Expert tips to prepare yourself and your home for the holidays

Lifestyle expert and celebrity stylist Robert Verdi and entertaining expert Katie Lee share their advice for creating a beautiful, low-stress holiday – including simple tips for beauty, hosting and gifting.

Prepare for your holiday close-up

The holidays are the most-photographed season of the year, so it is important to be ready for your close-up at a moment’s notice. The first step is moisturizing to keep skin soft during the winter months and using a deep conditioner to keep hair shiny. Keep an “instant glam kit” close by for quick touch ups, including the double-ended CoverGirl Blast Flipstick in Stunner for a classic red lip with a customized blend of color, and CoverGirl Clump Crusher by LashBlast for defined look-at-me lashes.

Enhance your look for a last-minute celebration

Nearly two-thirds of women think it is important to have a day-to-night look for the holiday season, according to a survey by Wakefield Research, commissioned by P&G. Layering is the key to dress up daytime ensembles for post-work functions. Women should wear a sleeveless, sparkly shirt with a stylish cardigan or professional blazer over the top. After work, peel off the top layer to transition to a more festive, party-ready look. Men should keep a vibrant bow tie handy to add a touch of excitement to the classic boardroom look.

Set the scene for a holiday gathering

On average, Americans attend three holiday events during the winter season, which may seem overwhelming when you’re playing host or hostess. To set the scene and instantly put your guests in the holiday spirit, fill your home with a warm holiday scent, like the Febreze Limited Edition Cranberries & Frost Collection. In addition, a well-placed strand of white Christmas tree lights adorned with ornaments or stars add a nice glow to your home. To decorate the space, repurpose old floral vases by filling them with cranberries, acorns or ornaments and top them with an unscented votive candle.

Entertain with ease

Hosting a lovely holiday gathering doesn’t necessarily call for hours of preparation. Save time by serving easy hors d’oeuvres with foods you already have in your pantry. Simply wrap store-bought breadsticks in prosciutto, add fresh herbs and red pepper flakes to marinated olives,  and lightly toast nuts seasoned with a dash of chili powder for three festive bites you can make on the fly. To liven up traditional place settings, adorn potted rosemary plants with nametags. These double as party favors that your guests can take home and enjoy in their own kitchens.

Gracious gifting

Selecting the perfect gift can be a major source of stress during the holidays. In fact, “best gift giver” is the most-sought-after title during the winter holiday season, beating out “best host/hostess” and “best holiday decorator.” To ensure that you don’t miss anyone on your gift list, always keep a few extra gifts on hand and be sure to pre-wrap and label them. The key is to keep extra gifts under the tree so that they are accessible and you can quickly grab from the pile when necessary. To show appreciation for your hair dressers, children’s teachers and babysitters, stock up on P&G Beauty and Grooming gift sets full of must-have products from Olay, Venus, CoverGirl, Gillette, Herbal Essences, Old Spice, Pantene and Secret. Best of all, there are $104 in savings included in the Nov. 25 P&G brandSAVER. For more tips from Katie and Robert,visit www.Facebook.com/PGEveryday and www.Facebook.com/PGUnitedWeBeautify.