Are you looking for your skin to have a Holiday Glow or Holiday NO? The holiday season can be a magical time, filled with celebrations, cold weather, and many rich food & drink festivities. However, it is those same wonderful things that can be harsh on your skin. From the cold, dry air to stress, late nights, and changes in routine/diet, the holidays can leave your skin feeling tired, dehydrated, and/or irritated. When the holidays hit we become too busy and let our skincare routines become secondary. With little effort we can have Holiday Glow skin instead of Holiday NO skin. Read on to learn How the holiday season affects your skin and what to do about it.

Here’s how the holiday season affects your skin and tips to maintain healthy, glowing skin through the season and after.

Cold, Dry Air

Cold weather is one of the most significant contributors to winter skin woes. Frigid temperatures, and strong winds can drain your skin. Cold air can strip your skin of moisture, leading to dryness, flakiness, and irritation. Heated indoor environments can exacerbate the issue by further drying out your skin.

What to Do About It:

    • Hydrate: Switch to a more powerful moisturizer, layer hydrating products and refresh as needed with a hydrating mist. Look for natural, quality ingredients. Inviting Effects Heaven Scent is a great option for a powerhouse of a moisturizer. For intense hydration without the heaviness, Inviting Effects Tonic is an amazing hydrating mist that is great all year long.
    • Humidify Your Space: Use a humidifier to add moisture to the dry indoor air. Saunas and red-light therapy can be helpful too. For an inexpensive facial treat, steam your face. It’s as easy as holding your face over a pot with steamed water rising. Add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil for a beneficial boost. Do not burn your face, hold your face away from the pot to feel the steam but not the heat.
    • Drink Water: Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water to support skin hydration from the inside out.

I mention cold air but for those that may be traveling to warmer climates for the holidays, changes in climate can also affect your skin. Follow mostly the same advice – hydrate your skin and you.

As always, no matter what climate you are in – protect. Sunscreen should always be used.

Stress and Lack of Sleep

The holiday season often comes with stress from gift shopping, financial worries, work deadlines, hosting/attending parties, and family obligations. This stress, combined with shorter daylight and disrupted sleep schedules, can wreak havoc on your skin. Stress increases cortisol levels, which can lead to inflammation, breakouts, and dull skin. In addition, the stress and lack of sleep will affect your mood and mind set which will deepen the stress and effects.

What to Do About It:

    • Prioritize Sleep: Aim for 7–8 hours of quality sleep each night to allow your skin time to repair and regenerate. Sleep is the time when our skin heals and rejuvenates.
    • Manage Stress: Incorporate stress-relieving activities like yoga, meditation, or even walks in nature. Aura/Energy attention and the use of essential oils can greatly help. Inviting Effects Aura Sprays are an easy, effective way to cleanse, ground and protect your energy.
    • Practice a Consistent Skincare Routine: Holiday season or just a normal day, a predictable skincare routine can act as self-care and give you a moment of calm. During times of additional stress don’t think of self-care as selfish, it is a necessity.

Holiday Foods & Alcohol

Overindulging during the holiday season can easily happen, but foods high in sugar, processed fats, and alcohol can negatively impact your skin. Sugar contributes to a process called glycation, which breaks down collagen and elastin in your skin, leading to premature aging. Alcohol is dehydrating and can impair your skin’s ability to retain moisture. It’s a celebration, you shouldn’t have to avoid partaking but remember moderation.

What to Do About It:

    • Balance Your Diet: Enjoy holiday treats in moderation and pair them with nutrient-rich foods like leafy greens, berries, and omega-3-rich fish.
    • Stay Hydrated: Drink water alongside alcoholic beverages to prevent dehydration.
    • Incorporate Antioxidants: Foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E can support your skin’s ability to fight off damage and repair itself. If eating those foods aren’t an option for you, you may want to look into natural supplements.

Changes in Skincare Routine

Travel, events, and busy schedules can throw off your regular skincare habits. Skipping your routine or switching to the wrong products can leave your skin exposed to irritation and dryness.

What to Do About It:

  • Stick to Simplicity: Keep your skincare routine simple, natural and effective to ensure you stay consistent even when you’re pressed for time. This describes why Inviting Effects products were created to streamline your skincare needs with simple, natural, effective, quality products.
  • Pack Wisely for Travel: Choose multitasking products to streamline your skincare bag.
  • Avoid Over-Exfoliation: During colder months, your skin may already be sensitive, so reduce exfoliation to prevent further irritation.

 

Indoor Heating

While cozy and warm, indoor heating can contribute to the loss of your skin’s natural moisture. This can lead to tightness, dryness, dull looking skin and irritation.

What to Do About It:

  • Use a deeply moisturizing cream daily to protect your skin’s barrier, preferable at night while your skin is regenerating. Inviting Effects Heaven Scent is a wonderful option.
  • Incorporate a hydrating serum under your moisturizer to give your skin an extra boost of hydration. Inviting Effects Goodnight Serum is a vitamin packed powerhouse of goodness for your skin at night. For refreshing or under makeup Tonic provides the hydration without the oily or greasy feel.
  • Add a humidifier to your home or office to balance out the effects of heated air. A less expensive option in a pinch is to add bowls of water strategically placed throughout your home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tips for Healthy Holiday Skin

Here are some additional quick and easy tips for keeping your skin glowing during the holiday season:

  1. Exfoliate Gently: Exfoliation can brighten your skin, but in winter, stick to gentle exfoliants to avoid over-stripping.
  2. Protect with SPF: Sun protection is vital year-round—even in winter. UV rays can reflect off snow and increase exposure.
  3. Give Your Skin Extra TLC: Try hydrating masks or treatments during the winter months to restore moisture.
  4. Treat Yourself to a Spa Day: Whether it’s a professional facial or a relaxing DIY treatment at home, give yourself time to recharge.
  5. Listen to Your Skin: Pay attention to changes in your skin’s needs. If it feels drier or more sensitive, adjust your routine accordingly.
  6. Use Quality, Natural Products: You don’t have to spend a lot of time and money finding good products for your skin. Know what to look for and avoid. Higher price doesn’t mean higher quality. Check out this post for more on what to look for.

Which do you want – Holiday Glow or Holiday NO? The holiday season is a time for joy and celebration, but your skin may need a little extra care to combat the seasonal changes and stressors. Now that you are aware of the Holiday season effects on skin and what to do. By staying hydrated, sticking to a healthy diet, prioritizing self-care, and adjusting your skincare routine as needed, you can maintain a healthy glow through the holiday hustle. The best takeaways to remember are PROTECT, HYDRATE and MODERATION.

Enjoy your holiday season and just as with proper skincare routines and products, carry that feeling with you and you will Glow Up all year round.