Here are my favorites and if I had to chose one of the following it would probably be Environ RAD 16.  It comes from New Zealand and I have worn in it in very high temperatures across the globe with absolutely no sun damage.  A hat and sunglasses  make  cool additions should we actually get some real Summer here in Ireland!

Available at First For Skin Care at £13.99 plus postage.   It is extremely lightweight and doesn’t leave a white residue on the skin, the 16 SPF must mean something much stronger in New Zealand as I have worn it in 32 C and have very sun sensitive skin on my face with absolutely no burn.

Another alternative is Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser which has an SPF 20 and provides a lovely light coverage.  Available online from SpaceNK at the rather expensive price of £32 plus postage.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20

Peter Thomas Roth have an oil free ultra light SPF 30  at $26 CAN  from Essential Day Spa (who are a terrific online beauty retailer)  A really first class product which is extremely light and goes on like a dream.

A couple of tips,  after putting  sun block on your face rub some  on the back of your hands to prevent sun spots which are very ageing and don’t forget your neck and decolletage too as you don’t want good skin on your  face and a neck like crepe paper! Oh and do put it on every day regardless of what the weather is doing.  The rays of the sun can wreak damage even in cloud filled Winter days.

Be warned though this is not for the faint hearted, it’s a ruthless pruning job but the results will be worth it.

Begin by grouping everything by Season.  I put all my Spring clothes in storage because I don’t have room for them but if yours are all together start here.

Within each season group by item and then by colour.  Now put all your Winter clothes aside and deal with those later.

Now comes the difficult bit.  You need a full length mirror for this and some time.  Try everything on and ask yourself why the item should stay. Have you worn it several times and it’s now looking worn out?  If so OUT IT GOES.  Have you worn it at all?  If not OUT IT GOES.  Is it something you bought but don’t like  OUT IT GOES.

Start editing now.  The tired and horrible bits for recycling.  Clothes in the wrong size or out of date go to the Charity Pile.  Good pieces that need taking in or repair work go to the Tailoring Pile.

If you are not sure, try it on and ask yourself if it suits you and if it doesn’t  OUT IT GOES.

You need to repeat the same exercise for all your Winter Clothes and then put the edited keepers aside. By the end of this exercise you should have a realistic wardrobe.  Not an overstuffed one and nothing to wear, you know the feeling when there’s lots there but you have nothing to wear??!!  Now classify the clothes into items and then colour.  You should have all trousers and Jeans together, all tops day and evening, all outerwear, coats and Jackets, all day and evening dresses and all skirts. Then  you should be able to get a much clearer picture of what you truly have in your wardrobe.

Do the same exercise with accessories and shoes and you will be much clearer and more organised.  You should now be able to see where the gaps are but don’t buy new Summer clothes without editing your wardrobe.  Before I did this I used to keep buying the same items so I ended up with far too many skirts and not enough tops.  Far too many high heeled shoes and not enough flats.  Do this job and you will save money and end up with a really well balanced selection of clothes and accessories.

Just a couple of words to add. I know this goes without saying but always put clean clothes back on the rail and use garment bags for any light coloured items.  They will stay fresh for longer. Wash white shirts, don’t dry clean and use a whitener in the wash. They will last longer.

At the begining of each season I hang a couple of complete outfits together (including accessories and shoes) so you can just access them at a minutes notice. Very useful if you are busy.

And While I’m on the subject of Spring Cleaning a great offer just arrived in my Inbox from one of the best Urban Day medi-Spa’s in Dublin.  Urbana in Wicklow St, Dublin have just reduced their prices.  This is not a special offer but an all over price reduction.

Here is a sample of the price reductions so why go to a cheaper salon when you can go to the best at Recession Busting prices….?

California Wax 20 euro

Brazilian             26 euro

Microdermabrasion 60 euro

Urbana 9 Wicklow St Dublin

1.   A certain amount of pre- planning is necessary.  Your little clutch won’t do the job here you really need a big bag to make sure you have a few emergency supplies.

2.  Eat before you go out.  Even if a table is booked for lunch for one O’clock you probably won’t eat till 2.30 or even 3 so have a bowl of porridge or if you aren’t a porridge person have pasta or an omelet.  The last thing you want is to be hungry.    I always carry a small bag of mixed nuts and berries for energy in case I get peckish.

3.  Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste. There’s nothing worse than alcohol (poo) breath.

4.  Also into your bag bring an extra pair of tights.  I didn’t last night and dragged my big cocktail ring right through mine early on and spent the rest of the evening explaining that holes in my tights were a new fashion trend! (to the men, I might add).  If you are wearing Stay-Ups don’t put body cream on your legs or they will be down at your ankles and if you do feel them slipping ,rubbing a little water across the silicone band should have them gripping and staying put.

4.  I know it’s tempting to wear glitter and shine makeup but beware.  If you have any crows feet or lines, glitter will settle right there, so not a good look.  Added shine is fine but less is more so just a sweep from the cheep bones outwards.    Put a little glitter eyeshadow in the centre of your eyelid if you really must.  Bobbi Brown do the best.

5.  Even though I’m a lover of red lipstick this is impossible to maintain over a long session.  It ends up  everywhere but on your lips and you can end up looking like Cruella de Ville.  Use a natural colour liner and colour in the whole lip with it.  Lip gloss over it (which it’s ok to take out and reapply) without having to jostle your way to the ladies.

6.  Do either dramatic eyes or lips.  I know it can look good in the magazines but believe me in ordinary light and without photoshop it just doesn’t work.

7.  Carry some fold up flats in that bag for when your feet give up the will to walk

8.  Take off the make-up when you finally make it home no matter how tired/amorous/drunk you are.  Mascara, eyeshadow and foundation look awful on the pillowslip plus your skin is for life ‘not just for Christmas’!

9.  If you do find yourself flagging ,bring some facial water and spritz it on it has the effect of waking you up and freshening up your makeup

10  Enjoy the party season and have as much fun now as you can who knows what’s around the corner!