Winter is a season of crazy busy holidays filled with shopping, travelling, entertaining and partying. Then there's the festive food - an endless array of delicious main courses, spiked drinks and desserts. There's no doubt that all of this can wreak havoc on your skin and leave you feeling more forbidden than ho-hum.
Here are some of the ways in which the winter holidays affect your skin and what you can do to counteract it.
When you're feeling stressed, take time to relax. Some ways to help you relax and reduce stress include yoga, deep breathing techniques, meditation and massage.
You don't have to give up sweets forever. Slow down and sample a small portion of your favourite festive dessert. Or replace sugar with honey, maple syrup or stevia for a healthy twist on a classic recipe.
Not to mention, lack of sleep also increases collagen breakdown. Less collagen accelerates ageing - which means more wrinkles and reduced skin elasticity.
Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. And give your skin a boost with a dose of antioxidants. Don't book parties and get-togethers every night. If you can, space them out so you get enough rest in between.
The effect of alcohol on the immune system and the way the cardiovascular system works can also affect the skin. It can make psoriasis and rosacea worse.
You can still drink as much as you like, but limit the amount of alcohol you drink and drink plenty of water between alcoholic drinks to avoid dehydration. In addition, you can choose red wine instead of spirits. Red wine contains healthy antioxidants.
Before boarding, make sure your skin is well hydrated - eye cream, serum, moisturiser and sunscreen. Don't wear make-up or minimal make-up to avoid clogging your pores. And don't forget to drink plenty of water (60-80 oz of water per day) to hydrate from the inside out. Finally, avoid alcohol, tea and coffee and order a light meal.
Use a heavily formulated moisturiser as part of your night-time skincare routine. During the day, apply a serum and moisturiser under your sunscreen (yes, even in winter you still need SPF). Twice a week, give yourself an extra soothing and hydrating mask to continue while you sleep.
Similarly, drink plenty of water and add flax oil or fish oil to your supplements. Exercise regularly as it helps to increase oxygen to your skin, making you feel warm and giving your skin a youthful appearance. Avoid long steamy showers. Instead, keep your baths short and gentle - 5 to 10 minutes of warm water in a bath or shower is much better.
And plug in a humidifier to add moisture to the air and prevent dryness.
Finally, splurge on a cosy winter facial to keep your skin glowing and bright until spring.
For more skincare tips, visit our website at cooseon.com.
Stress
Holiday stress can cause your body to produce cortisol, making your skin more sensitive and reactive. Signs of stress can appear in the form of acne, hives and blisters. It can also cause flare-ups of skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea and psoriasis.When you're feeling stressed, take time to relax. Some ways to help you relax and reduce stress include yoga, deep breathing techniques, meditation and massage.
Desserts
Sugar and carbohydrates can cause inflammation. Too much sugar triggers a reaction in the body called glycation - the process by which collagen and elastin break down. On the skin, this manifests itself in wrinkles, sagging and loss of radiance.You don't have to give up sweets forever. Slow down and sample a small portion of your favourite festive dessert. Or replace sugar with honey, maple syrup or stevia for a healthy twist on a classic recipe.
Sleep deprivation
With all the excitement that comes with the holidays, it's easy to miss out on some zzz's. Your skin will repair itself while you sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to dull and dehydrated skin in the morning.Not to mention, lack of sleep also increases collagen breakdown. Less collagen accelerates ageing - which means more wrinkles and reduced skin elasticity.
Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. And give your skin a boost with a dose of antioxidants. Don't book parties and get-togethers every night. If you can, space them out so you get enough rest in between.
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol dehydrates your body and your skin. This means that the skin loses moisture and nutrients that are vital for healthy skin. This can make your skin look wrinkled, dull and grey, or swollen and puffy.The effect of alcohol on the immune system and the way the cardiovascular system works can also affect the skin. It can make psoriasis and rosacea worse.
You can still drink as much as you like, but limit the amount of alcohol you drink and drink plenty of water between alcoholic drinks to avoid dehydration. In addition, you can choose red wine instead of spirits. Red wine contains healthy antioxidants.
Air travel
The low humidity in the cabin can dehydrate the skin, causing it to dry out, peel or become red. If you sit in a window seat, you will be more exposed to closer UV rays.Before boarding, make sure your skin is well hydrated - eye cream, serum, moisturiser and sunscreen. Don't wear make-up or minimal make-up to avoid clogging your pores. And don't forget to drink plenty of water (60-80 oz of water per day) to hydrate from the inside out. Finally, avoid alcohol, tea and coffee and order a light meal.
Harsh winter weather
The cold winter air can cause exponential dryness of the skin, leading to cracking, crazing, itching and redness. While indoor heaters can keep you warm, they shouldn't be your first choice of solution to the cold. They dry out the air, which in turn leads to dry and irritated skin.Use a heavily formulated moisturiser as part of your night-time skincare routine. During the day, apply a serum and moisturiser under your sunscreen (yes, even in winter you still need SPF). Twice a week, give yourself an extra soothing and hydrating mask to continue while you sleep.
Similarly, drink plenty of water and add flax oil or fish oil to your supplements. Exercise regularly as it helps to increase oxygen to your skin, making you feel warm and giving your skin a youthful appearance. Avoid long steamy showers. Instead, keep your baths short and gentle - 5 to 10 minutes of warm water in a bath or shower is much better.
And plug in a humidifier to add moisture to the air and prevent dryness.
Finally, splurge on a cosy winter facial to keep your skin glowing and bright until spring.
For more skincare tips, visit our website at cooseon.com.
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