5 Tips For Glowing Holiday Skin

The holidays are a wonderful time to enjoy the company of friends and family, but all the celebrating can also take a toll on your skin. Read on to learn 5 of our best holiday skincare tips to keep your skin merry and bright this holiday season.

1. Be sure you get your beauty sleep so your skin has a chance to repair itself.

Late-night holiday celebrations can lead to a lack of sleep which deprives your skin of the chance to repair itself. Our brain’s lymphatic system flushes out neurotoxins and is turned on mainly during sleep. In addition, our brains also produce body-repairing hormones when we sleep, including growth hormones, which are necessary for tissue repair and cell regeneration. Depriving yourself of sleep causes an elevation of cortisol, which puts your body in a constant state of stress. As the body’s largest organ, the skin is usually where the first signs of damage appear. Beauty sleep really is essential and ideally, you should try to get seven to eight hours.

2. Avoid too much sugar which accelerates skin aging.

Enjoying all the delicious treats is one of the best parts of holiday celebrations. That said, indulging too much in sugary desserts can have a negative impact on your skin. A high sugar intake plays a role in the skin’s aging process, accelerating the development of wrinkles and fine lines. In addition, excessive sugar can also cause oil production and inflammation which can lead to acne breakouts. A process called glycation may also play a role in skin aging. When processed sugar enters the bloodstream it will sometimes attach to collagen and elastin proteins in the skin and start to break them down. This causes the skin to lose its elasticity and wrinkles begin to form.

3. Avoid too much alcohol which can damage the skin.

Alcohol and the holidays tend to go hand-in-hand but drinking too many cocktails results in two things: dehydration and inflammation. Dehydration deprives your skin of the moisture and nutrients it needs to keep your complexion looking radiant and youthful. This can increase the appearance of wrinkles, dryness, and sagging skin and overall just leaves your skin looking dull. Alcohol also inflames the tissue which creates a histamine reaction that creates redness, or flushing of the skin. Alcohol-induced inflammation can also lead to acne, blotchiness, and puffiness and can aggravate Rosacea.

4. Don’t forget to remove makeup before bed as it can clog your pores.

It’s easy to skip washing your face after a late night of celebrating with family and friends but this can clog your pores and make your skin a breeding ground for bacteria. Sleep allows your body to renew itself which keeps your skin bright and fresh. But heading to bed without first removing your makeup inhibits this natural process from occurring. As you sleep your skin cells are working to repair and regenerate. Built-up bacteria and pollutants from makeup prevent this from happening. Leaving your makeup on can also trap residual oil which can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. Overall, sleeping with makeup on leads to premature aging so be sure to set aside a few minutes before bed to wash your face.

5. Try to avoid stress, it compromises your skin’s natural barrier.

There’s no denying the holidays can be a stressful time—and stress can have a tremendous negative impact on the skin. Stress induces the release of cortisol which can lead to stress-induced skin breakouts or acne. Chronic stress also disrupts the skin’s natural barrier, which prevents harmful substances from penetrating and fluids from escaping. This can lead to irritated and dehydrated skin which makes fine lines and wrinkles more evident. Stress also weakens your immune system which can make skin conditions worse by lowering your body’s ability to fight inflammation.

While it’s wonderful to have glowing skin for the holidays, our Aesthetics team at Optum Plastic Surgery in Seattle believes in taking care of your skin year-round to keep it looking luminous and youthful. Call us today to set up a consultation with one of our experienced Nurse Injectors, Brigid Moriarty, or Darcy Peterson.

206.860.5582.