or party dress this weekend, a subtle golden glow looks gorgeous. You can go to a spray tanning booth or you can apply at home. If you need some help on self-application there are tips on how to achieve a streak free tan which are easy to follow, which include remembering to wash your hands afterwards - tanned palms can look very odd.

Get Your Own Cupid's Bow

Nothing says romance like deep, red lipstick, and applying deep berry lipstick to get the perfect cupid's bow mouth requires a steady hand, but anyone can do it with practice. Sweep your lips with a clear gloss over your lipcolour like Megan Fox. When applying a deep red or pink colour, it's easier to apply the lipstick first and then line the lips afterwards.

Valentine's Night Says Exotic Dark Eyes

The Cheryl Cole smoky eye look has just never gone out of style, and smoky eyes are dramatic and mysterious - just perfect for Valentine's night. The basic smoky eye look can be altered as you wish changing the base colours from greys and charcoals, to blues, dark greens and browns.

The Best Tips Ever To Make You The Belle Of The Ball At Your New Year Party

If you have been partying for the majority of December, by the time you reach the New Year, you can feel as tired and dreary as last week's turkey. If you are planning to turn out to a party on New Year's Eve, it can seem an impossibility to become the bubbly, eye-catching life and soul of the party that you want to be on one of the most amazing evenings of the year. But help is at hand, because there are some tips and tricks that can help you both look and feel sparkling and dazzling wherever you are celebrating your New Year.

Take A Tip From The Holly Bush

Have you ever looked at holly berries and found them looking drab and dreary - we think the answer is no, never! Then take a tip from this most festive of plants, and get yourself a holly red lipstick. This is the most festive of colours, and teamed up with neutral colours on the rest of your face, with lashings of black mascara, you can turn into a Hollywood starlet, like Reese, for the evening (no pun intended here!). Your gorgeous red lips will draw attention away from any tiredness around the eyes you can be sure.

Hey Eyes - Twinkle Twinkle Like Diamonds In The Sky

If you didn't get any beauty goodies from Santa, treat yourself to an eye cream, which will look after any fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes. Look for one that also treats puffiness around the eyes, and pop it in the fridge before using it - this will give your peepers one mighty de-puffing, skin moisturising treat before your evening ahead.

Little Red Nails

Nothing brightens up the hands like red nails - keep then fairly short and squared off, this is a look that you can take from day to night, and which brings a festive touch to any look.

Let It Glow, Let it Glow, Let It Glow

Invest in an all over body highlighter, and dust this magic sparkle dust over your collar bone, cleavage, shoulders, cheekbones and legs - you will be the highlight of any picture of the night.

Shimmer On - It's A Night To Sparkle

Yep, lots of this season's makeup involves a smoky eye look, but a super sparkly eyeshadow, with barely there colour will stand out from a sea of heavy makeup. Brush it onto lids and line along the lower lashes and then apply super black mascara - this is a totally brilliant match for the holly red lips above.

Can You Facial It?

The day before your big night out treat yourself to a facial. Look for a face treatment which contains salicylic acid as this will brighten your skin, removing dead skin cells, and unclogging pores and allowing brighter skin to surface. This is great preparation before applying your makeup for the evening, you skin will be tons smoother and brighter.

Above all, enjoy yourself - this is the greatest beautifier of all. Remember that soon the party season will be over and a New Year will have begun, have a great New Year everyone, and best wishes to you all for 2011!