Take Better Care of Your Skin and Health This Holiday Season

While December or Christmastime is said to be the most wonderful time of the year, holiday-related activities can also lead to increased stress. The parties, shopping trips at the mall, and holiday expectations can add more pressure to your already busy life. This can negatively affect both your skin and overall well-being. 

Making a few tweaks on how you approach this season can help you enjoy the holidays with less stress. One thing you should prioritize is yourself, so that you’ll be able to feel ready to take on any challenge, as well as bring joy to your loved ones. Below are a few tips that can help you take better care of your health and skin this festive season.

Eat well (keep alcohol and sugary foods to a minimum)

The parties and celebrations this holiday might give you an excuse to indulge a little, but make sure not to overdo it. If you’re eating and drinking habits veer into unhealthy territory, you are likely to gain excess weight, as well as develop skincare problems. Increased sugar intake, for instance, triggers inflammation and contributes to breakouts.

Here are a few tips for eating well this season:

• Indulge in moderation; balance sugary foods with healthy and nutritious choices as often as possible.
• Be wise about drinking; space out alcoholic drinks with water, choose beverages with lower alcohol content, or alternate booze with non-alcoholic drinks.
• Stay hydrated. Drink more water and less soda, fruit juices, and other sugary drinks.
• Increase your antioxidant intake by loading up on colorful fruits and vegetables. 

Always strive to get a good night’s sleep

Don’t let the gatherings, socializing, and other Christmas-related activities rob you of the sleep and rest that your body needs. Do take note that the body goes into regenerative mode while you doze off, repairing cells, tissues, and daytime damage. It is also the time when your body’s collagen production speeds up. 

Here are a few tips that can help you sleep well.

• Wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day. 
• Aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. 
• Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool. 
• Get sunlight exposure in the morning (helpful in regulating your sleep-wake cycle).
• Don’t eat for at least three hours before bedtime (this can disrupt your sleep).

For further reading: Protect and Improve Your Skin While You Sleep

Maintain a good skincare routine

Don’t get caught in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Stress, alcohol, and overindulgence can wreak havoc on your skin and even contribute to aging. They can make dryness and wrinkles more prominent, as well as worsen skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. Make sure to take time in maintaining a good skincare habit. 

• Cleanse thoroughly and take that extra time at night to remove your makeup or double cleanse.
• Exfoliate once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells and reveal a more youthful glow. Just make sure not to overdo it or choose harsh exfoliating products. 
• Moisturize and protect your skin. Choose a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid like Dr. Sylvia’s Hydra Pro with MoistureLock and a broad-spectrum sunscreen like our Sunshield SPF 45. Visit drsylviaskincare.com for other medical-grade products that deliver multi-layer fortification to the skin. 
• Prep your skin before applying makeup. This means applying moisturizer and primer. And if you can, wearing less makeup is also advisable. 
• Consider adding a peptide-infused product to your routine. Dr. Sylvia’s Multi Peptide Youth Infusion contains powerful peptides that can help stimulate collagen production, firm and tighten the skin, and improve the appearance of dark spots. 

Manage or set realistic expectations

Most of the pressure during the festivities can stem from the people’s expectations of what the holidays should look and feel like. Movies, TV, and social media may also give you a curated idea of how the season should be celebrated, but these are all unrealistic and can set you up for more stress and disappointment when you can’t live up to them. 

Finding balance and setting realistic expectations matter. Having a “picture-perfect” holiday should NOT be the goal, but focusing on the things, values, and people that matter the most to you. Other things that can help include: 

• Say no to the things you know will exhaust you.
• Plan ahead, like creating an itinerary if you have an upcoming trip.
• Be present and do tasks one thing at a time (give your attention to the situation at hand).
• Make time for exercise and relaxation; you can try meditation or deep breathing.

Consider aesthetic treatments 

Cutis Medical Laser Clinics is here to help you look and feel good, so you can be your best self not just this holiday season but throughout the year. If you have skin or body concerns that are making you self-conscious, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We have a number of non-surgical treatments that can help reach your beauty and body goals. 

Some procedures worth considering include:

• CoolSculpting Elite – for contouring your body and targeting stubborn fat cells in the abdomen, upper arms, back, thighs, under the chin, and other areas of the body. 
• Cosmetic injectables – botulinum toxin, dermal fillers, and bio-remodeling injectables can tackle signs of aging and give you a more refreshed and energized appearance. They can treat wrinkles (botulinum toxin), folds, volume loss, and facial asymmetry (fillers), as well as restore hydration and improve laxity (bio-remodeling).
• HydraMaster – offers extraction, cleansing, and hydration to help you achieve fresher, more vibrant, and younger-looking skin. It helps accelerate skin renewal and improve skin tone and texture.

Don’t let the stress and pressure of the holidays take you over. Consider the tips mentioned above or get in touch with Cutis for aesthetic services that can help you look and feel your best. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor.