The Christmas lights are up, the holiday parties are planned, and you’re celebrating with friends and family from near and far.
While it’s a jolly time of year for most of us, it’s also a season that can wreck our skin and see our skincare routines go down the drain. Why? Well, there are quite a few reasons.
Today, we’ll go over the different ways the holidays can impact your skin as well as some effective methods for keeping your skin healthy and glowing all year long.
How the Holidays Takes a Toll on Your Skin
The months of November to January are chock full of:
- Family time
- Celebrations
- Parties with friends
- Great food
Essentially, a time of indulgence.
While these festivities are often the best part of the year and can be a well-deserved break and time of R&R for many, it’s also a season that can wreak havoc on our complexion. Here are just a few ways the holidays contribute to poor skin.
1. Stress
We know we just said that the holidays could be a time for rest and relaxation, but the truth is:
- Planning celebrations
- Traveling
- Trying to have fun can be stressful
Not to mention getting your work finished before the end of the year or having to wrangle in your family and their crazy event schedule as well.
2. Abnormal Schedules
Breaking routine and doing things differently is totally fine, but chances are your sleep schedule is disrupted with everything going on.
Getting a good night’s sleep over the holidays can be nearly impossible, and that means we’re missing out on optimal time that allows our skin to repair itself. Apart from poor sleep, our hectic holiday schedules can also prevent us from performing our regular skincare routine.
3. Irregular Diets
There’s no shame in admitting you’ve enjoyed your fair share of sugary snacks or alcoholic beverages over the holiday season. Still, it’s important to recognize that these habits can damage our skin.
Did you know alcohol releases skin-damaging free radicals that:
- Inflame our skin,
- Break down collagen fibers,
- And can induce hyperpigmentation and wrinkles?
4. Wearing More Makeup
Most of us are probably wearing more makeup this time of year because we’re going out more, less time in the sun makes us feel like we need a little help in looking bright and cheery, or it may even be the ample opportunities for lots of pictures.
Whatever the reason may be, your skin isn’t getting much downtime to breathe. Another culprit may be that many of us forget, or are too tired, to remove our makeup before bed.
Are You Guilty of Any of the Above?
It’s okay! Making small adjustments now is better than never. Here are some essential steps to protecting your skin this holiday season so that you have a healthy complexion come 2020 and beyond!
How to Protect Your Skin During the Holidays
You can have healthy skin and have a blast throughout the holidays! Here are a few things to keep in mind and some practices to consider implementing.
Don’t let your skincare routine fall through the cracks; here are the essential steps to keeping your skin healthy over the holidays.
1. Work Smarter, Not Harder
There’s only so much time in the day, and when you’ve already got a schedule jampacked with parties, family gatherings, and getting through your normal work, we know that following a skincare routine may not be top of your list.
If you know you have a busy week coming up, try an exfoliating mask. This will get rid of dead skin cells and rejuvenate your complexion without the commitment of multiple treatments a week.
If you’re guilty of forgetting to wash your face before bed after a party, keep makeup remover wipes handy—it’s better than nothing!
2. Be Mindful of Your Drink Choices
It’s no secret that alcohol is no friend to our skin, but we also know that not everyone wants to cut out those fun holiday drinks from their celebrations.
You don’t necessarily have to, but be mindful of the drinks you do choose. Opt for wine spritzers rather than booze-filled drinks, and be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially when you know you’ll be drinking alcohol later.
3. Find Products that Do More for You
When you’re short on time, one of the best ways to protect your skin is to use products that have multiple benefits. For example, look for a primer that has SPF or moisturizing benefits.
We offer a wide range of professional skincare products that can help keep you looking your best. Check out our current offerings here.
4. Treat Your Skin to a Detox
If you do one thing after a holiday party, make sure it’s treating your skin to some much-needed detox. You don’t even have to leave your bed or couch for this!
Slather on a mask with detoxifying ingredients and draw out all of the toxins from the day before.
5. Schedule a SkinPen Session
If you have a few days of downtime to spare and feel like your skin could use a pick-me-up, schedule a microneedling session.
At EVEXIAS Medical Center Denver, we use SkinPen, which minimizes the appearance of:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne or body scars and stretch marks
- Large pore sizes
It also promotes radiant, even skin tone. Plus, side effects are minimal and disappear within just a few days!
6. Throw Out Old Cosmetics
This is the perfect time of year to go through your makeup bag and bathroom drawers and ditch anything that’s been untouched or expired. Bacteria can grow on makeup products, which can be damaging and dangerous for our skin.
Check the back and bottom of your products for expiration dates and remember that some general rules to follow are:
- 3-4 months for mascara
- 1 year for foundation
- 2 years for eyeliner
- 2 years for lipstick
Get in Touch Today!
Everyone at EVEXIAS Medical Center Denver wishes you and yours a very happy holiday season! We also hope that you keep up with a healthy skin care regimen and that these six tips will help you maintain a healthy glow all year long.
Make your skincare a priority this season, get in touch today to schedule a consultation with our team of skincare experts!
The EVEXIAS team will meet with you to determine which products are the best fit for your skin