Practicing Self-Care During the Holidays

The holiday season has started, and there are plenty of exciting events for you to look forward to. While celebrations may be significantly less festive compared to previous years, that doesn’t mean it’s non-existent. Normal holidays were stressful enough; this year may be even more so.

These factors combined with the decreasing temperature and humidity can take a toll on you and your skin. It’s essential to take good care of yourself during the season. Practice these self-care habits to keep your skin healthy and glowing during the holidays:

1. Avoid Wearing Skin-Irritating Clothes

Take note of the clothes that you wear during the holidays. While winter garments protect you from the cold, the same materials that make them warm might irritate your skin. With the colder season drying out the largest organ of your body, the rough fabric directly touching it can cause itchiness and irritation.

If you have atopic dermatitis or eczema, wearing wool clothing may trigger a flare. Avoid this by wearing light layers made from soft and breathable materials. On top of these, you can put on your warmer and heavier sweaters. As for your hands, protect them from the weather as well as from irritation with cotton or silk mittens before wearing a pair of wool gloves.

2. Select the Appropriate Skincare Products

Your skin produces less natural oil when it meets the cold air and wind. Because of this, you may find it necessary to change your skincare products. Your daily regime should include products that address season-specific issues your skin may be facing at the time, so the products that saved your skin during your summer vacation might not be as beneficial for the winter holidays.

Opt for skincare products like heavier and thicker moisturizers, which can help lock in moisture. For acne or breakouts, use products that contain hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides to help repair your skin’s moisture barrier. On the other hand, avoid products like astringents because they have alcohol, which can dry your skin.

3. Use a Humidifier and Lower the Thermostat

During the winter holidays, you often have to confront cold dry winds outdoors and hot dry air indoors. When the temperatures drop outside, it isn’t uncommon to adjust the thermostat inside your home. However, central heating can dry out the air in your house, and this can be bad news for your skin.

This is when using a humidifier will come in handy. It combats the cold air that dries out your lips, nose, and lungs, as well as your skin. Placing a humidifier in the rooms you spend the most time in can compensate for the lack of moisture. Consider lowering the thermostat to a comfortable setting to maintain healthy skin. Rather than cranking up the heat, try setting it around 20°C to 22°C.

4. Protect Yourself from the Sun

During the cold season, it may be tempting to bask in the warm sunshine when you can have it. Unfortunately, doing so can still damage your skin as much as in summer.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, UVB rays can burn your skin year-round, especially when bounced off reflective surfaces like snow or ice. Snow, in particular, can reflect up to 80% of the sun’s UV light, which can increase your risk of skin cancer and premature ageing. Whatever the season may be and regardless of whether the sun is visible or not, protect yourself from the sun. Cover up with the right winter gear and apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to any exposed skin.

5. Mind What You Eat

One huge aspect of what makes the holidays enjoyable is the various seasonal dishes you can often enjoy only this time of the year. Food is an important and even central feature in many holiday traditions, and sharing a festive meal with family and friends allows for a more delightful experience. Unsurprisingly, you may feel like overindulging.

This is not to say that you mustn’t enjoy any of the culinary holiday traditions. On the contrary, you can indulge to an extent as long as you are mindful of which ingredients may cause skin problems. Avoid excess dairy, processed sugar, and fatty food you might encounter at the dinner table. Instead, consume whole, unprocessed foods, such as fruits and vegetables to keep your skin and body healthy.

6. Stay Hydrated With Water

Hydrating yourself during the holidays is not a problem with the different kinds of beverages on hand. Alcohol consumption is typical during holidays. Some people like to celebrate with a glass of wine, beer, or other types of liquor. Others may prefer to drink non-alcoholic refreshments like soft drinks, or they might go for a cup of hot chocolate.

However, alcohol and caffeinated beverages can actually dehydrate your body when consumed in large amounts (besides other problems). Keep your skin and body properly hydrated by drinking plain water. As delicious as those other drinks may be, the ingredients often do your body no good. For example, eggnog contains eggs, alcohol, sugar, and whole milk or cream. Drinking alcohol can trigger rosacea, cause puffiness and bloating, and interrupt your normal sleep patterns. Meanwhile, excess sugar can cause inflammation and speed up skin ageing.

7. Exercise

The cold weather can be very relaxing, and you might have the urge to sit down on your couch and watch the day go. Working out might be the last thing you want to do, but it can be extremely advantageous for other reasons.

Exercising improves blood circulation. It delivers oxygen and nutrients to your skin, which keeps it healthy and supple. It also promotes new skin cells and collagen production, and that combats ageing. Additionally, the sweat you produce can help clear out your pores. Just make sure that you are not wearing any makeup before starting your workout.

Lastly, it’s a stress-reliever. Chronic stress can be harmful to your skin, aggravating skin problems like psoriasis and rosacea. By working out regularly, you can reduce your stress levels.

8. Shower with Lukewarm Water

Few things are as enticing as the idea of warming up with a hot shower in the cold winter months. Not only can hot showers help soothe muscle fatigue and relieve body tension, it can also reduce cold and cough symptoms. It helps your pores to open and allows you to clean out dirt and oil from your body.

Despite these advantages, however, there are downsides to having hot showers. Hot water can damage the keratin cells that are on the epidermis, the outermost layer of your skin. It creates dry skin and prevents the cells from retaining moisture. Eczema can also worsen with higher water temperatures, causing itching. Prevent all of these by taking a lukewarm shower.

It’s easy to lose yourself in the fun and festivities these upcoming holidays, which makes it all the more important to ensure health complications don’t stand in your way of having a good time. By following these self-care tips, you can help maintain and improve your skincare journey without taking the fun out of the holidays.

We want to help restore your confidence. If you are looking for more information about health and self-care or how to build an effective skin care regimen, then look no further than em clinic and spa. Our team offers professional skin care services in Toronto. You can contact us at (519) 668-7449.