Preparing to indulge yourself a little this party season? Aren’t we all? Tired skin is inevitable after any heavy weekend, but the several parties that Christmas brings make it even more important to keep your skin feeling its best after all those late nights out.

As the old saying goes, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And when it comes to healthy skin, this couldn’t be truer. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll look fresh as a daisy through December and beyond.

We know how easy it is to click on that takeaway app when you’re feeling worse for wear. That’s fine, on the odd occasion, but if you have several Christmas dos and find yourself reaching for a greasy burger after each one, the effect on your skin is going to be really detrimental.

Studies have shown that we’re much more likely to crave fatty carb-rich foods when we’re tired, so making sure you grab a decent night’s shut-eye on your nights off will help keep those cravings at bay and your skin feeling fresh.

Your body uses nutrients to process alcohol, which means a top-up is usually in order after a period of heavy drinking. When it comes to tired skin, a lack of vitamin A is often to blame. It plays a big part in cell renewal, so without it, skin can lose its glow.

The good news is Vitamin A is prevalent in lots of everyday foods, with veg like carrots, sweet potato, kale and broccoli all being great sources. Now, you could go for a green super-smoothie, but if that’s not your thing, then a roast dinner is a perfectly reasonable (and arguably much more satisfying) option. And also much more appropriate to Christmas. Not only have you got the goodness of the veggies, but you’ve also got those carb cravings covered with potatoes and Yorkshire puds. Sounds like a win to us.

We’re all familiar with that feeling when you wake up after a night on the sauce, mouth dryer than the Sahara. Just like the rest of your body, your skin will also be in serious need of water.

It’s important to bear in mind that there’s a difference between dehydrated skin and dry skin (confusing, we know). Dehydrated skin comes from a general lack of water in the body, whereas dry skin is a lack of oil being produced. The symptoms of both are pretty similar (tightness, dullness, rough texture) but dehydrated skin needs to be treated from the inside by drinking more water. It’s also worth noting that dehydrated skin can still be oily, so even if you don’t have those classic ‘dry skin’ symptoms, it doesn’t mean you’ve dodged the bullet.

It’s age-old advice for party season, but sticking a pint of water by your bed before you head out and making sure you drink it all before your head hits the pillow will have a huge benefit for your skin as well as your hangover the next day.

Even if you’re not been drinking, we’d always recommend trying to drink at least two litres of water a day. It can sound pretty daunting at first, but the difference it can make to the appearance of your skin is amazing.

So that’s the inside sorted. But for an instant fix for tired skin, there’s nothing better than treating yourself to a mini home facial. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds.

You will need:

kóri exfoliating face wash
1x banana
1x tsp honey
Tea bags or cucumber slices
gösta facial tonic
kåre daily moisturiser

You’ll want to start by making sure your face is clean and free of any dead skin cells. Our kóri exfoliating face wash has a formulation that’s ideal for treating tired skin. Soothing witch hazel and aloe vera will ease any puffiness; a common side effect of too much alcohol and salty foods. It also contains orange oil to brighten the skin and provide a much-needed hit of vitamin C.

This step is optional, but if you’re serious about reviving your tired skin, then a moisturising face mask can work wonders – especially if a packed party scheduled means you’re struggling to fit in enough shut-eye.

Just mash up a medium-sized banana into a paste, mix in a teaspoon of honey, and you’ve got a simple homemade face mask made from stuff you probably had knocking around in the kitchen. Leave on for around 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water and a clean flannel.

Tip: To help banish dark circles, pop some cold tea bags or cucumber slices over your eyes while the mask is doing its business.

A toner is brilliant for soothing tired skin and rebalancing your complexion. Our gösta facial tonic will provide your skin with another soothing hit of witch hazel and aloe vera, so you can seriously say goodbye to any of that puffiness. Chamomile is another star ingredient, promoting a healthy glow and working to heal and restore skin’s natural moisture content.

We’d hope that moisturiser is already a staple part of your daily routine, but it’s extra important after during a period of heavy partying. Hopefully, you’ve already replenished those internal water levels, but the surface of your skin will be in need too. Again, we’re all about those natural ingredients. A good layer of kåre will provide your tired skin with a hit of revitalising nutrients.

grüum are here to shave the world: one chin, one shin, one armpit (and naughty bit) at a time. They create seriously good razors and skincare solutions for men and women. You’ll find loads more tips and advice on their blog. Or give them a shout on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Plus, if you fancy treating yourself or someone else this party season, you can get 50% off gift sets with code: XMAS50.

A great party playlist is all about surprising people! Of course, you’ve got to have your current hits playing – you don’t want anyone to think you’re out of touch, do you? But what’s going to keep the vibe alive and everyone’s moods up is to throw in some classics from throughout the years. I’m not saying chuck a bit of Oasis in there so people can have a sing-along. What you want to do here is trigger people’s memories and take them back to moments they will have fond memories of.

Think about who is coming to your party and ask yourself these questions: How old are they? What industry do they work in? Are they introverts or extroverts? Once you know these details you can start building a playlist they’ll love.

