Morning - lime shot, green juice, cleansing and moisturising
Lemon is the most alkalizing food in your daily diet. It contains about 8% citric acid, which once ingested, metabolises to an alkaline state tilting the body's intracellular fluid towards a healthy alkalinity. In an alkaline state, every system in the body works at its optimum level. Regular lemon intake stimulates the production of enzymes and digestive juices in the stomach and helps scavenge the free radicals. Moisturizing is a vital step in skin care regimen. Oily skin needs hydration too, but since it's prone to acne, attention should be paid to the choice of moisturizer.

Day - sunscreen application and reapplication
Use sunscreen every day to protect your skin. No matter what type of skin you have, an oil-free sunscreen used before you go outside can help the skin look young and fresh, and keep it healthy.

Regular exercise
If you are walking for 30 minutes a day, make it 60 minutes. But exercise alone will not be enough to lose weight and get into the LBD. As diet contributes 70% towards weight loss, the correct way is to eat right and lose weight, which also helps in maintaining a healthy look on the skin.

Night - cleansing, makeup removal, night cream [post 25 years of age]
Non-stop parties = cosmetics overdose. Ensure that your skin doesn't get the hangover. A very important aspect of skin care is proper make-up removal. Clogged pores caused by stale make-up can lead to oily skin and occasional break -outs. Late nights could make you want to go to bed without removing your make-up once a while, but remember, it is extremely important to follow a strict cleansing routine on a regular basis. For the eyes, an oil-based eye make-up remover used on a cotton swab is the most effective way to ensure there isn't an unsightly residue left over the next morning. For the face, steer clear of soap, use a cleanser instead. Use a night repair cream on the recommendation of your dermatologist to heal and repair your skin as you sleep.

Once in 7-10 days

Superficial or mechanicalexfoliation
Exfoliation can be done with mild granular scrubs. This is best done once a week. You can use home-made packs too. For instance, a mix of gram flour and turmeric powder to make a face pack can make the skin glow instantly. Turmeric has antioxidant as well as anti inflammatory properties, while gram flour is a common ingredient in face packs known for their gentle-cleansing and smoothening properties. Make a thick paste using 2 tbsp gram flour, a pinch of turmeric powder and 1 tsp lemon juice. Apply this face mask. Leave it till on till it dries. Wash thoroughly with cold water. It is a great home-made scrub for healthy-looking skin.

Only once before the party

Medium-depth or salon exfoliation
Facials, as we all know, are skin treatments intended to improve the cosmetic appearance of the skin. They are meant to cleanse, firm, smoothen and moisturise the skin. A full-treatment facial often means stepping into a new world of pampering and relaxation. Some facials treat specific skin problems, such as acne, dryness or wrinkles. You can opt for basic facials at home, using hand-mixed pastes and compounds, mild peeling agents, or can incorporate procedures, using electrical stimulation of facial muscles to temporarily tighten the skin.

PARTY COUNTDOWN

A week before the party

Implement new changes - hair cut, make-up etc
If you are planning on a new hair cut or any new treatment, this is the time. It will give you enough time to recover if the treatment or product does not agree with your skin type.

Increase water intake - minimum 3litres a day
Drink lots of water with lime because your goal is to make your system as alkaline as possible. Avoid caffeine as it could lead to further dehydration.

Have Isabgol daily at night, drink green tea
It helps in good bowel movement which flushes out the excess toxins. It eventually reflects in healthy skin.

Be more consistent and regular with your exercise
Exercise nourishes your skin by bringing more blood flow and oxygen to it, resulting in post-exercise glow. Have supplements of vitamins A, C and E, and minerals like selenium and zinc (antioxidant properties).

Include vegetable juices in your diet
Regular intake of juices of deep-coloured vegetables is a natural source of anti-oxidants which helps the skin to remain fresh and glowing in all seasons. The antioxidants help eradicate (flush out) the free radicals (toxins) from our body that cause aging, as well as diseases.

Attend to body hair
If you are enrolled for laser hair reduction sessions, schedule your appointment for the same. Else, meet your beautician for getting excess hair waxed. Caution Do not wax hair from your face, chest and back - as it can lead to sudden acne break-out.

Visit the salon
For acne prone skin, a clean-up will help in exfoliating the dead cells. Visit your doctor first. For normal to dry skin, a facial helps in hydration. The face massage improves blood circulation and thus rejuvenates the skin.

48 hours before

Pamper your hands and feet
Grooming hands and feet is an extremely important part of your skin care routine. It boosts your confidence level.

24 hours before

Visit the spa
Nothing like a relaxing day at the spa to de-stress before the party. Besides de-stressing, it also peps you up for the party ahead.

On Dec 31 night
- Apply a hydrating facemask for a few minutes
- Wash your hair with shampoo and a detangling conditioner. Detangle while still wet, by running a wide-toothed comb through your hair
- Apply a leave-in conditioner and wrap your hair with a hot towel. Leave for 20-30 minutes
- Blow dry and set your hair to complement your face
- Dress in your finest attire, but do pay attention to the comfort level
- Get a soft, flowy dress if you want a feminine look. Wear a figure-hugging dress only if you are sure of carrying it well
- Team your dress with comfortable shoes and throw on a stole to keep yourself warm and cosy. Accessorising right completes 'the look'
- Orange is the new red this season. The trick lies in finding the correct shade of orange lipsticknail colour as per your skin tone
- A bold lip colour, like orange or red, may look over the top when paired with smokey eyes. So, use a subtle nude lip colour and a coat of clear gloss
- Do not over-dress. Do not over accessorize. Do not wear all the make-up on your dresser
- Body odour and mouth odour are a turn off for both the sexes. Ensure that you smell good
- Be safe and have a great night.

Source: Times of India

BDST: 1719 HRS, DEC- 07, 2015
Edited by:  Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor