Beauty Front Benchers
How to avoid a makeup meltdown this festive season
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There’s plenty to love about the festive season, from the food and celebrations to having every excuse to dress up a little more than usual. And while outfits are planned weeks in advance, makeup looks are saved and hair appointments are booked, body care rarely gets quite the same attention. More often than not, it’s only when the festivities are around the corner that dry elbows and knees, rough texture, body breakouts or ingrown hair suddenly make their way onto the beauty checklist.
But just as you give your face a little extra care ahead of a big occasion, your body can benefit from the same attention. And the good news is, you don’t need an elaborate routine or a last-minute overhaul to get there. Starting a couple of weeks ahead gives you enough time to gently exfoliate, replenish moisture and address any specific concerns without overdoing it. With a few consistent steps, your skin can feel softer, smoother and well cared for, leaving you with one less thing to think about once the celebrations begin.
Double-duty and deceptively lush, this scrub uses fine sugar crystals to exfoliate gently but effectively—whether you’re tackling scalp buildup or dull, flaky skin. The coconut oil base keeps things soft and nourished, and the rose-lychee scent is enough to give your mood an automatic boost. It’s the kind of product that turns a routine wash into a ritual. Add it to your Sunday reset or midweek deep clean and you’ll realise it was the product you didn’t know was missing from your routine.
First Aid Beauty is one of those brands that is not viral but certainly should be. Their products, especially the luscious Ultra Repair Cream, have had a dedicated following for years. This body scrub targets uneven skin tone and roughness, a must-use if you are dealing with bacne, keratosis pilaris and more. Suitable for even sensitive skin, it contains pumice buffing beads that exfoliate the skin along with glycolic and lactic acids, which make it smoother.
For people with sensitive skin, introducing a new product in the daily routine can cause some breakouts or reactions. So, consider starting a more thoughtful routine at least a week before the celebrations begin.
Don't introduce aggressive exfoliation in your bodycare immediately before an occasion. A gentle body scrub, a nourishing body wash, and a rich body lotion are enough last-minute prep for the night before a big event.
Targeted moisturisation focusing on these areas can help make them softer. Include a hand scrub, foot scrub or body scrub in your routine and follow it up with thicker lotions. Massage them into the skin multiple times a week.
Focus on exposed areas—arms, shoulders, back and chest—with gentle exfoliation, hydration and SPF. For any bumps or uneven skin tone, using products formulated for that can help make the skin smoother and improve the complexion.
Give your skin some breathing room instead of doing it right before you get dressed. Waxing is best done a few days before the event; by then, any redness or sensitivity settles down. Shaving can be done the night before, but use a body scrub first to avoid painful ingrown hairs.
For most of us, body care tends to be fairly straightforward: a quick cleanse in the shower, the occasional scrub and body lotion whenever we remember it. But when the festive calendar starts filling up, a little more consistency can go a long way. The idea isn’t to suddenly introduce an elaborate head-to-toe routine, but to build on what you’re already doing. From cleansing and exfoliating to moisturising and sun protection, these simple steps can help keep your skin feeling smooth, soft and well cared for throughout the festive season.
A good festive body care routine starts with something you’re already doing every day: cleansing. Look for a gentle body wash that removes sweat, sunscreen and everyday build-up without leaving your skin feeling tight or stripped afterwards. If your skin tends to run dry, a moisturising formula can make your shower routine feel a little more comfortable, especially as you start exfoliating more regularly.
And if fragrance is part of the experience for you, this is also a good place to introduce it. A beautifully scented body wash can turn an otherwise everyday shower into a small ritual and, when paired with other products from the same fragrance family, help create a more layered scent routine.
Once cleansing is sorted, exfoliation can help tackle some of the texture concerns that tend to become more noticeable before the festive season. Used regularly, a body exfoliator can help lift away dead skin cells and smooth areas that feel rough or bumpy. Depending on the formula, exfoliating ingredients such as AHAs and BHAs can also be useful for concerns such as keratosis pilaris and body breakouts.
