Summer is nearly here and I’m a happy girl! I love the warm weather and the longer days mean I can get out of bed for my early walk and also enjoy some leisure time in the sun after work. Perfect!!

Now all I have to do is survive the silly season and thankfully we have a guide to just that in this issue. We also have plenty of articles to help us look our best at this time, from party makeup (page 36), sunless tanning (page 88) and city skin detox (page 24) to endless options for hair removal (page 64).

We also bring you the latest in hair trends straight from the Zimmermann NYFW catwalk where Renya Xydis, Wella Professionals Global Creative Artist, drew upon the fun and beachy hues of the Wavelength collection to create an inherently Australian summer look (page 70).

Our profile on celebrity makeup artist Debbie Delgado from New Zealand and her client before and afters highlight the amazing transformational power of makeup – it’s difficult to believe the difference (page 94).

This year our Christmas Gift Guide is a whopper. We have 12 pages of over 65 beautiful goodies to covet, so if you’re looking for a beautiful present for someone (or for yourself!), we’ve done the work for you (page 100). And it’s not just about surviving; it’s about having a fabulous time and enjoying everything the festivities hold. It’s about family and celebration and enjoying the company of friends – and being grateful for everything we have in this lucky country we call home.

From all of us at Bella Media, have a wonderful Christmas season and a safe and happy New Year!

Read it for FREE at cosbeauty.com.au