The holidays are a time of joy and excitement, marked by shopping, parties, travel, and family gatherings that further the merriment of the season.
However, the holidays can also bring stress, overindulgence, and disruptions to our normal routines. With winter’s cold, dry air already working against us, heavy holiday makeup, lack of sleep, and a few too many cocktails can lead to some pretty hefty skincare mistakes.
But don’t despair! By identifying and avoiding harmful habits, you can easily ensure your skin remains on the “nice” list. Here are some things to watch out for if you want to keep your skin looking merry and bright this season.
Skipping Your Skincare Routine: Avoiding your skincare routine can be tempting, especially after late-night parties or long family dinners. However, leaving makeup, dirt, and oil on your skin overnight can clog pores, cause breakouts, and dry out your skin, leading to dullness and a lackluster look. Even if you’re tired, make cleansing and moisturizing your skin a must-do part of your bedtime routine.
Only Paying Attention to Your Face: Everyone wants a healthy, glowing complexion, especially during the holidays when our social calendars are jam-packed. But don’t let the glitz and glitter of the season lead you to neglect the rest of your body. While you may be more covered up than usual, make sure all areas of your skin get the care and attention they deserve.
Overexfoliation: Wintertime tends to bring out the worst in our skin. Dryness, irritation, flakiness, and breakouts are all easily exacerbated by the colder months. It can be hard to resist the urge to just scrub it all away. However, this is one of the worst things you can do, as your skin is likely to already be drier and more sensitive than normal. While exfoliation is important, doing it too frequently or with harsh products can damage the skin barrier. Limit exfoliation to just 1 to 2 times a week and use gentle exfoliants such as polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) or enzyme-based formulas from ingredients like pumpkin, papaya, and pineapple.
Using Heavily Fragranced Skincare: Scented skincare can be especially difficult to avoid during the holidays. With beauty brands pushing gift sets in yummy, limited-edition scents, it can be hard to resist the urge to douse yourself from head to toe in the inviting aromas of vanilla and chocolate. Unfortunately, heavily fragranced products aren’t good for your skin, and while not everyone may be sensitive to scent, fragrance in skincare provides no skin-enhancing benefits and is a common cause of allergic reactions and irritation. Even if a product doesn’t cause an immediate, visible reaction, fragrance can cause silent damage to skin that adds up over time. Do yourself and your skin a favor and stick with your tried-and-true skincare products.
Surrendering Healthy Habits: While I’m disinclined to lecture anybody on their eating habits, it’s no secret that the holidays can involve overindulgence. With all the tasty treats on offer, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy balance. Focus on healthy food options as much as you can, and enjoy holiday treats (especially alcohol) in moderation. Additionally, make sure your holiday plans involve staying properly hydrated and getting enough sleep.
Neglecting Sun Protection: Skipping SPF is one of the most common skincare mistakes people make in the winter. Contrary to popular belief, sunscreen is not only a must during the summer—it’s also important during the colder months. That’s because the sun’s harmful UV rays—which can cause premature aging, dark spots, and skin cancer—can still penetrate through clouds and fog on overcast winter days.
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