Imagine waking up on January 1 with a shorter list of resolutions, knowing that you not only survived the holidays, but you thrived. It is possible and you deserve to look and feel your best. The holiday season can be a combination of joy, activity and stress. And stress is best handled with optimum health. There is much to do and more opportunities for temptation but prioritizing your overall wellness is key to success.
The holiday season can take a toll on our skin with more alcohol, sugary foods and stress. Best results come with consistency and sticking to your regimen as much as possible, including supplementation and hydration. Aiming for better and not perfection and giving yourself freedom—but also knowing the ultimate reward is feeling your best which doesn’t have guilt attached or a lot of mistakes to remedy.
Gut balance is foundational to overall health. Continuing to foster a healthy, balanced gut microbiome during the holiday season is important. Eating a healthy meal or snack before going to a party helps to prompt you to make more selective choices. Socializing far away from the food table helps decrease temptation. Another trick is to alternate a glass of water with every visit to the buffet. That ensures you remain hydrated and increases your feelings of satiety. If you are going to splurge, make it enjoyable and worthwhile. 
After a late night out, it can be tempting to fall into bed without washing your face. Sleeping with makeup on is believed to contribute to premature aging of the skin. It can cause the breakdown of collagen and elastin by trapping dirt and pollutants and blocking your skin from cellular turnover. When we sleep, our skin does its best work with a warmer body temperature. Products seep in better and skin is renewed.
Staying consistent with exercise is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself this holiday season. Not only will your body thank you, but your skin also greatly benefits. Exercise helps with stress. Stress increases the body’s production of cortisol which degrades collagen. So, stress hurts our bodies, minds and skin. Exercise helps to stimulate the feel-good hormones, making everything merrier.
With a goal to look and feel more vibrant, there is no room for guilt. Guilt also wreaks havoc on the body, creating anxiety, stress and depression and that does not help anyone, or your skin! So, take these tips with a grain of grace and however you choose to celebrate, we support you and wish you the happiest holiday season.
