When Winter rolls around, it seems like there’s always one holiday party or another to get to each week. Since everyone loves to snap photos to post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media outlets these days, looking good for holiday gatherings has never been more important. But between running around to find the perfect gifts, slaving over a hot stove to bake cookies and other treats, staying up late to wrap presents, and enjoying a little too much egg nog, you may find yourself looking a little haggard during this festive season.
Whether it’s dull, flaky skin, puffy eyes, or chapped lips that have you looking less that your best, you can get your skin glowing and photo-ready in a few easy steps – it just takes the right product and a little preparation.
For glowing skin, exfoliation is key. The morning of your party, use an exfoliating cleanser to remove dead skin cells and flaky patches. Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant is an ideal option because it’s gentle enough for daily use so you don’t have to worry about redness and irritation before your get together. The Daily Microfoliant is actually a powder formula, so you work it into a lather with wet hands and apply it to your face in a circular motion before rinsing thoroughly.
If you have mature or aging skin, you may want to start your party prep a week or so before the event with a more intense exfoliator. The Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant is a powerful exfoliant that can help improve your skin’s texture and firmness. It’s also self-heating, which allows for the formula’s vitamins to more easily penetrate your skin. Apply the exfoliant to damp skin in a circular motion, though you can apply it directly to dry skin for more powerful exfoliation. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and follow with your usual toner and moisturizer. You can use the Multivitamin Thermafoliant two to three times a week, so you may want to use it a couple of times before your holiday party for smooth, glowing skin.
If you have extremely sensitive skin, avoid exfoliating the day of your event – you may experience redness that’s difficult to hide even with makeup. Exfoliate two to three days in advance so your skin has time to recover before the party.
Moisturizer is another key to looking healthy and glowing for your holiday event. Just before the party, wash your face with your favorite cleanser and toner. Follow immediately with a moisturizer that provides heavy-duty hydration in the cold, dry winter weather. If you have very dry skin, start with Dermalogica’s Skin Hydrating Booster, which contains hyaluronic acid and other super hydrating ingredients to soothe even the most parched of skin. Follow with a moisturizer like the Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance for a deeply hydrating option or Dermalogica Pure Light SPF30 for a lightweight formula.
If you have oily skin, the Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion is a better choice – it lightly hydrates the skin and absorbs oil so you’ll stay shine-free for the entire party. For acne prone skin, opt for the Dermalogica Clearing Mattifier, which contains salicylic acid to fight oil and treat acne at the same time.
If your eyes are looking tired and puffy after too many late nights of baking and gift wrapping, you should use a targeted eye treatment before your party too. The gloTherapeutics Eye Fix Revitalizing Treatment works well for puffiness because it contains essential oils like rosemary, lavender and matricaria flower that have anti-inflammatory proprieties to get rid of under eye bags. If dark circles are your problem, the Bioelements Tinted Undereye and Lid Smoother can help hide discolorations and blur the look of fine lines for a fresh, wide awake eyes.
When you’re rocking a festive red lip for your holiday party, don’t forget to prep your lips. Dark lipstick highlights flaky, dry patches, which can create a splotchy look. Hydrate winter-dry lips with a product like Dermalogica’s Renewal Lip Complex, which contains avocado oil, shea butter, and cocoa seed butter to infuse lips with plenty of moisture and create a smooth canvas for lipstick.