People often imagine that I spend my entire life grooming myself, when I’m as agitated, exhausted, and exhausted as any other middle-aged multitasker.
However, last weekend was the first 60th birthday party within my peer group, with friends I hadn’t seen in ten years.
‘That’s it, I’m having a 24-hour spa,’ I decreed. “I’m going to relax, take care of my skin, and sleep so I look like the best version of myself, and not a broken, tired demon.”
What I didn’t do was book a facial. Many are a basic cleanse, steam and exfoliation, followed by a mask. Frankly, you and I can do this at home and better.
Instead, I ordered a 90-minute massage at my local salon, and asked for half an hour of pulping on my head, neck and face as part of this. What’s up and down is part of facial tension and I needed a proper refresher on my collapsed cheeks and stiff jaw, while circulation was increasing all the time.
Our expert Hannah Betts prefers a massage focused on the neck, to stimulate circulation and relieve tension.
Once I returned, I cleansed with Mamiel’s gorgeous Restorative Cleansing Balm (£70, demamiel.com), so dense in antioxidant-rich oils that you only need a small amount, the act of rubbing it in provides exfoliation.
I steamed my complexion with Epsom Salt and Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Bath and Shower Oil (£58, aromatherapyassociates.com) soak, lazily avoiding the need for a post-bath body moisturizer. Epsom salts are rich in magnesium, known as “nature’s Valium” for its sleep-enhancing qualities. I increased the effect with BetterYou Magnesium Oil (£13.95, holland and barrett), sprayed onto my kneaded neck and shoulders, plus Nutravita High Potency Magnesium Citrate (£19.99, superdrug.com).
Then I slathered on whatever conditioner I had lying around as an overnight hair mask, with a wool hat on top for heat therapy. I treated my feet with Beauty Pie Footopia Super Softening Foot and Heel Cream (members £8, non-members £25, beautypie.com) more socks; my hands to Leighton Denny Hand Rebirth Intensive Hand Cream (£14, leightondenny.com) with Boots Cotton Gloves (£2.50, boots.com) to seal the good. I may have looked crazy, but I slept like the proverbial baby.
The next morning, after lying down, I entertained myself while pleasurably enhancing my beauty. Here you are not looking to do anything potentially irritating: there is no needling of the skin. However, a session with an LED mask is just the ticket. The healing light emitted by these accessories plumps the skin, smoothes lines, reduces redness, scars and dark spots, revitalizing all aspects.
They can cost upwards of £500. However, I do have the competitively priced Light Salon Boost LED Face Mask (£395, thelight-salon.com), clinically proven to increase the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, claims to reduce wrinkle depth by 36 percent in four weeks.
I had a dry skin guinea pig testing the CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector (£189, bodyactual.com) and swears that it has made a noticeable difference in fine lines and wrinkles. Meanwhile, an oily complexion ally has been trying Hollywood red carpet groomer Angela Caglia’s Crystal LED Face Mask (£550, net-a-porter.com) and praises him too, as she’s been inundated with praise from people who have no idea what she’s been up to. Despite the prices, both have said they would buy their devices.
If you’re looking for a budget option, supplies the instant-sale Beauty Pie C-Wave LED Treatment Mask (£99 for members, £250 for non-members, beautypie.com) are rumored to be about to arrive at your site. Sign up for their waitlist to stay up to date.
After the LED, I relaxed under Monu’s collagen mask (£14.95, monushop.es), a charming and relaxing plump. A couple of hours after that, I used an ice cube to wake up my face and remove any product residue, massaging with a gua sha tool (any will do) and the wonderfully nourishing and easily absorbed Farm Girl CBD Facial Oil (£ 48, farmgirlbysarahjane.co.uk), letting it sit before makeup.
Finally, I anointed myself with my beloved outdoor energizer, Aromatherapy Associates Revive Evening Bath & Shower Oil (£58, aromatherapyassociates.com). A heady patchouli, a revitalizing concoction of ylang ylang and geranium, is the secret weapon of many city women, and it’s incredibly sexy.
After this, I refused to think more about my appearance as I was rested, relaxed and ready to have the time of my life.
run towards it
When it launched in the US, Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder (£57, hourglasscosmetics.es) sold out in 72 hours. The brand’s first pressed powder went on sale here on Friday, joining Hourglass’ 33-time award-winning Vanish Airbrush collection, of which four products are sold every minute. So hurry up!
Cosmetic craving
I promise myself I’ll never do it again and then I find myself nibbling on a gel manicure. Still, that’s probably better for your nails than those maniacs at the salon who remove the gel with a drill.
Either way, rehabilitation is required. First, any type of strengthening base, then Nails Inc Glowing Somewhere Plant Power Vegan Nail Illuminator (£9, nailsinc.com).
As a highlighter for your skin, it is a sheer, luminously shiny pearl shade that helps brighten the nail bed and create the appearance of whiter tips and healthier lengths, while being free of formaldehyde, acetone, parabens, vegan, cruelty-free animal and halal friendly.
With a single layer, the nails are redeemed and polished in an exquisite and modern way.
My icon of the week: Diane Lane
Diane Lane stars in the new TV series Capote vs. The Swans with Tom Hollander and Naomi Watts
The actress, 59, looks glorious in the new television series Capote vs. The Swans. She enjoys her “bare face” because “if I fall more in love with the mask, that’s depressing”, and she adores Dr. Bronner’s Organic Lip Balm (£4.39, superdrug.com).
Use Tracie Martyn Amla Purifying Cleanser (£55.08, skinstore.com) with a Foreo device (from £44.50, foreo.com) and ‘drinks’ olive oil, apparently.