We've all been there before. You spend hours painstakingly tweaking your hair and makeup before the big Christmas party, then 10 Lords a-Leaping and Nine Ladies Dancing later, your mascara is several centimetres south of where it should be and your shining nose would give Rudolph a run for his money.
This Christmas youwill have no excuse to look anything less than radiant with our party season survival guide that starts weeks before Christmas.
The best makeup in the world can't help you if your skin isn't prepped beforehand. Bliss has a spa-while-you-shop station in department stores where customers can walk in for an impromptu facial or waxing during lunch hour or a mid-shopping spree. The Quickbliss beauty bars are at Faces in Harbour City and Lane Crawford in Pacific Place and Times Square, and services range from oxygen blast facials (HK$550) to anti-ageing hand treatments (HK$150).
Neither wind nor rain nor winter flab shall keep you from showing off that stunning dress at the Christmas party. A week before the big night, start on the Methode Jeanne Piaubert Speed Dieting Slimming Cream (HK$990/2x60ml)(right), a way to slim down by reducing excess fat. The slimming system comes in two bottles - one for daytime application and one for night, and claims to show results in seven days.
As the party season beckons, get into the holiday spirit by indulging in the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh Spa Ritual (HK$2,000/120min) at the Four Seasons spa.
The treatment begins with a body scrub that exfoliates the skin with a blend of sea salts, frankincense, myrrh and gold sparkles, followed by an aromatic soak in the tub with a glass of Kir Royale, topped off by a hot stone and scalp massage using sweet almond, mandarin, sandalwood, frankincense and myrrh essential oils.
Meanwhile, the Grand Hyatt's Plateau Massage (HK$950/60min) will soothe your shopping stress with its combination of Shiatsu, Thai and Swedish massage techniques, and the aromatherapy massage balm contains notes of incense and myrrh for a festive touch.