Holiday Season Skin Care: 8 Tips to Keep Your Skin Looking Merry & Bright

From travel plans to food preparation to finding the perfect thing to wear to your in-laws for dinner, the holidays can be stressful all around. While we can’t help you book flights or pick up apple pie ingredients from the market for you, we can help you and your skin feel prepared for the festivities ahead this season. Below we share eight holiday season skin care tips to keep your skin looking stress-free and beautiful this year.

TIP #1: CLEANSE YOUR SKIN

Start your morning off on a good foot by cleansing your skin. This can not only help remove sweat and pore-clogging debris from your complexion, it can create a nice clean base for the day’s makeup, too. Try Vichy Pureté Thermale 3-in-1 One Step Cleanser, which is a purifying cleansing milk, toner, and makeup remover all combined into one tube.

TIP #2: APPLY ICE

Speaking of early wake up calls (and late nights), lack of sleep can cause your eyes to look fatigued. To help combat tired-looking eyes, try applying chilled spoons or ice to your under-eye area. This can help to temporarily de-puff the look of the delicate skin under your eyes. Looking for more tricks to help minimize the appearance of puffy-looking eyes? We share how to get rid of puffy eyes once and for all here. 

TIP #3: PICK A PRIMER WITH SKIN BENEFITS

Holiday festivities can be long—especially if you’re juggling plans—and chances are you’re going to be spending a few more hours in your makeup than normal. To ensure that your “face” stays in place (and your skin looks flawless) pick a makeup primer that can give you better makeup application and simultaneously benefit your skin. We share a roundup of our favorite primers with skin care benefits here. 

TIP #4: DON’T FORGET YOUR LIP BALM

If your holiday plans are being spent away from home, be sure to toss an extra lip balm in your handbag or carry on. Travel can be drying to skin—especially if you are traveling by air—and your lips are often one of the first places to show signs of dehydration. Keeping a hydrating lip balm on hand and applying often helps to moisturize your pout and prep it for the season’s gorgeous dark lipsticks. 

TIP #5: TAKE YOUR MAKEUP OFF

Whether you’ve been prepping your side dishes and basting the turkey since the crack of dawn or you had one too many drinks and you’re simply burnt out from the day’s festivities, taking your makeup off at the end of the evening is an absolute must. Plan ahead and leave a bottle of makeup removing micellar water and your facial moisturizer by your bedside table. This way, when it comes time to hit the hay, all you have to do is give your complexion a few swipes and you’re done. Vichy Puretè Thermale 3-in-1 Micellar Water is a convenient no-rinse option that can remove makeup and lingering impurities in one fell swoop. No harsh rubbing, no irritation, and no sticky residue.

TIP #6: STAY HYDRATED

Holidays are the perfect excuse to indulge in a couple extra cocktails, but alcohol can take a toll on the appearance of your skin. Imbibe responsibly and be sure to drink water in between glasses of wine or cocktails to stay hydrated.

And don’t forget about hydrating on the outside with a well-formulated moisturizer or serum. After all, the season’s notoriously harsh winds and brutal cold can dry out your skin fairly quickly. Reach for Vichy Mineral 89, a fan favorite hyaluronic acid moisturizer in the brand’s portfolio. The formula can deliver a boost of hydration to the skin, as well as a healthy-looking glow. To learn more about Mineral 89, read our full product review here.   

TIP #7: GIVE YOUR SKIN A DETOX

On the morning after a holiday get-together or party, treat your complexion to a face mask formulated with charcoal, like Vichy’s Clarifying Charcoal Mask. Formulated to reduce the look of enlarged pores, this mask can remove dirt and toxins from the skin’s surface. The result? Skin that’s left feeling clean and clear. We took Clarifying Charcoal Mask for a spin, so check out our full product review here.

TIP #8: BOOST RADIANCE WITH VITAMIN C

The holidays call for bright-colored clothing and lipstick, so your skin should look equally as radiant and eye-catching. To help boost your skin’s radiance, incorporate a daily vitamin C serum into your routine. An affordable drugstore option is Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum. Formulated with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, this vitamin C serum can leave skin looking brighter and feeling firmer in just 10 days. To learn more about Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum, read our full product review here.