If you get stuck, an unbreakable way to put your music together is to look to the number ones. Chart music is a great indicator of what most people will enjoy, so take a single number one hit from each month of the current year, then work your way backwards taking around four number ones from each previous year. Put all those tracks together and hit shuffle and you’ll be onto a winner. Just avoid the dreary, sad tracks… it is party season after all!

For more inspiration and a guaranteed good time, have a listen to the playlist I’ve created in collaboration with Moss Bros. for party season. Play this to bring the party when you’ve got people over or while you’re getting dressed to go out!

Tom Fox spends his days sharing his style, grooming tips and other passions on Instagram and his nights djing at events for brands including Puma, L’Oréal, The Sims and Made in Chelsea. He has played all across the UK for over 10 years and is now expanding his career into radio and TV.

Christmas is officially here, which means party season is in full swing. And what better way to celebrate than with some festive-themed cocktails? Our Colonel Fox London Dry Gin bottle stands out on any shelf with its fox character sporting a very striking red blazer. Not only does the Colonel dress particularly dapper but the liquid is pretty tasty too with botanicals such as lemon, liquorice and orris root that make it a perfect partner to cocktails. We’ve created three easy-to-make festive serves that’ll impress your guests over Christmas.

First up is ‘We Bijou a Merry Christmas’. A blend of gin, sweet vermouth and green chartreuse, it’s a twist on the classic martini. It gets its name ‘bijou’ because it combines the colours of three jewels: gin for diamond, vermouth for ruby, and chartreuse for emerald. This serve will add elegance and sophistication to any festive soirée.

The second serve is easy to make and will keep guests refreshed all night long. Not only will it have you rocking around the Christmas tree, but the addition of pine tree syrup will recreate those memorable scents you associate with the Christmas tree too.

The third serve will bring a taste of Italy to your Christmas celebrations. A mix of London Dry Gin, limoncello and Campari topped with champagne, it’s a guaranteed to be a show stopper.

And last but not least we’ve got a festive G&T – because no evening is complete without one.

Colonel Fox’s dry gin was designed with cocktail creation in mind and works beautifully with fresh citrus or in stirred down gin-forward recipes. Follow Colonel Fox on Instagram for more cocktail inspiration and news of its collaborations and pop-up events.

If there’s ever a time to get dressed up, this is it. From getting in a festive round with friends to the all-out black tie bash and, of course, dialling it up for the office party.

We’ll bring the looks. You bring the party.

There’s little like a suit for making a man feel his best. And that’s never truer than for guys who are taller or broader or bigger than the average man. Well-chosen tailoring can do amazing things for your frame, adding structure and sharp lines to rounder shapes, and helping built shoulders or longer torsos look in proportion. Sound good? Here’s what you should look out for.

The right fit is important for any suit, but if you’re a bit burly it’s even more so. There’s an instinct to use more fabric to cover well-built or larger bodies. The opposite is true. You should wear the smallest size that fits comfortably. And don’t be afraid to consider different fits. You can wear a slim fit. You can wear a regular fit. The decision should be based on your taste, and not your size. We’ve tailored all our fits so they’re perfectly proportioned to suit bigger frames. But as a general guide, you want to go for the trimmest suit that feels good to minimise the fabric.

Once you’ve got the fit sorted, turn your attention to the details. Again, it’s all about balance. Taller guys might consider choosing a two-button over a one-button suit to more evenly punctuate longer jackets. Another good trick is to look for a jacket with a lower break. Having this point – where your lapel meets your first button – lower will make it sit more in line with the natural waist of a longer torso.

Elsewhere, choose a mid-width lapel so it’s in proportion with the width of your jacket. The same goes for your tie: you’re best to pick one with a decent-sized blade, rather than a skinny one, so it’s in scale with the amount of shirt fabric on show. And finally, slanted pockets will help to make a thicker torso look slimmer by leading the eye in and up your frame.

There’s a popular belief out there that you shouldn’t wear a pattern if you’ve got a bigger frame. We disagree – everyone should embrace the pattern. The key is to keep your proportions in check. Stripes are fine, even the horizontal variety, but look out for scale. A chunky Bengal stripe has the potential to take on comedy proportions on a bigger body. Stick to finer stripes for a cleaner finish. The same goes for checks, florals or other patterns – the less busy, the better.

When buying shirts, look for an extra-long version so it doesn’t keep slipping out the back of your trousers every time you sit down or move around too much. And while it might be obvious to say pick a bigger neck size – ours go up to 21″ by the way – it’s also worth thinking about the lead edge of your collar. You’ll want this outside edge that frames your tie to be a bit longer so the collar is in proportion to a larger chest.

If you’re a tall guy, you’re going to have to put extra consideration into where your trousers end. Look out for longer lengths or have a tailor let down your hems for an extra few centimetres. If you’re a bigger guy with shorter limbs, a well-proportioned hem will elongate your legs rather than cut them off in an awkward spot. Again, a tailor is your friend here.

It’s also worth noting that the trend for cropped trousers is not ideal for those with very long legs, as it can look like your trousers have shrunk. Best to get a professional to tailor your trousers to a flattering length.

And a final piece of advice: keep your pockets free of junk. This is true for men of any size. It ruins the lines of your suit and disrupts your silhouette – and not in a good way. Keep it streamlined.