Let’s face it, I think we’d all prefer to be sunning ourselves somewhere tropical, cocktail in one hand, book in the other, but with so many of us strapped for cash, busy with work or with non-negotiable family plans, it’s hard to find the time for that getaway. You may not get that week away in the tropics, but you can sure enough trick people into thinking you’ve been away, I've put together 5 simple and easy hacks to fake that holiday glow.

      Fake bake it

    Probably the easiest way to fake that holiday glow is by investing in a decent face and body tan, ideally a gradual tanner as this will give you a more natural glow without the orange tinge or tiger streaks. It’s also recommended to purchase a separate face tanner, as these are tailor made for the delicate skin on your face so wont clog your pores or make you look cakey, perhaps opt for one with a little shimmer in for that added glow.

      Drink up

It’s no secret that drinking 8 glasses of water a day is the simplest and cheapest way to keep    your skin hydrated and looking fresh, however managing to drink this much can prove difficult when you lead such a busy life. Try keeping a reusable water bottle by your desk so you remember to top up each day and you will have a glowing complexion in no time.

      Facial Sprays

Hydrating facial sprays are perfect for busy woman who need to top up their skin hydration levels on the go. A quick spritz all over the face and neck instantly gives you a glowing complexion, eliminates that tight feeling and allows your skin to breathe.

      Bronze goddess

It’s time to invest in a really good cream bronzer, using a cream texture rather than a powder will make your skin look so much more natural and won’t leave you looking cakey. Contour it over the darker areas of your face to give your complexion a deeper glow as well as shaping your facial contours.

      Add a dash of Lemon

It’s a bit of an old school trick, but if you’re a natural blonde, squeezing lemon juice all over your hair will naturally bleach it blonde, so If you can’t afford highlights, this is the perfect way to give your hair a blonde boost and allow it to look as if it’s caught the sun.

Keeping your skin hydrated throughout the colder weather is crucial to help it remain soft, supple and dewy. With heavy snow looking likely to set in over the weekend, and our central heating on full blast, our skin will be open to all elements making it look and feel dryer, however, there are some things you can do to help keep your skin hydrated.

Invest in a thick cream

Ensuring you use a thick daily cream with SPF is imperative when the weather goes below 0, as these colder temperatures can leave skin feeling dry and coarse, the sun can also be much harsher in this weather due to the reflection from the snow. 

Top up your H2o Levels

It’s no secret that drinking 8 glasses of water a day is the simplest and cheapest way to keep your skin hydrated and looking fresh, however managing to drink this much can prove difficult when you lead such a busy life. Try keeping a reusable water bottle by your desk so you remember to top up each day.

Hydrating Sheet masks

Sheet masks have only really become a bit of a phenomenon in the UK over the past year or so, originating from the Korean beauty industry, women are now swapping their much loved clay masks in favor of these easy to use, no mess masks. There are countless hydrating sheet masks available on the market at varying price tags all promoting similar benefits for the skin, and with hyaluronic acid acting as the key ingredient, this allows your skin to enjoy a super-hydrating facial leaving your complexion plump and fresh.

Facial Sprays

Hydrating facial sprays are perfect for busy woman who need to top up their skin hydration levels on the go. A quick spritz all over the face and neck instantly gives you a glowing complexion, eliminates that tight feeling and allows your skin to breathe. These can be found most places, from high end brands to drugstore.

Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil is a naturally rich source of essential fatty acids that re-hydrate dry, sun damaged skin and help to improve the appearance of wrinkles, scars, burns and stretch marks. Used regularly, it can completely change the look and feel of your skin, rejuvenating and kick-starting those skin cells.  

You may already be using Hyaluronic acid, and if so, well done. If not, girl your skin is about to get a serious GLOW UP. We all want healthy, hydrated, dewy skin, right? This is all down to one thing...Hyaluronic acid (and water / a good diet) Due to the fact that its been praised by numerous Editors, Skincare Experts and Derms... its no surprise that it is EVERYWHERE and you really wont struggle getting your hands on an affordable brand (see The Ordinary) Here are the 3 reasons you need to be using this in your skincare regime NOW. 