If ingrown hairs are a concern, gentle exfoliation can also help keep dead skin from building up around hair follicles. The key word, however, is gentle. Scrubbing harder or exfoliating more frequently won’t necessarily get you smoother skin faster and can leave the skin irritated instead. Follow the directions on your chosen product and give your skin time between exfoliation sessions.
After exfoliation comes the step that helps keep all that newly smooth skin feeling that way: moisturising. A body lotion, cream or butter helps replenish moisture and support the skin barrier, and applying it shortly after a shower, while your skin is still slightly damp, is an easy way to make it part of your everyday routine.
Choose the texture according to what your skin needs. A lightweight lotion works well if you prefer something that sinks in quickly, while richer creams and body butters can be particularly comforting on dry areas. If fragrance is part of your festive beauty routine, you can also pair a scented moisturiser with your body wash or perfume to layer your fragrance rather than relying on several extra spritzes.
Even with a consistent body care routine, certain areas may need a little more attention. Hands, feet, heels, elbows and knees, for instance, can be more prone to dryness and rough texture, while the back, shoulders and chest may be more susceptible to body breakouts.
Instead of treating everything with the same product, tailor this part of your festive body prep to what your skin actually needs. A richer hand cream can help keep dry hands comfortable, a foot mask can give rough feet an extra dose of moisture and targeted formulas containing ingredients such as salicylic acid can be useful for breakout-prone areas. Think of this as the fine-tuning stage of your routine: you’ve covered the basics, now you can give individual concerns a little more focused care.
Your festive plans may stretch well into the evening, but body sunscreen still belongs in your daytime routine. We’re usually diligent about applying SPF to the face, while areas such as the neck, chest, shoulders, arms and hands can easily be overlooked despite receiving regular sun exposure.
Make sunscreen the final step of your morning body care routine on exposed skin. Look for a broad-spectrum body sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply it before heading outdoors, remembering to reapply as needed, particularly after sweating or extended time outside. It’s a simple final step, but an important one, because good festive body prep isn’t only about how smooth your skin feels for the celebrations, but how well you look after it along the way.
For people with sensitive skin, introducing a new product in the daily routine can cause some breakouts or reactions. So, consider starting a more thoughtful routine at least a week before the celebrations begin.
Don't introduce aggressive exfoliation in your bodycare immediately before an occasion. A gentle body scrub, a nourishing body wash, and a rich body lotion are enough last-minute prep for the night before a big event.
Targeted moisturisation focusing on these areas can help make them softer. Include a hand scrub, foot scrub or body scrub in your routine and follow it up with thicker lotions. Massage them into the skin multiple times a week.
Focus on exposed areas—arms, shoulders, back and chest—with gentle exfoliation, hydration and SPF. For any bumps or uneven skin tone, using products formulated for that can help make the skin smoother and improve the complexion.
Give your skin some breathing room instead of doing it right before you get dressed. Waxing is best done a few days before the event; by then, any redness or sensitivity settles down. Shaving can be done the night before, but use a body scrub first to avoid painful ingrown hairs.
For most of us, body care tends to be fairly straightforward: a quick cleanse in the shower, the occasional scrub and body lotion whenever we remember it. But when the festive calendar starts filling up, a little more consistency can go a long way. The idea isn’t to suddenly introduce an elaborate head-to-toe routine, but to build on what you’re already doing. From cleansing and exfoliating to moisturising and sun protection, these simple steps can help keep your skin feeling smooth, soft and well cared for throughout the festive season.
A good festive body care routine starts with something you’re already doing every day: cleansing. Look for a gentle body wash that removes sweat, sunscreen and everyday build-up without leaving your skin feeling tight or stripped afterwards. If your skin tends to run dry, a moisturising formula can make your shower routine feel a little more comfortable, especially as you start exfoliating more regularly.
And if fragrance is part of the experience for you, this is also a good place to introduce it. A beautifully scented body wash can turn an otherwise everyday shower into a small ritual and, when paired with other products from the same fragrance family, help create a more layered scent routine.
