Emer O'Callaghan: Detox and reset for 2026, ladies

I honestly don’t think I ever switched off, rested, recharged and relaxed as much as I did over the Christmas holidays.

I made a conscious decision to take a good break and listen to my body, which was exhausted after a busy time in the clinic.

No alarm clock, no phones ringing, emails or texts, no uniform, no make-up or glamming up... it was bliss.

I love my job, but it was a time to switch off.

Now it’s back to work, and the newness of a new year is always so exciting. Ignore all those moaning and groaning about the January blues!

It’s a brilliant time to reset and detox mind, body and soul, and most importantly, to be grateful to be alive to see another year.

Every day is a gift and focusing on the present is the best thing any of us can ever do.

So, this week, I want to tell you about some of the most popular ways you can detox and reset.

LOOK AT YOUR SKIN

Do you ever truly look at your skin in the mirror? I mean really look, like, study it?

Do you notice it looking grey, dull, pale, and lifeless? Is it starting to sag, break-out, and form lines? Is your neck ageing, does your forehead have lines, and are your eyes dark with crow’s feet?

As a Beauty Doctor and a Skin specialist, I study people’s skin all day and I can tell so much about someone by just that alone.

Unlike other Europeans, we here in Ireland still don’t seem to comprehend that facials are skin treatments, they are necessary for optional skin health.

Just as you go to your dentist and doctor for a check-up, so an educated person knows that skin treatments are vital for all our skin health, they have so many skin benefits - removing layers of dead, dull skin cells, cleaning out pores, removing recent sun damage, pumping in hydration to clear fine lines, as well as allowing for better absorption of products.

January is the perfect time to start or reset your skin journey because it’s still winter, the festive excess will only now be coming through on the skin, and this is why I am always so busy in this month.

So, step one, book a facial, then for best results maintain this by doing one every 4-6 weeks. This has been proven to slow down the ageing process. I did a recent beauty video on this and you can watch it on the Emerald Beauty Clinic Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages now.

DETOX THE LIVER

Our livers work so hard for us all every day and after Christmas, lots of people need a good liver detox.

What you eat and drink affects your liver, and alcohol especially can have an effect at this time of year. Dry January is an excellent way to address that.

Milk thistle, which you can get in health shops is also fantastic for a natural liver detox. I take it every January.

FRESH AIR IS FREE STILL

We are sitting far too much indoors when it is warm and cosy, but everyone needs to get fresh air daily.

I often think if there was a government levy on fresh air, people would want it more, but we won’t be giving them any ideas.

Every organ of our body benefits from fresh air daily - our skin, lungs, our eyes, our brains.

So get up, get out and breathe it in, as we are so lucky to have lovely places to visit here on Leeside.

SLEEP

Research shows 8/10 people of all ages are not sleeping enough.

Going to bed too late, broken sleep, and scrolling on phones are three key factors.

I have a saying: An hour of sleep before 12am is better than four hours after - read that line again my little night owls who tell me they don’t ever go to bed till 2am!

STRESS

Ah sure, the dogs on the streets are stressed now.

If we don’t learn to get a handle or grip on our own stress, then it will make us sick. This is why I am always championing self-care, making time for you.

Make 2026 the year you make positive choices to remove as much stress from your life as possible. I did this three years ago and saw my life and health improve dramatically.

If someone or something does not bring positive, healthy value to my life, I don’t want them in it.

SCREEN TIME

It doesn’t help that we are all living like robots these days, the phones have made pure fools of us all, if you ask me, people have their faces stuck in them morning, noon and night.

People openly say to me today in my clinic: “Oh, my phone, Emer, I’d die without it, I just live my life on my phone.”

And I’m thinking it’s so sad, I hate the phone, I avoid it as much as I can, it distracts me from my busy day.

As my family and friends all know so well, best of luck getting me on the phone! I just leave it on silent and put it out of sight.

I’ll be out walking, staring up at a beautiful sky or some lovely birds or nature, and everyone I walk past has a head stuck in their phones, blissfully unaware of the beautiful day and nature all around them.

I find it so sad and so unhealthy too. Maybe this will be the year you will make a conscious decision to give your phone less power over you, your health will thank you for it, I promise.

DIET

If you ask me, the majority of us naturally go back to our healthy eating after Christmas simply because we feel poisoned from all the excess, sugar, drink, etc, we all over-indulge in.

I love cleaning up my diet and cutting all the sugar and nice things - limiting them to weekends again.

I’m still off the coffee I gave up for the Holy Souls and I believe every one of us need to be strengthening our willpower and self-discipline muscle more.

Our bodies all benefit from fresh fruit and veg for so many reasons, but it always worries me when clients come in talking about some fad extreme dieting they started.

Please speak to your doctor or a registered dietician before doing any extreme diets or before eliminating any large food groups from your diet.

Many will remove carbs now and lose weight fast, only to pile it all back on again by Easter - that’s counterproductive.

I find cutting out the sugary treats and upping the exercise and water are fantastic ways for everyone to detox and reset. Small, consistent changes daily are the platform for long-term success

It’s a new year and a fresh canvas for us all, to make 2026 whatever we wish for it to be.

Make time to put time and energy back into you - that is what the beauty industry is built on and the smart person knows this.

Make 2026 the year you finally value you!

Emer O’Callaghan is a beauty doctor and skin specialist who won Irish Beauty Therapist of the year and works at Emerald Organic Beauty Products Ltd, trading as Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A multi-award winning Gold Standard Clinic, 2008-2026 - see www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie and follow us on Facebook/instagram/TikTok pages now

SPECIAL OFFER

All this month, book any Dermalogica or Guinot Facial, 90 minutes, at Emerald Beauty Clinic and get a complimentary eyebrow shape, heated hand treatment, goodie bag and treats. Appointments necessary, to book call Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. Free parking for clients.