1. Its a Natural Ingredient

While beauty products can often come packed with mystery ingredients, you don't need to worry about this one being foreign to your face. Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar in the skin that sits between skin cells and helps maintain hydration and skin plumpness. As time goes on, the level of naturally occurring Hyaluronic acid decreases–that's why people's skin gets dryer and sags as they get older... cue Hyaluronic !!

2. It works on all skin-type

This product is universally effective and can be used on ALL skin-types (Hurrah) although the best results can be found on dryer skin types, mainly because they need the moisture the most so the result tends to be more dramatic.

3. It is an anti-wrinkle miracle product 

When you use products boosted with Hyaluronic acid, the retained moisture will instantly airbrush away fine lines. You'll notice an instant plumping in the skin because the water acts as a kind of caulking into the wrinkles. The more you use it long-term, the more you'll notice results like permanent reduction in wrinkle depth thanks to creating that scaffolding of moisture.

Nothing compares with the sheer horror of catching sight of that first under eye wrinkle, or the moment you realise your skin just isn’t as plump as it used to be. Aging is a process every person on the planet must endure, no matter how rich or how many good genes they have, we are all heading down the same path.

Women will try anything in an attempt to turn back the clock, some may seek a more youthful appearance down the surgery route, and some may just blow their weekly wage on a shed load of expensive creams, oils and serums in a bid to vanish the pesky lines. But there are many natural tricks and tips to include in your daily routine to prevent future wrinkles appearing, which also won’t break the bank.

Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is bursting with ingredients such as fatty acids and linoleic acid, making it an effective moisturiser that leaves your skin silky and smooth. It’s also rich in Vitamin D, E and B complex, which has been known to reduce scarring and rashes on skin. For best results, apply the oil directly onto the skin for a few minutes then wash off In the shower, or for more of a deep skin pamper, apply before bed, leave overnight and allow the oil to replenish and nourish your skin.

Give up the sweet stuff

Giving up sugar may seem like an impossible task when it seems to be in everything we consume, yet having a smaller intake has been known to reduce your chances of getting wrinkles, this is because eating a lot of processed sugar can weaken the collagen levels in your skin, and we need collagen if we want to keep our skin baby soft and supple.

Use a hand cream

Your hands are probably the one part of your body that you take the least care of, and yet they are the part we use most often. It isn’t rocket science, a heavy duty cream applied of an evening will be just enough to give your hands the moisture they deserve after a long day of hard graft.

Ginger Tea

Drinking ginger tea as a way of preventing wrinkles is an age-old hack that many people still live by. Originating from India, It is renowned for preventing collagen breakdown in the skin, you can also add a touch of honey to reduce inflammation.

Use a Sunscreen

Applying a high factor SPF sunscreen to your skin daily is the simplest way of preventing aging, yet so many people completely bypass this believing that sunscreen is only necessary on holiday. Sun damage is the quickest route to looking old before your time, and the only real way to prevent this is ensuring you use at least a factor 30 every day, even if it’s cloudy. Many makeup products now include an SPF within the formula, however applying an actual SPF before your makeup would be more beneficial in the long run.

Beauty Sleep

Trying to catch the recommended amount of 8 hours of sleep a night can be tough, especially if you work long hours, have a busy social life, or just can’t quite get your head down of a night, but the professionals are right when they say this is one of the main ways to reduce ageing and give us a brighter complexion. Sleep lowers the adrenaline levels and enables the body to produce certain hormones that repair cells, without the necessary amount of sleep there will be a lack of these hormones which leads to inflammation and eventually signs of aging. If you suffer from insomnia there are many herbal remedies you can try which can help you nod off.

Berries against Aging

Berries, particularly blueberries, carry a huge number of antioxidants which do amazing things for your complexion and general health. Why not sprinkle a few on your porridge of a morning, or enjoy them in a healthy breakfast smoothie.

Drink Water

Pretty obvious, but drinking 8 glasses of water a day is the best way to keep your skin glowing and healthy, however managing to drinks this much this can prove difficult when you lead such a busy life. Try keeping a reusable water bottle by your desk so you remember to top up each day.