Once cleansing is sorted, exfoliation can help tackle some of the texture concerns that tend to become more noticeable before the festive season. Used regularly, a body exfoliator can help lift away dead skin cells and smooth areas that feel rough or bumpy. Depending on the formula, exfoliating ingredients such as AHAs and BHAs can also be useful for concerns such as keratosis pilaris and body breakouts.
If ingrown hairs are a concern, gentle exfoliation can also help keep dead skin from building up around hair follicles. The key word, however, is gentle. Scrubbing harder or exfoliating more frequently won’t necessarily get you smoother skin faster and can leave the skin irritated instead. Follow the directions on your chosen product and give your skin time between exfoliation sessions.
After exfoliation comes the step that helps keep all that newly smooth skin feeling that way: moisturising. A body lotion, cream or butter helps replenish moisture and support the skin barrier, and applying it shortly after a shower, while your skin is still slightly damp, is an easy way to make it part of your everyday routine.
Choose the texture according to what your skin needs. A lightweight lotion works well if you prefer something that sinks in quickly, while richer creams and body butters can be particularly comforting on dry areas. If fragrance is part of your festive beauty routine, you can also pair a scented moisturiser with your body wash or perfume to layer your fragrance rather than relying on several extra spritzes.
Even with a consistent body care routine, certain areas may need a little more attention. Hands, feet, heels, elbows and knees, for instance, can be more prone to dryness and rough texture, while the back, shoulders and chest may be more susceptible to body breakouts.
Instead of treating everything with the same product, tailor this part of your festive body prep to what your skin actually needs. A richer hand cream can help keep dry hands comfortable, a foot mask can give rough feet an extra dose of moisture and targeted formulas containing ingredients such as salicylic acid can be useful for breakout-prone areas. Think of this as the fine-tuning stage of your routine: you’ve covered the basics, now you can give individual concerns a little more focused care.
Your festive plans may stretch well into the evening, but body sunscreen still belongs in your daytime routine. We’re usually diligent about applying SPF to the face, while areas such as the neck, chest, shoulders, arms and hands can easily be overlooked despite receiving regular sun exposure.
Make sunscreen the final step of your morning body care routine on exposed skin. Look for a broad-spectrum body sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply it before heading outdoors, remembering to reapply as needed, particularly after sweating or extended time outside. It’s a simple final step, but an important one, because good festive body prep isn’t only about how smooth your skin feels for the celebrations, but how well you look after it along the way.
For most of us, body care tends to be fairly straightforward: a quick cleanse in the shower, the occasional scrub and body lotion whenever we remember it. But when the festive calendar starts filling up, a little more consistency can go a long way. The idea isn’t to suddenly introduce an elaborate head-to-toe routine, but to build on what you’re already doing. From cleansing and exfoliating to moisturising and sun protection, these simple steps can help keep your skin feeling smooth, soft and well cared for throughout the festive season.
A good festive body care routine starts with something you’re already doing every day: cleansing. Look for a gentle body wash that removes sweat, sunscreen and everyday build-up without leaving your skin feeling tight or stripped afterwards. If your skin tends to run dry, a moisturising formula can make your shower routine feel a little more comfortable, especially as you start exfoliating more regularly.
And if fragrance is part of the experience for you, this is also a good place to introduce it. A beautifully scented body wash can turn an otherwise everyday shower into a small ritual and, when paired with other products from the same fragrance family, help create a more layered scent routine.
Once cleansing is sorted, exfoliation can help tackle some of the texture concerns that tend to become more noticeable before the festive season. Used regularly, a body exfoliator can help lift away dead skin cells and smooth areas that feel rough or bumpy. Depending on the formula, exfoliating ingredients such as AHAs and BHAs can also be useful for concerns such as keratosis pilaris and body breakouts.
If ingrown hairs are a concern, gentle exfoliation can also help keep dead skin from building up around hair follicles. The key word, however, is gentle. Scrubbing harder or exfoliating more frequently won’t necessarily get you smoother skin faster and can leave the skin irritated instead. Follow the directions on your chosen product and give your skin time between exfoliation sessions.
