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Quick fixes for your post-festive face: Skincare tips and tricks to sort out your complexion

Bad skin can often strike around the festive period. [Photo: Getty]
Bad skin can often strike around the festive period. [Photo: Getty]

The Christmas period comes with its fair share of parties, alcoholic drinks and delicious food, but there’s often an unwelcome side effect of tired-looking, blotchy skin.

This means when it comes to New Year’s Eve parties, or returning back to work in the coming year, we’re rarely putting our best face forward at a time when we would like to be at our most glowy and spot-free.

As for exactly how our skin changes, it depends on its natural tendency. Those prone to acne will find themselves breaking out at this time of year, explains consultant dermatologist Dr. Anjali Mahto.

She says: “Increased alcohol intake such as sugary cocktails and the knock on effect it has on our behaviour (e.g. failing to take off make up after a night out or altered dietary choices) may have the tendency to drive acne or blemishes in a select group of people.

Others with more sensitive skin types find themselves quite literally channeling Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, with ruddy, wind-beaten complexions.

The winter time can be a challenging time of the year for our skin, specifically so the skin of the hands and face. Dryness, for many, can be a common concern as cold, windy weather can strip moisture from the skin surface leading to dryness, redness, and scaling.

“Central heating and the tendency to take hot baths and showers can further aggravate water loss from the skin surface.”

A lack of sleep – caused by late nights, irregular schedules and the effect diet has on our ability to nod off, will almost always affect your skin – resulting in dark circles and a ‘general tired appearance’, explains Mahto.

So what can you do to turn your skin around, pronto? Mahto has five, simple tips which will make a real difference to your complexion in the short-term.

First, make sure you are getting enough moisture in your skin – but without overloading it with a product that is too heavy. Try layering your moisturiser with a hyaluronic acid serum underneath – this will hydrate without blocking pores.

Next up, follow the golden rule of skincare: always take off your makeup before you go to bed – no matter how late it is.

If you suffer from dry hands, start wearing gloves to protect them outdoors before they become too dry.

Use masks to improve the texture and appearance of your skin. Try a hyaluronic acid mask in order to hydrate dry, tight-feeling skin, and a brightening face mask with vitamin C or glycolic acid in order to brighten a dull-looking complexion.

Finally, purchase some 2% salicylic acid, which can be purchased over-the-counter at pharmacies, in order to apply directly to spots.

If all else fails, Mahto advises covering up any problem skin with a non-comedogenic, high-coverage foundation such as Vichy Dermablend 3D – which can be purchased at Superdrug or at Boots.

Then, hold your head high and enjoy yourself: “Remember your self-worth is not defined by your aesthetic.”

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