Whether it’s Christmas drinks with friends, New Years Eve or a work function, the party season is upon us – and with it comes a slew of skin issues. Keep reading to learn how to keep your skin in tip top condition this festive season.
The combination of factors such as late nights, less sleep, increased alcohol consumption, eating rich food and even stress – can all lead to our skin looking tired, puffy, dull and prone to breakouts over the festive season.
If you want to look your absolute best when catching up with friends and family, it’s time to make mindful decisions when it comes to your skin. If you’re not sure where to begin, we’ve put together a guide to help you take care of your skin so it looks its best and brightest throughout the coming season.
Holiday indulgence
We all love to indulge over the holiday season. Drinking champagne, enjoying delicious foods and desserts, even wearing makeup for longer periods (or forgetting to take it off!) can all impact the appearance of our skin. It can be too easy to forgo our regular skincare and exercise routines, however truth be told, the festive season is when your skin needs extra TLC. Rather than letting your regular routines fall by the wayside, try to stick to your regular cleansing, treatments and masks throughout.
Hydration for the win
The number one skin-rule, this season without exception, is to keep yourself as hydrated as possible. In fact, hydrate like it’s your job! Of course it sounds simple, however ensuring your skin is well hydrated throughout the “silly season”’ is vital to the long-term health of our skin.
For those of us that do partake, increased alcohol consumption is notorious for dehydrating our bodies and this will reflect in dull, lifeless tired-looking skin. Drinking as much water as you can and keeping your fluids levels up is one of the best things you can do for your complexion.
Topically speaking, pack your skin with as much Hyaluronic Acid as possible. As a humectant and hydration-hero product, HA will immediately plump up skin that’s in need of a good drink, helping to hydrate and replenish any lost moisture.
It’s Called Beauty Sleep for A Reason
Chances are, most of us don’t get enough sleep as it is, functions and parties aside. Unfortunately, this lack of sleep is one of the very first things to show up on our faces. Try to pace yourself in the coming weeks and let your body recoup and give it as much sleep as it needs. Try and limit your screen time before bed and instead read a book or try a guided meditation to signal its time to wind down.
Exfoliate for glowing skin
If there’s ever a time your skin needs some exfoliation, it’s now. Our skin is often drier coming out of cooler weather, so removing dead skin cells as well as any build up of dirt or grime will ensure our skin looks refreshed and rejuvenated. It’ll also ensure the perfect canvas for makeup application.
AHA’s such as Glycolic and Lactic acid are terrific at sloughing off any dry nasty bits and they help speed up our skin’s cellular turnover. If you’re new to exfoliants, the addition of a cleanser or toner with these ingredients can be a great way to introduce them to your routine.
Top tip: don’t forget your lips! If you plan on wearing lipstick to any events, this is vital. Use a sugar scrub to exfoliate, followed by an overnight lip mask to plump and hydrate.
Book a facial or skin treatment
A great pick-me-up is to gift yourself a Hydro microdermabrasion treatment. Hydro microdermabrasion machines are designed to deeply exfoliate the skin and thoroughly clear out pores. The treatment involves manual exfoliation whereby a diamond tip and/or crystal gently buffs and polishes the skin by removing the top surface layer, along with any build-up of dead skin cells, dirt, excess oil and so on.
Another benefit of this treatment are the immediately visible results, making it the perfect pre-party treatment. Not only will skin feel softer, appear smoother, brighter, fresher with a more uniform, radiant complexion, Hydrodermabrasion is also great for congested skin (clogged pores), removing blackheads, as well as being able to help with superficial acne scarring, sun damage and fine lines.
Elise Andrews, head of education at The Global Beauty Group says:
“Microdermabrasion is suitable for all skin types and can treat multiple concerns whilst at the same time improving your skin’s cellular turnover, promoting collagen production and increasing circulation”.
For an extra skin pick-me up before a big event, another option to consider is a carbon facial, otherwise known as the “Hollywood Peel” or “China Doll Facial”….and for good reason. These treatments are a big celebrity favourite for their ability to deeply cleanse, exfoliate and brighten the skin in a single session.
During the treatment, a layer of liquid carbon is applied to the skin and allowed to penetrate deeply into the pores. An IPL laser machine is then used to target the carbon particles, blasting them off and effectively removing dead skin cells, excess oil and impurities during the process, leaving skin looking refreshed and rejuvenated.
The result is smooth clearer skin with a radiant glow – perfect for achieving a party-ready complexion. The best part is carbon facials are non-invasive with no downtime, making them an excellent choice for the festive season when time is precious.
Banish those last minute spots
So, you have a big event coming up and BAM – your skin breaks out. There is nothing worse than battling a breakout, right when we need to look our best.
Whilst there are a quick at-home remedies you can try such as spot treatments containing sulfur or benzoyl peroxide, they can be very harsh, If using one of these treatments, try to only apply directly to the actual spot to avoid drying out the surrounding area.
Another treatment that’s great for reducing acne is IPL therapy. Acne management programs with IPL machines are great for any pesky spots that surface as the treatments kill acne-causing bacteria deep within the skin, without affecting the surrounding dermis.
LED light therapy machines are another great option for treatment of active acne. Blue light works by reducing the sebaceous activity, killing the acne-causing bacteria deep within the skin. Both IPL and LED can be used not only on the face, but also on the décolleté, shoulders and back.
SPF
At this time of year, it’s common to find yourself sipping champagne in the open air during the day. Remember to lather up and slip slop slap on the SPF, regardless of how sunny it appears outside. The sun’s harmful rays never sleep, even on an overcast day.
Final thoughts
No matter how tired you may be after a big party or night out, always remember to remove your make-up before bed. Your skin regenerates itself at night and it therefore needs to breathe. Keep a handy pack of micellar wipes on your bedside table is better than clogged pores and unwanted breakouts!
This article is in partnership with beauty salon suppliers, The Global Beauty Group. To learn more about LED light therapy machines or any of the other technology mentioned in this article or to find a treatment provider in your area, visit their website.
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