After exfoliation comes the step that helps keep all that newly smooth skin feeling that way: moisturising. A body lotion, cream or butter helps replenish moisture and support the skin barrier, and applying it shortly after a shower, while your skin is still slightly damp, is an easy way to make it part of your everyday routine.
Choose the texture according to what your skin needs. A lightweight lotion works well if you prefer something that sinks in quickly, while richer creams and body butters can be particularly comforting on dry areas. If fragrance is part of your festive beauty routine, you can also pair a scented moisturiser with your body wash or perfume to layer your fragrance rather than relying on several extra spritzes.
Even with a consistent body care routine, certain areas may need a little more attention. Hands, feet, heels, elbows and knees, for instance, can be more prone to dryness and rough texture, while the back, shoulders and chest may be more susceptible to body breakouts.
Instead of treating everything with the same product, tailor this part of your festive body prep to what your skin actually needs. A richer hand cream can help keep dry hands comfortable, a foot mask can give rough feet an extra dose of moisture and targeted formulas containing ingredients such as salicylic acid can be useful for breakout-prone areas. Think of this as the fine-tuning stage of your routine: you’ve covered the basics, now you can give individual concerns a little more focused care.
Your festive plans may stretch well into the evening, but body sunscreen still belongs in your daytime routine. We’re usually diligent about applying SPF to the face, while areas such as the neck, chest, shoulders, arms and hands can easily be overlooked despite receiving regular sun exposure.
Make sunscreen the final step of your morning body care routine on exposed skin. Look for a broad-spectrum body sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply it before heading outdoors, remembering to reapply as needed, particularly after sweating or extended time outside. It’s a simple final step, but an important one, because good festive body prep isn’t only about how smooth your skin feels for the celebrations, but how well you look after it along the way.
For people with sensitive skin, introducing a new product in the daily routine can cause some breakouts or reactions. So, consider starting a more thoughtful routine at least a week before the celebrations begin.
Don't introduce aggressive exfoliation in your bodycare immediately before an occasion. A gentle body scrub, a nourishing body wash, and a rich body lotion are enough last-minute prep for the night before a big event.
Targeted moisturisation focusing on these areas can help make them softer. Include a hand scrub, foot scrub or body scrub in your routine and follow it up with thicker lotions. Massage them into the skin multiple times a week.
Focus on exposed areas—arms, shoulders, back and chest—with gentle exfoliation, hydration and SPF. For any bumps or uneven skin tone, using products formulated for that can help make the skin smoother and improve the complexion.
Give your skin some breathing room instead of doing it right before you get dressed. Waxing is best done a few days before the event; by then, any redness or sensitivity settles down. Shaving can be done the night before, but use a body scrub first to avoid painful ingrown hairs.
For people with sensitive skin, introducing a new product in the daily routine can cause some breakouts or reactions. So, consider starting a more thoughtful routine at least a week before the celebrations begin.
Don't introduce aggressive exfoliation in your bodycare immediately before an occasion. A gentle body scrub, a nourishing body wash, and a rich body lotion are enough last-minute prep for the night before a big event.
Targeted moisturisation focusing on these areas can help make them softer. Include a hand scrub, foot scrub or body scrub in your routine and follow it up with thicker lotions. Massage them into the skin multiple times a week.
Focus on exposed areas—arms, shoulders, back and chest—with gentle exfoliation, hydration and SPF. For any bumps or uneven skin tone, using products formulated for that can help make the skin smoother and improve the complexion.
Give your skin some breathing room instead of doing it right before you get dressed. Waxing is best done a few days before the event; by then, any redness or sensitivity settles down. Shaving can be done the night before, but use a body scrub first to avoid painful ingrown hairs.
For most of us, body care tends to be fairly straightforward: a quick cleanse in the shower, the occasional scrub and body lotion whenever we remember it. But when the festive calendar starts filling up, a little more consistency can go a long way. The idea isn’t to suddenly introduce an elaborate head-to-toe routine, but to build on what you’re already doing. From cleansing and exfoliating to moisturising and sun protection, these simple steps can help keep your skin feeling smooth, soft and well cared for throughout the festive season.
