9 TIPS FOR HEALTHY SKIN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON (THAT ACTUALLY WORK)
A lot of delicious food, alcohol, sun, and a little stress - yep, the silly season is fast approaching!
It is time to holiday-proof your skincare routine because I hate to break it to you, the night before that holiday party is too late.
IN THIS ARTICLE
01 Protect your skin
02 Remove your makeup
03 Consistency
04 You need to exfoliate
05 Combat skin damage
06 Drink for health 07 Longer lasting makeup
08 Stay cool this summer
09 Manage holiday stress
These are our tips and product recommendations for healthy, radiant skin - and we promise it's only a little bit from sweat!
01. Protect, protect, protect!
I can practically see you rolling your eyes, but hear me out! Sun protection may not sound fun or exciting, but neither does skin cancer and premature aging. Summer in Australia means high temperatures and extreme UV ratings. According to the Cancer Council, two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. The primary cause of skin cancer is exposure to UV radiation from the sun, and almost entirely preventable. Want more not-so-fun facts? A huge percentage of premature aging is caused by the sun, and I'm not just talking about getting burnt. Everyday incidental exposure is enough to accelerate uneven skin tone, fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. You should be protecting yourself from the sun every single day. Here are our top sun protection tips: ● Wear clothing that protects you from the sun ● Wear an SPF30+ (and reapply) on every part of the skin that is exposed ● Wear a sun-smart hat and sunglasses ● Seek shade where possible
Phew, now that we have that out of the way, to the fun part - product recommendations: FYI: We will never endorse something that we do not use and fully believe in! ** These are affiliate links & they cost nothing more for you, but they do help keep VAMS running and thriving.
Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+ $42 - A bestseller for a reason!
Naked Sundays SPF50+ Hydrating Glow Mist from $29.95 - The mini mist goes everywhere with Ellie, it is a LIFE SAVER. It fits in your small party bags and gives you a dewy glow.
Naked Sundays Golden Glow Body Sunscreen SPF50 $44.95 - This is Ellie’s secret to glowy and protected skin.
Naked Sundays Glow + Go Lip Oil with SPF50+ $29.95 - Leaves your lips soft, hydrated, and protected, with no stickiness.
We are big Naked Sundays fans! Always use sunscreen as directed.
Solbari UPF50+ sun protection clothing, sun hats, swimwear, and accessories - for the sun-serious (and smart) person.
02. Remove your makeup
… Not to mention all of that sunscreen, sweat, dirt, and excess oil. I don’t care how many Aperol Spritz’s you have had at sunset drinks, repeat after me: “We will not go to bed with our makeup on”. Not only will you have clean skin, but you will be the freshest face at brunch tomorrow! We recommend the double cleansing method - these are our top picks for taking the day off:
Gunk Off Cleansing Balm $48 - Both Ellie and Tiana use this daily to melt away sunscreen and makeup.
La Clinica Gentle Milk Facial Cleanser $66 - Ellie’s second cleanse favourite for her dry skin. USE CODE: VAMS15 FOR 15% OFF
Mecca Max FOAM-O Gentle Gel Cleanser $15 - Tiana’s everyday favourite to balance her combination skin.
03. Stay consistent
Consistency is everything when it comes to getting results from your skincare. Think of it like this - If you are working with a personal trainer to get shredded abs, you wouldn’t expect results after one session. You might feel amazing, sure, but real results take time. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather do my skincare routine than an ab workout. The daily skincare non-negotiables are: 1. Cleansing 2. Moisturising 3. Wearing and re-applying sunscreen That’s it. There is always more you can do, but your skincare routine needs to work for you and fit your lifestyle, if it overwhelms you, you probably won’t stick to it. Ellie and Tiana’s favourite moisturisers are:
Scott + Sullivan The Moisturizer $90
Naturally Serious Skin Warrior Moisture Rescue Cream $59.29
La Clinica Deep Hydration Moisture Cream $66 USE CODE: VAMS15 FOR 15% OFF
04. Exfoliate - but don’t overdo it
Have you ever noticed your skin is oilier in summer? Here's why; with summer comes heat, heat stimulates the sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum, aka oil. Think of it like this; if you have ever had a jar of coconut oil in your pantry, you have probably noticed that in winter it solidifies, and in summer it is liquid. Feeling oilier in summer is completely normal. Your pores act like channels to deliver oil to the surface of your skin. This is imperative for skin health. However, when oil and dead skin cells get clogged in the pore, bacteria grow and feed off the oil, creating a pimple. Increased oil, plus a lot of sweat and bacteria means there is more chance of our pores becoming blocked. Regular exfoliation helps skin slough off these dead skin cells and can dissolve and prevent pore build-up. Every person will have different needs, but I recommend exfoliating two to three times a week. Less is more. Ellie and Tiana’s product recommendations:
La Clinica 3 Fruit Enzymes Exfoliating Scrub & Mask $72 - can be used as a mask or physical exfoliant, gently removing dead skin cells while soothing inflammation, and smelling divine. USE CODE: VAMS15 FOR 15% OFF
Oat Body Skincare Scrubs from $21.95 - extremely gentle and smell good enough to eat.
