Six Tips to Keep Your Skin Beautiful Through the Holiday

By Guest Blogger Michelle Copeland, D.M.D, M.D.

This is a challenging time of year, filled with parties, late nights and the all-too-frequent stresses of shopping and family obligations. And, with a lack of sleep, anxiety and an overabundance and indulgence in holiday joviality, your skin may be taking the brunt of all that abuse. It’s enough to make you want to hide behind a pack of reindeer.

It’s a season of hope though, so there’s plenty you can do to keep your skin looking great during some physically taxing months. Here are a few tips to keeping those cheeks—and the rest of your skin—as rosy, vibrant and healthy-looking as Santa Claus on Christmas Day.

Tip #1: Stay hydrated

It’s typical for the body to become dehydrated, especially if you plan on attending Holiday parties where you’ll be bombarded with pollutants such as smoke, dry air and any spirits you may be enjoying. When you’re dehydrated, the cells and membranes that make up your skin may shrink, causing stress and fine wrinkles. To reduce such an effect, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoid caffeinated beverages.

Tip #2: Moisturize

With the harsh change in the weather, it’s common for your skin to become very dry and cracked, especially for those who spend a lot of time outdoors. At the opposite end of the spectrum, those that spend a lot of time in heated indoor air without a humidifier can also suffer the same results. That’s why you should moisturize frequently, particularly in the morning and at bedtime. And don’t just focus on the face—use quality moisturizing products on your entire body for fresh and revitalized skin all over, which brings us to the next tip…

Tip #3: Use a quality moisturizer

What’s important is not the fashion appeal of your skin moisturizing products, but the properties and ingredients in them. You want to be sure to choose moisturizing products that provide hydration for your skin, but that simultaneously allow for skin pores to breathe.

Some moisturizing products contain oil-based ingredients, which can actually clog your pores and diminish or cancel out any moisturizing benefit. Look for products that contain a good mixture of non-oil-based moisturizing ingredients and antioxidants that help skin look and feel healthy. For example, antioxidants such as lipoic acid, and Vitamins A and E are very powerful ingredients that help keep skin soft and supple.

Tip #4: Focus on your eyes

The areas around your eyes are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of sleep deprivation and stress. Dark circles and puffiness are often the first warning flags that you need to take better care of your skin. There are many fine topical products that are specifically designed for the care and health of that part of your face. Look for ingredients like argireline and biopeptide (or pentapeptide) that help reduce wrinkles and promote firming of these sensitive areas. Also, make sure you use these products on a regular and frequent basis in order to see immediate and long-lasting results.

Tip #5: Protect your lips

Another vulnerable area of your face that can be susceptible to sometimes painful cracking is the lips. It’s important to use a good moisturizing product and wind protector for soft and kissable lips under the mistletoe. Look for something that also provides a high SPF protection from the sun. Lip enhancing products that contain ingredients like argireline and pentapeptides  for reducing the fine lines around the lips and nicotinic acid and cinnamon for immediate plumping can also provide protection while  giving your lips a more fuller look.

Tip #6: Consider Quick Fix Procedures

Lastly, if you’d really like to look ravishing for the holidays, consider minor, non-invasive procedures that require only a minimal time commitment for the procedures themselves and little or no time for recovery.   Such interventions as Botox injections, fillers, microdermabrasion and a variety of safe, quick and effective nonablative laser sessions that help smooth and tighten, Thermage^® [the “nonsurgical facelift” that requires no downtime] or the Threadlift^® to rid your face of sagging skin, are feasible even for those with heavy schedules. These treatments, which are performed by many physicians specializing in skin care, can go a long way toward making you feel and look great for the party circuit.

World-renowned, Harvard-trained plastic surgeon, biochemist, and best-selling author, Dr. Michelle Copeland has been sharing her skin care secrets with celebrities for years.  After graduating first in her class at Harvard, she became the first female plastic surgeon in the United States to hold combined doctorate in dentistry and medicine. Dr. Copeland is the author of Change Your Looks, Change your Life, and The Beautiful Skin Workout: Eight Weeks to Creamy Skin. She is  an Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Copeland practices cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Visit http://www.drcopeland.com or http://www.drcopelandskincare.com for more information on  Dr. Copeland and her line of specialty skin care products.