Post Holiday Season Skin Care Action Plan

Between the late nights, the travel, and the seemingly never-ending stress the holiday season can leave our skin looking a little worse for wear. Now that the New Year is here it’s time to get serious about your skin care once and for all. Below we share how you can get things back on track and get your skin back to its former glory!

Cleanse & Hydrate

First things first--no complexion will ever look its best if it's bogged down with dirt and grime. It’s time to make cleansing morning and night your new priority. This year, elevate your skin care routine by investing in a Clarisonic cleansing brush. Not only can you use your favorite cleanser with these devices, you can also customize your cleanse by choosing from one of the brand’s unique brush heads. Clarisonic can cleanse the skin six times better than hands alone and after a season where we may have neglected this all-too-important skin care step in favor of hitting the hay with a full face of makeup intact, an efficient cleanse is just what our complexion calls for! After cleansing make sure you always (always, always!) reach for moisturizer— especially one formulated with SPF for added protection. 

Mask

A post-party season face-masking binge is definitely in order. There are plenty of face masks out there which allow for you to target individual skin concerns, even on parts of your body other than your face. Our personal favorites are face masks that work double-duty benefits as you lay back and relax. The Garnier Glow Boost 2-in-1 Facial Mask and Scrub can absolutely get the job done. Using apricot seeds along with other naturally-derived ingredients, you have your choice of wearing the product as a face mask or as a quick morning (or evening) scrub. Whichever way, you'll be able to start your new year off right with a glowing complexion in no time. 

Exfoliate

If the winter weather has your skin looking a little lackluster, give it a little pick me up by incorporating regular weekly exfoliation into your routine. As we get older our skin’s natural process of shedding dead skin cells from skin’s surface can start to slow down which can result in a buildup of this dull-looking dead skin on the surface of our complexion. To help reveal more radiant-looking skin—and to help your other products work—slough that buildup away with exfoliation. You can opt for physical exfoliation with a scrub or chemical exfoliation with enzymes or alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). One of our favorite AHAs for chemical exfoliation is glycolic acid. “Glycolic acid helps to smooth out the top layer of skin,” explains board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com consultant Dr. Lisa Ginn. “You can find it in a host of products including creams, serums, and cleansers.

Soak

Okay, it's likely a soak in a warm (note, we didn’t say hot!) bath isn’t going to make your skin look any different. But, what it can do is help you chill out after an especially stressful season. Some studies suggest that stress can wreak havoc on our complexions, worsening any already existing issues we may have. To calm things down, take a look at how you can have a DIY spa day at home. After all, pampering is one of the many ways to keep your skin healthy. 

Break a Sweat

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, moderate exercise can improve circulation which in turn can help to give your skin a more youthful appearance. Since the gyms are notoriously packed this time of year, why not break a sweat at home?  Just be sure you're taking the proper measure to cleanse after your workout so your pores don't suffer later.