Normally, we like to make skincare a priority. Can you blame us? It’s what we do! Skincare is healthcare, and it needs to be treated as such.
But in the holiday season, our usual skincare regimen goes right out the window, along with all of our other health priorities. Now we need to take a new approach to keeping our glow, or we’re going to burn out fast.
So how do you get glowing skin while worrying about holiday shopping and travel, and hosting and planning and eating all the goodies in sight?
One Step/Bite/Day at a Time
Remember: Your skin is always growing, renewing, and replacing itself. The skin you’re treating now won’t be the same skin in January, no matter how hard you try.
In other words, don’t aim too high, and don’t try to knock two months of skincare out of the park in one swing. It won’t work, you’ll get frustrated, and boom: You’ve just added more stress to your cortisol-filled system.
A Dab of Prevention
Don’t feel stressed yet? Congratulations! Start your holiday skincare anyway.
If you have the supplies and build the habits, you won’t have to worry about switching gears when the time comes. That’s one less thing off your list!
Hydrate: Switch to a cream emollient to hyper-hydrate your skin now, rather than waiting for the inevitable dehydration. You might even consider a night cream for daytime use.
If you’ve suffered from holiday breakouts in the past, consider getting some benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid treatments now. No need to use them yet! But they’ll be there for emergency spot treatments if it comes to that.
Holiday Skincare Inside and Out
Topical solutions are a big part of skincare, but don’t neglect the things your body can bring from the inside–so long as you’re giving it the right raw materials.
If you’re not already, add a boost of Vitamin C to your daily vitamin intake and your topical applications.
And if your holiday schedule involves more cooking and shopping than beach and pool time (ie you won’t be in the sun much), add some Vitamin D, too. It’s a key component to an immune system that can actually do its job.
Be Mindful of Indulgent Foods
Of course, holiday treats can be the real crux of holiday skincare/healthcare problems.
Remember:
- Sugar interferes with your body’s collagen and elastin production.
- Fat and dairy can cause breakouts.
- All of these things are unavoidable this time of year.
If you’re in charge of the food at a gathering, or even just contributing, consider including fresh fruit as a bite-size option: raspberries, blueberries, etc. Get things that you like. You’re looking for appealing replacements, not punishing yourself.
If you’re going somewhere else for a party, stash a few mints on your person. Take a pass through the offerings, of course, then pop a mint. Your mouth will be happy and fresh, and the combination of the minty-fresh scent and flavor will make seconds much less tempting.
Arm yourself with the knowledge you need, but also be kind. Nobody gets through the holiday season unscathed. Beating yourself up about it will only cause more stress.
Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
Have you ever noticed how your brain tries to solve all of your life’s problems instead of letting you get ready for bed?
This can actually be a natural response to sleepiness. Don’t give in! Remind yourself that that urgency you feel during late-night stress isn’t about the problems themselves, but just one very immediate and solvable issue: You need sleep.
Good sleep is actually what lets your brain and your skin rest and reset. Congratulate yourself on recognizing this need, and you’ll be all the more ready for the day ahead.
The Bradenton Holiday Skincare Problem
In Bradenton, skincare always has to be a little special, doesn’t it? The rest of the world is talking about skiing and fireside cocoa, while in Sarasota-Manatee it’s all cold snaps and poolside conch fritters.
If you came to the Manatee County area from somewhere else, you’re likely still trying to figure out what works for your skin in the southwest Florida climate as the seasons change.
But even if you’re a Bradenton resident through and through, where do you find your information? Mainstream skincare sources don’t tend to focus on Thanksgiving weather that’s 80 degrees and salty.
So in addition to the tips you find here, trust your local expert aestheticians to be your holiday skincare guides. We can help match skin type with lifestyle with our warm weather and then factor in our holiday stresses.
