Everyone wants to start the new year with glowy skin and fresh beginnings – but many may be finding that January has brought forth breakouts, sagging, and dullness.
But fear not – for you might simply be a victim of ‘festive face’. Though the Christmas period is well and truly over, our visage still pays the price for a season of late nights in England’s frosty weather, booze, and gorging on rich foods.
Those guilty of overindulging can appear bloated, with congested, tired, and sallow appearances.
Dr Nyla Raja, a Dermatologist and Founder of Dr Nyla Medispa, explained the five most common signs of the phenomenon, including clogged pores and more fine lines.
‘The festive season often means more parties, toasts, and, unfortunately, more fine lines. Alcohol dehydrates your skin, leaving it more prone to wrinkles and fine lines,’ she explained.
‘Red wine is a particular culprit for this, causing histamine reactions that may lead to inflammation, puffiness, and a dull complexion.’
But luckily, for those who had a few too many over the festive period, a compromised complexion from alcohol can be rectified.
‘Most skin damage from drinking too much is reversible, so as long as you’re hydrating and drinking sensibly, a little mulled wine won’t hurt,’ Dr Raja advised.
Suffering from a tired and dull appearance with more breakouts than ever? Well, you might be a victim of festive face (stock image)
She continued: ‘I recommend having a HydraFacial to deeply cleanse, exfoliate, and rehydrate your skin, restoring that winter glow even after a night of indulgence.
‘You should also focus on hydrating skincare products with ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, retinol, squalane, shea butter, ceramides, and peptides.
‘Aside from renewing the skin for a glowing complexion, you’ll support collagen production and minimise ageing signs, which alcohol can exacerbate through collagen depletion.’
However, there are factors that are beyond our control, with cold temperatures impacting the skin’s moisture levels.
Dr Raja said: ‘Prolonged cold weather steals moisture away from your skin, especially on the face, and can lead to a loss of elasticity, making your skin appear dull and droopy. In fact, we lose 25 per cent of our skin’s ability to retain moisture.
‘The drop in temperature also decreases circulation, which can leave your complexion looking tired.
Overindulging in rich foods, alcohol, and sugary puddings over Christmas is likely to compromise one’s appearance come January (stock image)
‘Your skin can also appear to lose laxity and volume through not wearing SPF in winter. Sun protection all year round is important, as UVA, the leading cause of skin-age acceleration, is something we are exposed to no matter what the season is.
‘Skin tightening treatments can help reduce these adverse effects as they can help with tightening loose skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
‘To counteract this, I recommend Exilis Elite radiofrequency treatment, which tightens the skin by stimulating collagen production, offering a firming boost that’s perfect for the winter months.’
In addition to increased alcohol intake and cold nights, Christmas time can be filled with stress, causing adverse effects on one’s appearance.
Dr Raja explained: ‘We’ve all been there – last-minute shopping, wrapping gifts, financial budgeting, and endless to-do lists. The stress of the season can lead to breakouts, as stress hormones like cortisol increase oil production.
‘Stress can be a leading trigger for some people’s eczema flare-up in winter, so taking extra care for yourself after the stressful spell of Christmas can help keep breakouts at bay.’
The expert explained that opting for deeply nourishing creams to protect can be the perfect way to take extra care after the often-stressful period.
‘A separate day cream and night cream (or applying your rich cream day and night) will give you round the clock skin barrier protection, allowing for skin renewal activity support whilst you sleep,’ she said.
Dr Raja explained people should still take measures to protect themselves against the sun, despite the cold and gloomy weather (stock image)
Dr Raja added: ‘For treatment, Morpheus8 is perfect for targeting breakouts and improving skin texture by stimulating deep layers of the skin and reducing overactive sweat glands, to restore skin balance.’
However, the treatment is not suitable for those with active eczema, open sores and psoriasis.
Meanwhile, our skin is also recovering from an increased sugar intake throughout December.
Dr Raja said: ‘While indulging in holiday sweets is a hallmark of the season, sugar wreaks havoc on your skin through glycation, which breaks down collagen and elastin, leaving skin sagging and dull.
‘While you shouldn’t avoid festive indulging all-round, it’s important to care for your skin and body with balance.
‘Sticking to a low-glycaemic diet full of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds and drinking plenty of water may help prevent breakouts or lessen their severity.’
The last most common feature of the festive face is highlighted pores, or as Dr Raja calls them, party pores.
‘With all the holiday-glam comes clogged pores from long-wear makeup. Foundation, setting sprays, and heavy powders can congest your skin, leaving it prone to breakouts and dullness,’ she said.
The skincare expert explained the importance of deeply moisturising the skin and cleaning makeup applicators (pictured)
Dr Raja continued: ‘Watch out for ingredients in your make-up such as fragrances, dyes, acrylics, parabens, and silicones, which tend to be the most triggering for skin blemishes or irritation.
‘After the festive season, you might be carrying your make-up in your bag with you on the go, and chances are you haven’t cleaned your make-up brushes or make-up sponges before applying your make-up every time.
‘These beauty tools chop and change between our bags and they act as a breeding ground for bacteria. Ensure to regularly clean your make-up products to avoid this.’
Elsewhere, the Medical Director of Cosmedics skin clinics, Dr Ross Perry, highlighted the importance of a good night’s sleep in redeeming festive face.
He said: ‘The skin is the largest organ in the human body and getting a good night’s sleep is vital for healthy skin, because when we sleep, our skin repairs itself, producing more collagen and reducing dark under eye circles.
‘Poor sleep can lead to fine lines, uneven pigmentation, and overall lacklustre skin. Ultimately, lack of sleep can weaken the skin’s ability to repair itself overnight.
‘First off make sure you’re getting seven to eight hours of good quality sleep at night, so a good routine needs to be in place. Try to aim for roughly the same time of going to bed each night, switching off gadgets and making sure the bedroom is a relaxing environment.
‘Use a vitamin C serum on the skin to help rejuvenate overnight.
‘Try to destress as much as possible, so a warm bath before bed and eating before 8 pm is also recommended and ditch alcohol, caffeine and any other substances which are seen as stimulants.
He added: ‘The best way to get rid of ‘festive face’ is to go back to a healthy diet and lifestyle, good skincare regime and getting plenty of sleep, which will all help internally and go towards looking fresh faced and healthy again.’
‘I always recommend using a vitamin C serum at night as this goes deeper into the layers and helps to boost moisture and combat dry skin.
‘Also, during winter, it’s best to use a thicker moisturiser to help combat the winter elements and other environmental damage such as central heating.
‘Using products containing hyaluronic acid is also great in aiding skin hydration, and glycolic acid is extremely good as an ingredient for boosting tired and dull-looking skin.
‘It’s important to get into a routine as soon as possible and stick to it. Don’t expect immediate results. Find products which suit your skin type and tackle specific problem areas.
He concluded: ‘Lifestyle however is key here – and that means sticking to a healthy balanced diet, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, exercising regularly, a good skin care regime and wearing SPF.’