Boring Without You For Face Sake Mask $54 - two in one mask for combination, acne-prone skin.
Mecca Max CLEAN SWEEP Gentle Exfoliating & Brightening Toner $15 - beginner-friendly exfoliant for combination or oily skin.
05. Include antioxidants in your daily routine
Antioxidants are like little soldiers fighting to protect your skin from damage triggered by UV light, stress, smoking, alcohol, pollution, etc. They help to slow down the signs of aging. Absolute heroes in my opinion! I’d recommend adding an antioxidant serum to your daytime routine, however, if you want to stick to basics, you can choose an antioxidant-rich moisturiser. You might even find some sunscreens that contain them. Serums:
Go-To Much Brighter Skin $59
kit: No.3 Concentrate - Goji Berry $34
Moisturisers:
Aspect Phytostat 9 $93
La Clinica Rebalancing Day Cream $66 USE CODE: VAMS15 FOR 15% OFF
Sunscreen:
Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+ Brightening Sun Serum $48
AB Lab Dewy-C SPF50+ Facial Sun Milk $39.95
06. Drink more water
To keep you cool in summer, your body will sweat more, this is natural. When you consume alcohol, your body also releases more fluids than usual. Water is essential to most bodily functions, and dehydration is not only bad for your skin, but it can also be life-threatening. We should be increasing our water intake to replenish this increased water loss. So when you are down the pub having a few cheeky beers, make sure you are also ‘on the waters’. Your skin, and most importantly, your body will thank you.
07. Mask and mist
We need to drink enough water to be healthy, however, only a very small percentage of the water we drink directly benefits our skin. Our other organs are a bit more important! We also lose water from our skin naturally, this is known as Trans Epidermal Water Loss or TEWL. This is why it is so important to replenish hydration not only internally, but also topically. Have you ever noticed your foundation disappearing in patches throughout the day? Maybe you feel oily and dry at the same time. These are signs your skin could be dehydrated. Hydrating masks are a great way to re-hydrate your skin as they flood your skin with hydration, leaving you feeling plump and juicy! Mists are also amazing to boost your skin’s hydration whenever you need it. Bonus points, many hydrating mists are also jam-packed with antioxidants, we love a multi-purpose product! These products are like a big drink of water for your skin:
Good Living Only HYDR8 - Collagen Infused Bio Cellulose Treatment Mask $20 USE CODE: GOODTOBEVAIN FOR 20% OFF
Airyday Night Rain Sleep Mask $34.95
Mecca Max Night Duty Hydrating Overnight Jelly Mask $22
Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist $69
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra Fine Mist $44
08. Sleep on silk
There is one thing worse than hot, sweaty, restless nights in summer - your pillowcase absorbing all of that sweat, bacteria, etc. Is anyone else cringing? Silk absorbs less than other fabrics do, meaning it is less likely to harbor bacteria and who knows what else. It is also less likely to absorb your skincare, keeping your hydration on your face, where we need it to be! Silk is also cooler to the touch, so it can be more comfortable to sleep on in summer. Why not add a little luxury to your life? You deserve it!
Splash Happy Silk Pillowcases from $109
Just Mulberry Silk Silk Pillowcases from $69
09. Prioritise your mental health
Let's be real, holiday time can be STRESSFUL. Stress can actually cause your skin to break out and accelerate premature aging. What!? The hormones that your body releases when stressed can increase sebum production, meaning you will be oilier than usual. If you have been paying attention you know that more oil often means more breakouts. I am sure we all notice increased discoloration and puffiness around the eyes when we are tired, stress can interrupt our sleep, which then impacts the appearance of our skin. Your body perceives stress as a threat, and therefore can send out an inflammatory response, leading to inflamed skin and an impaired moisture barrier. Lastly, have you ever thought about your facial expressions when you are stressed? These expressions can lead to fine lines and wrinkles. Now that I have you stressed out about getting stressed, here are some tips to minimize the effects of said stress.
Move your body every day
Try to eat a balanced diet, despite all of the holiday overindulgence
Schedule time for YOU - read a book, take a bath, meditate,watch some Netflix, etc.
Ditch your phone, or turn off your notifications, even if it’s just for 24 hours
Listen to your body - you don’t have to go to every party or do every activity
Talk to someone about how you are feeling, click here if you need more support
Remember, healthy skin does not equal perfect skin, be kind to yourself. Happy Holidays!
written by Tiana Lawrence, a skin specialist and content creator, passionate about making skincare less overwhelming whilst promoting realistic beauty standards.