Excess alcohol, smoky pubs, tons of make-up and toxin-laden food - Christmas time is like two months of Saturday nights crammed into a fortnight.

But the party season is coming to an end, just one more to go, and it's time to cleanse your body.

Believe it or not, in just a couple of days you'll be thinking about a major detox.

Plain food will become attractive again, you'll wince at the sight of a bottle of red and mirrors will be the ultimate enemy.

But there's no point feeling guilty. December is all about indulging and not feeling bad because you've stuffed yourself silly.

It's time now to be positive and take the first few steps towards a new health and beauty regime.

The first thing I did was book a deep cleansing facial last week.

My skin was tired, dehydrated and dull.

I went along to Hands On beauty salon on Belfast's Cregagh Road for an hour-and-a-half of blissful pampering.

It uses the highly recommended Dermalogica range of products.

I opted for the European Prescriptive Facial, costing £35, because it includes extraction.

The treatment begins with cleansing and exfoliation, to revitalise and prepare skin.

Then comes the squeezing part - to get rid of all those nasty spots - followed by a relaxing face, neck and shoulder massage.

Finally a mask is applied.

My beauty therapist, Claire Byrne, was more than capable of answering my beauty questions, like what exactly are open pores and how do you get rid of them?

It turns out that they're pores filled up with oil. A regular exfoliation, twice a week and a good mask, once a week, will help.

She also informed me that my fake tan, which I use every other day, could be contributing to these pores.

If you're using liquid tan a lot, then you should be exfoliating regularly, as it can clog pores.

After the facial, my skin looked younger, dramatically smoother and those pores were almost invisible.

Claire says having a regular facial is great for keeping skin bright, but it must be followed up with a good beauty routine at home.

"Cleanse, tone and moisturise every morning and night," she said.

"Avoid using a toner with a high alcohol content."

Getting an expert opinion on your skin is invaluable and Claire spotted a sensitive area on the apple of my cheeks which I didn't know was there.

She also warned against using coarse products to scrub away dead cells - they can lead to skin damage.

Drinking plenty of water is another must-do as well as avoiding caffeine.

Claire's final piece of advice was to use a sun cream SPF 15 each day.

Among the products I was recommended to use at home was Dermalogica's daily microfoliant, barrier repair cream and multivitamin power recovery masque.

There is a diverse range of treatments available at Hands On, including massage, fake tan and special head-to-toe packages.

Men are also catered for with two facials, waxing and back massage available.

- To book an appointment call 028 9045 2050.

PRODUCTS USED IN SINEAD'S FACIAL

Daily microfoliant:

This unique, rice-based enzyme powder activates upon contact with water, releasing apain, salicylic acid and rice enzymes to smooth the skin and accelerate cell renewal.

Dermalogica's skin-brightening complex of bearberry, aspergillus, grapefruit and liquorice helps to balance uneven skin pigmentation.

Active agents derived from rice bran and rice extract help to regulate melanin production, while micro-exfoliating dead cells. A super-soothing blend of green aea, ginkgo and colloidal oatmeal calms inflammation, leaving the skin extraordinarily clear and refreshed. Gentle enough to use on a daily basis. £29.40

Multivitamin power recovery masque:

An intensive masque of concentrated vitamins and botanical extracts to calm environmentally-stressed skin.

Firming vitamin A increases elasticity and moisture content, while antioxidant vitamin C aids in collagen synthesis, restoring suppleness.

Vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5 promote healthy tissue regeneration, while calming botanical extracts of liquorice, comfrey and burdock soothe the skin. Contains no artificial fragrance or colour. £25.40

Barrier repair:

A unique, waterless moisturiser that melts gently into sensitised skin to soothe and help repair damage caused by environmental aggressions from pollution, temperature extremes, irritating cosmetic products, harsh detergents, chemical exposure, stress, poor diet or hormonal factors.

It's formulated with Dermalogica's anti-ozonate complex to protect skin from reactive ozone.

Oil of evening primrose and emollient silicones provide a velvety feel, while strengthening the skin's natural lipid barrier to resist future damage.

Shea butter, vitamin C and bisabolol protect skin from dehydration, free radicals and inflammation. £24.60