Survive the party season

Yes, the silly season is upon us which means you'll drink far too much and not sleep enough. We tell you how to still look and feel snoggable after all that partying.

Rosemary shower gel

Stayed up too late on a week night, have we? If you're having trouble forcing yourself out of bed and into the bathroom, the first thing you need is a rosemary shower gel or bath essence to wake your senses. No one wants to smell like a lamb chop, granted, but the scent doesn't linger and it provides a sure-fire pick-me-up - the herbal equivalent of a slap in the face. Kylie Minogue and Leonardo DiCaprio buy theirs from Kneipp, £5.99, 01543 480100; Dr Hauschka, £12, 01386 792642, and Aromatherapy Associates, £25, 020 7371 9878.

Ginseng

Congratulations, you've made it in to work, but all you want to do is crawl under your desk and hide. You need energy, and fast. Ginseng is one of the natural world's most powerful energy tonics, and has been used for nearly 5,000 years for its strengthening and rejuvenating properties. There have been more than 3,500 studies into ginseng's efficacy, and these have found it to fight depression, enhance vitality and performance ( sexual included), help concentration and reduce the incidence of heart disease. But be warned: not all ginseng is created equal and, in many cases, you get what you pay for. Available from the Nutri Centre, 0800 587 2290, www. nutricentre.com.

Nux Vomica

The name probably describes how you're feeling fairly accurately. But this homeopathic remedy could help alleviate many hangover symptoms - nausea, biliousness and headaches. Too much alcohol and fatty food often leads to indigestion, diarrhoea, cramps, constipation and the like. As an antidote, keep some Nux Vomica in your cupboard or work desk over the coming weeks. Milk thistle is also a useful investment, to undo some of the damage to your overworked liver. Available from the Nutri Centre, see above.

Detox juice

If you haven't done so already, now is a good time of year to invest in a juicer. Freshly squeezed juice is an easy way of upping your vitamin intake, and bulk buying fruit beats paying for the pre-packaged stuff. A juicer also gives you the opportunity to experiment. For a detoxifying antidote to all that partying, try beetroot - so nutritious it is still used in Eastern Europe in the treatment of leukaemia. Mix it with carrot, apple, celery and ginger. The celery contains various antioxidant compounds that will help neutralise the effects of cigarette smoke, while the ginger will help relieve any nausea, stomach-ache or diarrhoea.

Dental kit

It's one thing brushing your teeth morning and night, but parties, late nights and hangovers call for something more. Think of it as a public service - most party-goers know that tobacco and red wine will stain their teeth, but their effect on the breath is worse. Dentyl pH, £3.99, 020 7935 1492, is the only mouth rinse specifically designed and used by dentists to treat bad breath. This alcohol-free formula will also remove bacteria and debris from your teeth. Aveda "Peppymint" Breath Elixir, £4.50, 020 7297 6350, has a great fresh flavour and is handy for popping into a bag or pocket. And don't forget to floss.

Beauty treatments

Men - don't stop reading, these are products you can use, too, without looking like the floorshow at Madame JoJo's. Guerlain's Midnight Secret, £49.50, 01932 233 874, is a late-night recovery treatment to smooth and illuminate your battered complexion. It's become something of a beauty clichè, but that's because it works.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, £21, 0800 0363558 is another classic - ignore the egg-yolky texture and enjoy your undeserved dewiness. Then you'll need Eyesential, £35, 01926 438 540, a unique clear eye gel that temporarily reduces puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Applying it is slightly faffy but you can actually see it working.

When you finally get that muchneeded night in, ensure you rejuvenate fully by adding Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) and a few drops of lavender essential oil to your bath. You'll sleep like a baby and it will ease any aches and pains caused by too much dancing. An Epsom salts bath is a great detoxifier - hot water draws toxins out of the body, a process intensified by the salts, which will work your sweat glands. In the morning, you'll feel fantastic. Available from your local chemist.

Caution: avoid Epsom salt baths if you have high blood pressure or a heart condition.

Tea

That first cup will give you the mood-boost you desperately need, but don't presume - as many people do - that 10 cups means 10 times the effect. Only a small amount of caffeine will be enough to deliver the maximum kick. And don't forget to save the bag - holding a soggy tea bag to your eye hardly ranks as one of life's most sensual experiences, but it will reduce the puffiness. If you want to be truly virtuous, Origins white tea is packed with cancerfighting antioxidants - far more so than green tea - to help compensate for all those cigarettes. But at £12.50, it's expensive.

For a cheap alternative, copy the Tibetans and add two whole cloves, a pinch of cayenne pepper and a teaspoon of dried ginger powder to boiling water. Drinking two cups in succession is said to reduce the effects of alcohol in the bloodstream, increase mental clarity, detox the body, and improve both the breath and condition of the skin. Origins, 0800 7314039.

Miso soup

Miso doesn't play a large part in the Western diet, but this Japanese staple, a fermented mixture of soybeans, cultured grain and sea salt, is exceedingly good for you. It is good for high blood pressure, lowering cholesterol and aiding digestion. In addition, it is said to be detoxifying and anti-ageing, while it is very low in calories and is good for rehydrating party-goers after a drinking session. And the National Cancer Institute of Japan found that regular miso consumption lowered the death rate from cancer, heart and liver disease. Not bad for something that makes a comforting night-time drink at this time of year. Buy it in paste or dried form - like an ultra-healthy Cup-a-Soup. Find it in healthfood stores and larger supermarkets.