December has always been a time to eat, drink and be merry. What great fun we have had quaffing large tumblers of creamy Baileys and scoffing vast quantities of Roses. Don’t we all use the excuse “Ah, but it’s Christmas” as we open that second bottle of wine and have that extra dollop of double cream on our third mince pie?

But come January, when we tiptoe onto our dusty old weighing scales and – shock horror – find out that we are 8lb heavier, we still ask ourselves: “How did that happen?!”

So, for this month’s column, I wanted to share some easy, but hugely effective health and beauty tips to improve your mental and physical wellbeing. Once you feel better, you will most definitely look better.

Get Moving

Try and fit in at least thee exercise sessions a week and stick with it. Get yourself into a routine and exercise with a friend or partner to make it more fun.

I’m a big fan of power-walking because it tones me up and helps keep the weight down. I pop on my old tracksuit, a good sports bra and trainers, head held high, shoulders back, tummy in and keep at a good strong pace.

Afterwards, I feel refreshed and ready for the day. Keep a time check when you exercise, and always try and push over the 30 minute mark. The more you can do the better and quicker way to a fitter you.

Make A Smart Sacrifice

If you want to look and feel your best and enjoy your life to the full, you might have to make a few sacrifices. If this means giving up your daily diet of a packet of cigarettes, a few bars of chocolate and a bottle of wine, then now’s the time to do it.

The money you would spend on the cigarettes, pop into a jar and every time you want that Mars Bar, put your money into your jar instead. At the end of the month, go and treat yourself to a lovely face cream or book in for a deluxe facial as a “well done you”.

Detox

Toxins are prolific in every aspect of our lives and an overload can lead to such complaints as cellulite, dull, dry, spotty skin, lacklustre hair, eczema, brittle nails and fatigue. In order to avoid build-ups, cut down on your intake of alcohol, caffeine and processed foods. Start the day with a glass on hot water with a slice of lemon, try a herbal tea with a blob of honey for a refreshing change and always keep an apple or banana in your handbag to munch on the go.

Drink Up

Water is nature’s internal moisturiser and great purifier. Drinking plenty of H20 rehydrates every one of the millions of cells in our body and helps flush out toxins. Our bodies are 75% water. If you deprive your body of water, you will quite literally shrivel up like an old prune. I recommend drinking two litres of still water a day.

Think Positive

A healthy mind is so vital to your well-being. If you are not at peace with yourself, your biochemistry becomes unbalanced, affecting your looks, self-image and self-confidence. Each day, take time to gather positive thoughts.

Positive thinking and an optimistic outlook will keep you both mentally and physically fit. Learn to take the view that your glass is always half full – not half empty.

I always say to my children that if they have nothing nice to say about someone, don’t say it.

Stop Smoking

It’s a fact that this dirty, unsociable habit deprives the skin’s cells of oxygen and causes the skin to become thinner, resulting in wrinkles. Puffing endlessly on a fag won’t only give you deep vertical lip lines, but will also affect the skin all over your body and face, not to mention diminishing your pulmonary capacity and increasing your risk of cancer.

Nicotine sprays and patches are a great way to wean yourself off the demon ciggies. Share with your friends and family that you are determined to give up and they will support you every step of the way.

Pamper Yourself

Pop on a face pack before you relax in your bath at least twice a week to replenish your skin. Use a body scrub with a good handful of salt mixed in with it to scrub off all the dead skin and fake tan, and after your shower, lather on plenty of moisturizer, especially on elbows, knees, neck and feet.

Take off any fake nails you may have had on for the party season, to let your nail beds breathe and heal, remove hair extensions and fake lashes and, when possible, leave in hair conditioner for a good hour to rejuvenate your scalp and hair. CL

top tips

Add a dab of Vaseline on to your lashes every night to moisten and nourish them.

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For my healthy treat, I pop a punnet of grapes in the freezer: they are healthy and yummy!

Next month I’m going to talk about skin problems and solutions. If you have any questions or topics you would like me to write about, please don’t hesitate to email me on dollybuckley1@gmail.com or follow me on Instagram @makeupbydolly.b