Holiday Skin 101: How Can I Avoid It?

Drinking spiked eggnogs, opening gifts under the tree, and staying cosy in our warm fuzzy sweaters are way better when we’re with our families. But here’s the thing: albeit filled with excitement, the holiday season can wreak havoc on your skin. Luckily, it’s nothing that a few skincare hacks can’t fix.

Check out our skincare guide below that will help you put the beautiful in the most beautiful time of the year!

What is holiday skin, anyway?

Sometimes called winter skin (along with a slew of other monikers), holiday skin refers to the changes in your skin that happen because of extreme temperature changes. This occurs during the colder seasons, like December and the first few months of the year. The sudden change zaps out the moisture in your skin, which weakens your natural barrier. It also leads to severe dryness, flakiness, irritation, and inflammation.

In addition to the cold weather, holiday skin is also triggered by stress. We know how hectic this season can get, especially with tons of holiday gift shopping and preparations. This can make your skin look dull and cause acne breakouts.

Always wear sunscreen.

But wait – it’s not as hot and sunny during the winter, so why would you need to wear SPF? Here’s the thing: just because the sun’s not out and about doesn’t mean its UV rays are gone. Remember, we’re in the desert! Your skin can still absorb UV rays and the damage they will bring. Winter or not, always wear sunscreens that have SPF 30 or higher. This will help bounce off harmful UV rays that cause premature ageing, hyperpigmentation, and, even worse, skin cancer.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

The best way to combat holiday skin is to step up your hydration game. Since your skin is practically the Sahara Desert right now, your best course of action is to use deeply hydrating moisturisers, such as hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a powerhouse as it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, so you can rest assured your skin stays hydrated longer! It’s also a humectant, which means it can draw moisture from the air and deliver it to your skin’s deep layers.

Travel smarter.

For some of us, holidays with family mean crossing the distance and travelling long hours. If that’s the case, travel smart to save your skin from aeroplanes and the dreadful dryness and irritation it brings to your skin. Bring a water bottle to hydrate from within, plus some handy face masks that will lock in as much moisture as possible!

Sleep more – your skin needs it!

Holidays call for long nights of partying or bonding with your loved ones over Jenga or board games. But while these fill our core memory chests, our skin needs quality sleep. Make sure you get at least seven hours of sleep daily. This will help maintain your skin and help in cell renewal, giving you radiant skin throughout the celebrations!

Choose the right makeup. 

If there’s one more thing we love about the holidays, it’s that we can go all out with our festive makeup looks! But before you get your contouring game on, make sure you’re choosing the right makeup for your skin. Opt for lightweight and non-comedogenic products that will not clog your pores and lead to breakouts later. Of course, it goes without saying that you should take them all off before bed!