With all the fun of the festive season it can

But to survive the holiday madness with your good looks still in tact, take a few tips from us girls at La Spa. We always have a few basic beauty tricks up our sleeves - for those just-in-case moments - and we're happy to share them with you.

Here are a few cheap and cheerful beauty tips for surviving this holiday season...

Emergency Balm

Every girl should carry a tin of Vaseline (or something similar) in her purse. A good petroleum jelly-like substance has a multitude of uses. A good balm can prevent cracked lips, add gloss to lipstick, smooth and shape brows, or even moisturise lashes before curling. You can use it to exfoliate your lips when removing red wine and dark lipstick stains; rub it in to cracked skin to soothe and relieve dryness; use as a gentle eye makeup remover, a shaving balm, a split-ends repairer... the list goes on and on! Readily available in just about every shop you can think of and costing next to nothing, your little tin of petroleum jelly will be your best buddy in times of need.

Fresh Breath on a Platter

Spicy dinner party? It's not always practical to carry around a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash, but there is another way to refresh your mouth after you've had your fill of the finger food: grab a sprig of parsley or slice of lemon from the platter and have a chew. Parsley (that green garnish usually left over on a plate) is a natural breath deordoriser, and lemon acts as a natural breath mint as the acidity helps destroy bacteria in the mouth. If the thought of sucking on a sour lemon makes you squirm, just squeeze some into a glass of water for a refreshing, palette-cleansing drink.

Eye Repair Care

After a big boozy night out, tired eyes can really suffer. Grab some cotton balls, run them under a cold tap, squeeze to drain then place them on your eyes for 10 minutes or so. The coolness will improve circulation, reduce swelling and restore bright eyes. If you're the planning-ahead type, put the wet cotton balls in the freezer on some wax paper over night for even better results. It's also a great excuse for a cheeky forty winks!

Happy Feet

A long day gift shopping, traipsing up and down the high street, can leave your feet in a bad way. When you get home, use a combination of hot and cold soaks to relieve tired and swollen feet. First, soak your feet in a tub of warm water and sea salt for 10 minutes, then alternate with a cold water soak for 10 minutes, and repeat. The warm water eases soreness while cool water reduces swelling. When you're done, elevate your feet to drain built up fluid. Then massage to stimulate circulation and apply lotion leaving them soft and fresh as a daisy.

Get Hands On

Your hands also need special care at this time of year. Keep mitts covered in the cold, do some occasional simple hand exercises to relax and improve circulation, and remember to apply a replenishing moisturiser after every hand wash to prevent skin from drying, cracking and prematurely ageing. Keep some hand cream in your purse and one by any sinks at home and your hands will always be in good condition. If you are out of lotion, luckily you have that petroleum jelly in your purse; that'll also do the trick.

And finally...

Drink Water

How many times have you heard this one, right? Well there's a reason for that. Water hydrates, detoxifies and replenishes every part of you. Water not only (...take a deep breath) acts as an appetite suppresant, relieves headache and body pains, helps your brain function more clearly, regulates your body temperature, helps prevent joint cramps and sprains, aids in digestion, increases metabolism, improves your immune system, relieves fatigue and flushes toxins from your organs... (phew!) it also replenishes skin tissue, moisturises and improves skin elasticity, and makes your skin look young and fresh. In other words, water - free, easily accessible water - makes you beautiful. So make sure you're drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day - more when you're drinking alcohol and eatting rich, fatty foods - and every bit of your body will thank you for it.

We hope these few tips keep you in good nick during the festive season. Don't forget if you need a little extra TLC to come in and see us at La Spa Therapie Malahide!