Increased consumption of fat, sugar and alcohol in a very short period of time can play havoc with the skin, as can a lack of exercise and sleep. At the end of the festive season, skin can often be duller and drier, and blemishes can also be an issue.
Thankfully, a few simple steps can help remedy the situation. If you’re the type who likes to indulge until the first weekend in January (i.e. today), here are some effective tips to help you regain your glow.
Put healthy eating back on the menu
While some people might opt for a strict detox, involving just fruit, vegetables and juices, it’s often sufficient simply to return to your pre-holiday habits to restore skin radiance. The first step is to reduce fat, sugar and alcohol intake – something you’ve probably already done, or will do, naturally.
But to optimise the results, it can be advisable to add fruits and vegetables with antioxidant properties to your diet, or those that help eliminate toxins and stimulate digestion.
When it comes to vegetables, choose celery, artichoke, cabbage, watercress, chicory, beet, broccoli and leeks. Citrus fruits have the power to help regulate digestion and are rich in vitamin C, an essential ally of the skin.
Kiwis, too, are perfect for a detox, as are red berries. In addition, try drinking a glass of warm or room-temperature water with lemon in the morning to help detoxify the skin.
A full beauty routine
Beyond diet, it is essential to resume your usual beauty routine, and even step it up. Late nights and fatigue lead many women to skip makeup removal, increasing the risk of blemishes. This risk is even greater since the end-of-year celebrations are synonymous with more elaborate makeup looks that can prevent the skin from breathing.
Removing makeup, cleansing the skin morning and night, using a chemical peel and detoxifying mask once a week, and daily moisturising are among the essential steps of a full and comprehensive beauty routine.
Certain beauty allies can also help you regain a fresh and radiant complexion more quickly. This is particularly true of purifying treatments, but also of facial saunas and massage tools that will help eliminate signs of fatigue.
Other tips, which may already be part of your daily routine, can help your skin look its best. Drinking plenty of water is recommended for glowing skin – some say 1.5 litres, but it really depends on the colour of your urine (light yellow for good hydration).
Similarly, resuming some form of exercise is beneficial for the skin, as is letting it breathe by considerably reducing the amount of makeup you wear for a few days. All in all, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get your healthy, glowing skin back after the holidays.