A good festive body care routine starts with something you’re already doing every day: cleansing. Look for a gentle body wash that removes sweat, sunscreen and everyday build-up without leaving your skin feeling tight or stripped afterwards. If your skin tends to run dry, a moisturising formula can make your shower routine feel a little more comfortable, especially as you start exfoliating more regularly.
And if fragrance is part of the experience for you, this is also a good place to introduce it. A beautifully scented body wash can turn an otherwise everyday shower into a small ritual and, when paired with other products from the same fragrance family, help create a more layered scent routine.
Once cleansing is sorted, exfoliation can help tackle some of the texture concerns that tend to become more noticeable before the festive season. Used regularly, a body exfoliator can help lift away dead skin cells and smooth areas that feel rough or bumpy. Depending on the formula, exfoliating ingredients such as AHAs and BHAs can also be useful for concerns such as keratosis pilaris and body breakouts.
If ingrown hairs are a concern, gentle exfoliation can also help keep dead skin from building up around hair follicles. The key word, however, is gentle. Scrubbing harder or exfoliating more frequently won’t necessarily get you smoother skin faster and can leave the skin irritated instead. Follow the directions on your chosen product and give your skin time between exfoliation sessions.
After exfoliation comes the step that helps keep all that newly smooth skin feeling that way: moisturising. A body lotion, cream or butter helps replenish moisture and support the skin barrier, and applying it shortly after a shower, while your skin is still slightly damp, is an easy way to make it part of your everyday routine.
Choose the texture according to what your skin needs. A lightweight lotion works well if you prefer something that sinks in quickly, while richer creams and body butters can be particularly comforting on dry areas. If fragrance is part of your festive beauty routine, you can also pair a scented moisturiser with your body wash or perfume to layer your fragrance rather than relying on several extra spritzes.
Even with a consistent body care routine, certain areas may need a little more attention. Hands, feet, heels, elbows and knees, for instance, can be more prone to dryness and rough texture, while the back, shoulders and chest may be more susceptible to body breakouts.
Instead of treating everything with the same product, tailor this part of your festive body prep to what your skin actually needs. A richer hand cream can help keep dry hands comfortable, a foot mask can give rough feet an extra dose of moisture and targeted formulas containing ingredients such as salicylic acid can be useful for breakout-prone areas. Think of this as the fine-tuning stage of your routine: you’ve covered the basics, now you can give individual concerns a little more focused care.
Your festive plans may stretch well into the evening, but body sunscreen still belongs in your daytime routine. We’re usually diligent about applying SPF to the face, while areas such as the neck, chest, shoulders, arms and hands can easily be overlooked despite receiving regular sun exposure.
Make sunscreen the final step of your morning body care routine on exposed skin. Look for a broad-spectrum body sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply it before heading outdoors, remembering to reapply as needed, particularly after sweating or extended time outside. It’s a simple final step, but an important one, because good festive body prep isn’t only about how smooth your skin feels for the celebrations, but how well you look after it along the way.
For people with sensitive skin, introducing a new product in the daily routine can cause some breakouts or reactions. So, consider starting a more thoughtful routine at least a week before the celebrations begin.
Don't introduce aggressive exfoliation in your bodycare immediately before an occasion. A gentle body scrub, a nourishing body wash, and a rich body lotion are enough last-minute prep for the night before a big event.
Targeted moisturisation focusing on these areas can help make them softer. Include a hand scrub, foot scrub or body scrub in your routine and follow it up with thicker lotions. Massage them into the skin multiple times a week.
Focus on exposed areas—arms, shoulders, back and chest—with gentle exfoliation, hydration and SPF. For any bumps or uneven skin tone, using products formulated for that can help make the skin smoother and improve the complexion.
Give your skin some breathing room instead of doing it right before you get dressed. Waxing is best done a few days before the event; by then, any redness or sensitivity settles down. Shaving can be done the night before, but use a body scrub first to avoid painful ingrown hairs.
