The most wonderful..and tempting time of year.
The holidays are the perfect storm for our skin to misbehave. Sugary treats are everywhere from Halloween to New Years Day. The struggle is real!
Not only are we consuming more food and alcohol, we're traveling, dealing with unavoidable winter weather, irregular sleep schedules, and expected stress.
4 Skin-saving Tips for the holiday season
1. Don't go overboard on the sugar.
We all know it's hard to resist the temptation of holiday treats, but it's been proven that sugar ages our skin. This article explains the link between sugar and aging skin.
Scientists from the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, and Unilever in the UK, measured the blood sugar levels of 600 men and women aged between 50 and 70.
They then showed photographs of the participants to a board of 60 independent assessors and found that those with higher blood sugar looked older than those with lower blood sugar. In fact, for every 1mm/litre increase in blood sugar, the perceived age of that person rose by 5 months.
One way to combat the sugar we've consumed is with antioxidants in our skincare like Vitamin C Serums. A good high level C serum can help repair skin cell damage from environment and diet. And don't forget your sunscreen this time of year, too.
2. Get Your Beauty Sleep
The pressure to work, prepare for the holidays, and even our social lives affects how our skin looks during the holidays. With busy schedules and holiday parties, chances are we're consuming a tad bit more alcohol than we normally would and alcohol affects our sleep patterns.
Sleep is essential for healthy, glowing skin, especially during the holidays. Get your rest and your skin will thank you!
Bonus tip: Alcohol consumption also leads to dehydrated skin, and dehydrated skin looks older. Alcohol's water loss effect can also cause you to lose vitamins and nutrients. Vitamin A which is essential for cell renewal and turnover is one of them. A lack of vitamin A can cause our skin to take on a dull gray appearance.
Staying water-hydrated will obviously have the opposite effect, leaving your skin looking bright, young and fresh.
Alcohol consumption can also affect pre-existing conditions like rosacea, causing it to worsen or flare up.Alcohol increases blood flow, often causing blood vessels in the face to dilate causing a red flush.
3. Minimize Stress
Between late nights, family gatherings, travel, and never-ending to-do lists, it's no secret the holidays can be a stressful time. There seems to be less time for exercise, healthy meal prep, and proper sleep.
Stress can age you and magnify dryness and wrinkles, or trigger you to gorge on foods you know you should walk away from. Acne, rosacea, perioral dermatitis, and other chronic skin conditions can all get worse due to stress.
Time to book a facial at your favorite spa? Or, create a spa afternoon at home. Grab that face mask and take some ME time. Apply the mask, make a hot cup of tea and sip while your masking. Feel the calm yet?
4. Up Your Skincare Routine and Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
In the midst of the holiday rush and craziness, it's tempting to neglect your skincare routine. But don't do it! Your skin will rebel. Instead, give it some extra love and reap the benefits.
Be sure to adjust your skincare products for winter time temperature changes. Swap out that lighter moisturizer for a richer and more luxurious cream. Consider adding a moisturizing serum too.
Look for ingredients like hyaluronic (moisture binder) and resveratrol (helps minimize redness and winter irritations).
Taking a few minutes to exfoliate and moisturize your skin can go a long way in keeping it looking its best, especially during the holiday season.
