Don’t Let Your Skin Have a Blue Christmas!

Christmas is a joyous time full of family and fun, but let’s be honest, a fair share of stress! Especially as a teen who is already going through lots of skincare changes, the hectic holiday season can wreak havoc on your skin health. Let’s find out how to take the “Oh no!” out of skincare and bring back “Ho ho ho!”

Keep It Simple

We don’t want to be the Grinch, but a 10-step skincare routine is too much at any time of year—and you don’t want to start throwing on a bunch of new serums and retinols during an already stressful time. Plus, young skin doesn’t need more than a simple cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF sunscreen. Girlyish Skincare’s Glowing Girly Routine is a great toxin-free option.

It’s important to have a good baseline routine, especially when you’re new to skincare. If you’re constantly changing your normal routine and adding random products daily, like sheet masks and pimple patches, it can be hard to narrow down what is causing any skin woes. Even lifestyle changes can alter the way your skin reacts to products, and it’s helpful to have a clear-cut routine so you can get a handle on what’s going on.

Hectic Holidays

Between test at school, parties, and family events, sometimes skincare gets placed on the back burner. Many of us change our normal habits in this time of celebrations and fun, but unfortunately, that’s often not without consequences. Sleep, stress, and sugar have a big impact, and let’s be honest—it’s not just Santa sneaking cookies in the middle of the night.

Not So Silent Night

While we love singing about calm and peaceful winter nights, in reality they’re anything but that. You’ll probably find yourself staying up late to study and then popping over to a holiday party after. While we sleep, our skin goes through major healing and replenishing, and when sleep is cut short, your skin doesn’t have as much time to work. This can lead to increased irritation and breakouts, and your skin may be more susceptible to products and other lifestyle changes.

Trying to get as much sleep as possible is a no-brainer, but it’s easier said than done. Give your skin some extra love during this time and be careful not to introduce too many random skincare products. Drink plenty of water and make sure you’re getting lots of skin-happy nutrients. These include foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and chia seeds, which help reduce inflammation. Zinc-heavy foods like pumpkin seeds and lentils are another great option, as well as fruits and vegetables for their high antioxidant content. Read more here!

Sugar Plum Skincare

We all love a good holiday treat—and that’s okay! But be cautious—too much sugar can cause lots of problems for your skin. From increased inflammation to oil overproduction, you don’t want to find out what those problems are firsthand. Inflammation can exacerbate issues like rosacea, eczema, and acne. High sugar intake can cause the skin to overproduce sebum, or oil, which can clog pores and lead to acne and breakouts. Additionally, sugar intake can even damage the collagen in your skin, which is necessary to maintain supple and firm skin. Now, we’re not saying to skip out on all treats! You can still enjoy your favorite holiday candies and pastries—just make sure to be mindful and include lots of those skin-happy foods in your diet as well!

Merry Skincare Habits

Now is a good time to start establishing good habits that will help you through the holidays and into the new year! We already discussed the need for a simple skincare routine, but there are other small changes you can make. Cleaning your phone screen is something you might not have thought of, but our phones actually harbor a LOT of bacteria. Some studies even suggest that our phones contain more bacteria than a toilet seat. That’s enough to say “Bah Humbug!” to not frequently cleaning your phone! Now think of all that bacteria being held to your face. That bacteria can transfer to your skin and can cause some pretty nasty problems. Make a habit of cleaning your phone on a regular basis, and you may find yourself with a lot fewer breakouts!

Similarly, make sure to change your pillowcase often. While most of us don’t lay down in bed with an unwashed face, we can still transfer unwanted contaminants to our pillowcases, and environmental dust and other pollutants can get on them as well. Throughout the day, those things can build up to extremely high numbers, and once you lay down, they hitch a ride on your face for the whole night. But changing your pillowcase often greatly decreases the number of contaminants that are finding their way onto your skin!

Don’t Let Your Skin Sing “Blue Christmas”!

You deserve a happy and healthy holiday season—without any skincare woes! While it can be a crazy time, implementing some of these habits can make a huge difference and keep the effects of holiday stress at bay.