The holidays are a joyous time, but have you ever noticed the need to recuperate come January 1? Maintaining healthy habits during the holidays is hard, but it can be even harder to deal with the after effects of holiday excess. This season, do what you can to care for your skin to ensure that it gives off a dewy, healthy glow all through the festivities. Don’t worry, you can still enjoy your favorite activities, like staying up late with the fam and sneaking peppermint schnapps into your hot cocoa.
One of the best ways to maintain your gorgeous glow during the holiday season is to drink plenty of water. It can be difficult to remember to drink when you’re caught up in the merriment of it all. It’s especially hard during such a festive season, as gatherings usually have all sorts of delicious beverages on offer. There’s no shame if you’re tempted by assorted punches, cider drinks, and eggnog — to say nothing of the alcohol.
That brings us to another point. The alcohol tends to flow this time of year. If you want to imbibe, simply try to go easy on it. Don’t drink to excess every night of your time off. Too much alcohol will dry out your skin and can leave it looking tired and lackluster.
Dehydration, in general, will take a toll on your skin. When you have a cocktail or a mug of Uncle Al’s apple cider, try to match every drink with a glass of water. Keep your skin cells bathed in water, because hydrated skin is happy skin.
Just as it’s hard to remember to drink all your water, you might be tempted to get lax about your skin care routine. Big mistake — huge! You might be on break, but your skin isn’t. Every morning and evening, set aside time to cleanse and moisturize your face. If you experience dry skin in the winter, then use a moisturizing cleanser, or rinse with water during one of your cleansings. Never skip the moisturizer! Skin gets thirsty in dry, cold weather.
In addition to cleansing and moisturizing your skin, you need to maintain the rest of your skin care routine, too, whether that involves rejuvenating face masks or maintaining a regular maintenance schedule for your favorite non-surgical procedures. ’Tis the season to spoil your skin. Treat yourself or hope that someone stuffs your stocking with spa-quality skin care. It’s the perfect opportunity to pamper your skin with a sheet mask or an exfoliating product that will clean out your pores.
It’s tempting to luxuriate in a hot, steamy shower or bath when it’s cold outside, but all that heat can take away your glow. The steam can work wonders for your skin, but the hot water isn’t doing you any favors. It feels phenomenal, especially after you’ve just come in from the cold, but keeping the water on the warmer side of lukewarm is healthier for your skin — and your hair. If you need to warm up, then you can allow yourself a few moments of hot water before going back to lukewarm. You can also create a steam bath with a bowl of boiling water and a towel to enjoy the benefits of a steam treatment for your face.
Okay, you don’t have to skip your favorite holiday specialties entirely. As with alcohol, however, you want to limit the salty foods. They make you retain water, leaving you more thirsty and at risk of bloating. Even worse, too much sodium may lead to fine lines and wrinkles. Opt for the veggie tray instead of the chips and crackers, and don’t add extra salt to your holiday meals. If you do go overboard on the salty snacks, then up your water intake proportionally.
Sure, it’s winter. The skies may be grey, but that doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen. The sun is still there. UVA and UVB rays can easily penetrate the clouds. Before you go out to build a snowman or sled down a hill, apply sunscreen to your face and neck, as well as any other visible skin.
Think about investing in personalized skin care products that contain SPF, including double-duty products, such as foundation and moisturizer. It doesn’t hurt to layer these products together on top of traditional sunscreen. The sun can do the most damage when you can’t feel or see it.
You can keep your happy, healthy glow throughout the holidays with these tips. Don’t forget to budget enough time to rest, as well. Treat yourself to a nap, even. Do you have any skin care advice to add?
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and world of fitness.
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