7 Skincare Tips To Survive The Holidays and Winter Weather

With the holidays approaching we all want that fresh, radiant, glow. So now is the perfect time to focus on your skin health so you can achieve that desired holiday look.

If you are lusting over the beautiful glittery and dewey holiday makeup trends, you must start with healthy skin. My motto is “beautiful makeup begins with healthy skin”. 

There’s no doubt that the holidays can be the busiest time of the year. Between all of the parties, shopping and work doesn’t stop, who has time to deal with stress-induced breakouts or get a facial to revive dull skin!?

Here are 7 skincare tips on surviving the holidays and winter weather

1. Cleanse before bed – I meet so many clients that do not wash their skin before bed. Their normal routine is washing in the morning in the shower or not at all. My advice is to change that to p.m. washing, just like brushing your teeth before bed. If you want to continue to wash in the morning that’s okay too, but washing at night “removes the day”. Makeup or barrier products prevent the skin from renewing itself as we sleep and therefore can lead to clogged pores and future breakouts.  It’s not uncommon to have 2 types of cleansers, but generally in the winter it’s best to switch to a creamier, lipid-rich cleanser.
2. Keep wearing sunscreen – Just because it’s cooler or cloudier, doesn’t mean the sun has gone away. UV rays are still strong and unprotected skin can lead to discoloration, redness or irritation or even skin cancer. SPF 30 or 50 is ideal and always reapply when spending time outside.
3. Increase topical hydration and moisture – Now this doesn’t mean apply more moisturizer, it means move into a heavier weight moisturizer. Cold weather means the air is thinner and this leads to drier, flaky, ashy skin and chapped lips too. Remedy this with hydrating mists, serums and nourishing moisturizers with ingredients such as high-weight hyaluronic acid, squalane, proteins, glycerin ad ceramides. Ceramides are naturally found within our body to help retain moisture. And though people with oily skin may tend to avoid moisturizers, this can actually backfire. If you don’t use a moisturizer, your skin will try to overcompensate for missing moisture by producing even more oil.
4. Treat yourself – High stress is never good, it can wreak havoc on the skin, so go ahead and make time for yourself. Book yourself a holiday facial, many spa’s offer discounts and specials this time of year or ask a friend for a referal.
5. Eat well – There is a link between the skin-gut-brain connection. Alcohol, refined sugar, dairy, inflammatory ingredients all can affect the skin and your everyday performance if consumed in excess. Continue to eat healthy and enjoy goodies in moderation.
6. Exercise – Burrowing is easy this time of year. It’s hard to get your body moving, don’t lose momentum. Diet and exercise are key in keeping your skin (and body) healthy. Aim for 7-10 steps a day and 150 minutes of exercise per week.
7. Get a chemical peel – The cooler weather is ideal for receiving a chemical peel because the sun isn’t as strong, avoiding heat and sun exposure are most important in caring for your skin post peel. Plus, peels undo most of the damage we’ve received from the summer. There are many peel options that allow for little to no downtime. Consider talking to a professional, licensed skin therapist about a peel series. If you live in the Phoenix, AZ area, I am currently taking facial appointments at Amazing Face Spa.

This article and post written by Angela Miles. copyright Angela Miles – All Rights Reserved