As fun as the festive season can be, it plays havoc with our skin. Here’s how to counteract the damage and sashay into the New Year with confidence
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Good intentions abound in January, but some are more necessary than others. The festive season is awash with bad habits, all of which can derail your glowing skin plans.
Of these, alcohol is the greatest saboteur as it’s a diuretic. “Alcohol drains water from the body and removes fluids from the skin, causing dehydration and a lymphatic imbalance,” says Dana Nel, a facial wellbeing expert. Not least because any precious hydration is diverted to the body’s internal organs rather than the skin.
It's not just immediate moisture that the skin is sapped of, either. Alcohol can compromise the skin barrier, too, “leading to dry, rough, thin and sensitised skin,” she adds. From then on, it’s a vicious circle. When you do rehydrate, the skin barrier can no longer hold on to moisture, causing yet more inflammation, and the spiral is complete.
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Cocktails can be a sly villain, too. Laced with sugar, your Manhattans and Mojitos can cause a sudden spike in insulin levels, which is not unlike the effect of stress on the skin. Sugar can ramp up activity in the sebaceous glands, leading to acne, or exacerbate underlying skin conditions such as eczema. Given that alcohol triggers the release of galanin, a chemical that ignites a craving for fatty foods, any inflammation inevitably worsens if you succumb to the urge.
Related: Do January detoxes really work?
As if that’s not bad enough, skin also has to contend with the damage sugar unleashes when it binds to proteins. Sugar in the bloodstream forms harmful molecules, appropriately called AGEs (advanced glycation end products), which attach to and break down the collagen and elastin fibres in your skin, causing you to age prematurely.
So what can be done?
For Nel, the priority is to rebuild the delicate skin barrier in order to shuttle moisture and nutrients back into the skin. “Avoid barrier-degrading ingredients such as glycolic and kojic acids,” she says. “Rather, prioritise botanical oils high in essential fatty acids, hyaluronic acid and ceramides.” Dr Jart+ ceramidin skin barrier moisturising cream and Lumene
Nordic sensitive rich day cream are good options.
If post-party puffiness is an issue, one option is to invest in a cryotherapy tool. “Alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate close to the outer layer of skin, which is why rosacea can often look worse after a few drinks,” explains Nel. A cold shock from the Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask will help to constrict blood vessels and instantly de-puff.
If flare-ups of acne and eczema are an issue, lean on CBD-powered products such as Mantle’s Dream Mask. Research carried out by dermatologists from the University of Colorado School of Medicine found that cannabinoids such as CBD can reduce inflammation in patients suffering from eczema. Co-founder Stina Lönnkvist also swears by CBD’s power to balance oil production.
Meanwhile, skincare such as SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Cream contains blueberry extract, a potent antioxidant and AGE fighter. Nightly application is even more crucial if you’ve been guilty of sleeping in your makeup. Cell renewal – a core tenet of healthy skin – is eight times faster at night than in the middle of the day so what you slather on before bed will go a long way to undoing the sins of party season.
