QUICK! MAKE ME OVER FOR CHRISTMAS! (From Barry And District News)

QUICK! MAKE ME OVER FOR CHRISTMAS!

OH, dear - you've only days to the big party, your dress is a tight squeeze and your skin is a disaster. But don't despair, there ARE some things that you can do - and we don't mean starving or emergency plastic surgery!

Here are some tips that can make you look a million dollars. Fast... Drink plenty of water. Oddly, this will help with the water retention which can add inches to your body, by making your kidneys work harder. It will also flush toxins from your body to make your skin glow. Try to drink eight big glasses of water each day.

Ban coffee and tea for 48 hours. Tough, but a good idea! Caffeine, which is in both, can make you look bloated.

Try a body wrap. Tight bandages, often covered with therapeutic oils and algaes are wrapped round your body to force toxins out of fat cells and into your bloodstream where they can be disposed of. Even better, a wrap can make you lose a dress size, at least temporarily. Check out beauty clinics, and expect to pay from £35 for each wrap, which normally takes about two hours.

Get some underpinning, as the Victorians called it. Several hosiery manufacturers now make slimming tights to make your legs look longer and sleeker. And take a look at supportive underwear; there are briefs which help hold your tummy in, and if you're really keen, boned basques which squeeze you in! A well-fitting bra can make a real difference to your shape, lifting your bust away from your waistline and making your body look longer and slimmer.

Increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in your diet, and avoid fat. Even though you only have a few days, you can speed up your digestive system to look sleeker and improve your skin. Cut down on all those extras: for elevenses - no biscuits or chocolate bars; fruit if you're hungry. If you are sensible with your diet, you could lose between two and three pounds in your first week, which could make a slight difference around the waistline of your outfit.

Exercising will also benefit the waist, although if you have just a few days to the party, it's really too late to do your figure much good. In future, try to do about 20 minutes of exercise that takes your heart rate up, approximately three times a week. Swimming, brisk walking, an aerobics class or a visit to the gym will help towards losing those vital few inches. By taking the heart rate up and maintaining it for 20 minutes, you will be working on the fat-burning zone, helping towards weight loss as well as inch loss.

Have a professional facial, or get a friend round and do one on each other. Afterwards, your skin will feel soft and supple.

Use a body brush or loofah to exfoliate your skin gently after you've been in the shower or the bath. This will improve the texture of your skin and also help circulation.

How long is it since you cleared out your make-up bag? Splash out on yourself and try some of the new colours and fabulous eyeshadows which are on sale at the moment. Your local Boots or Body Shop will give plenty of advice.

Relax. Christmas can be a stressful time, and this shows. Make sure you get plenty of sleep - after all, once the parties start, you'll need to be stocked up.