All I want this holiday season is… pimples?

December 13, 2015

I want a LOT of different things for the Holidays. .  I want the Echo (don’t smirk- it is the life of the party when you have one – trust me. I have been to that party and people can’t stop talking to “Alexa”.) I want a LOT of rain (see previous blog post). I want to miraculously find that one gift for my significant other that he will actually like and not just pretend to like.  I want to eat anything and not gain weight (like my own personal cheesecake for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day!). Most of all, I really just want to feel the true magic of the season like I did when I was a kid.

I want all of these things (and more) but notice thatI didn’t list pimples.  Nope – I don’t want those! I don’t think anyone does but it happens and it’s actually more frequent during the holidays. Why? Here are a few reasons:

• Stress. Yup, it’s a killer on the body and even though this is supposed to be a love-filled time of year, it’s also a stressful one between finding the right gifts, going to your in-laws and just trying to schedule in everything that needs to happen in a short amount of time.  This maybe considered “good stress” but regardless, it wreaks havoc on your skin.  Pimples appear almost out of nowhere. Not pretty!
• Increased beauty product.  I very rarely take the time to do my hair and put on loads of make-up but since there are more parties to go to this time of year, I find myself spraying hairspray in my ‘do and putting some stuff on my face that I normally never do.  I admit it, I look good… that night.  Then poof!  Practically the next morning, my face revolts and breakout city!
• Baby, it’s cold outside!  Wait – but I’m inside so why does that matter? Well, indoor heating can also make your skin itchy, red and inflamed, which leads to picking. Yikes! We don’t like picking because it brings with it more damage to your skin, not to mention more bacteria is introduced.  Yuck yuck yuck.  So what to do?  Hydrate!  Drink loads of water and use your  moisturizer as needed!  Oh and open a window periodically to let some wonderful fresh air in!
• Good food overload. And by good food, I mean sugary goodness (cheesecake!).  Yup, all those Christmas treats that abound everywhere you look mean a lot of sugar and a lot of carbs. That means they have a high glycemic index, which raises your blood sugar level.  Studies have shown that eating high quantities of these types of foods can increase skin inflammation and aggravate breakouts. So what to do?  Stick to the healthy stuff – nuts, veggies and be moderate with those oh-so-yummy Gingerbread Lattes.
• The couch-potato pimple. Blustery winter days mean I don’t get out of the house as much as I do in the summer. I kind of tend to sit around  a lot more. Which means I don’t sweat.  Which means that I just let all those nasty toxins in my body build up.  Solution?  Go to the gym, go to the sauna… go for a run in the rain.  Do something to sweat and get your body moving!
• Too tired to wash.  Yup, this is kind of in line with the second reason above.  Basically, during the holidays I tend to go out a lot more at night than I do at other times in the year. I stay up late, looking all gorgeous in my fancy clothes and makeup, and then I come home late and realize that I am not as young as I once was and I crash. Barely manage to change out of my fancy clothes, much less wash off the gobs of makeup and do my nighttime skin routine. And I wake up and Voila! Pimple time!  So whatever you do, whenever you get home, make sure to wash your face!

So with all this in mind, go out and be Merry. Enjoy the magic of the season. Stay healthy.  Give lots of hugs. And wash your face.