As much as we love the festive season, it can play havoc with your skin. But what are the worst offenders and how can you counteract them now?

Read on for five festive skin killjoys to be aware of, plus some simple tricks to help you veer away from their repercussions … And to give you an extra helping hand, you can enjoy Buy 1 Get 1 HALF PRICE across the store in our FLASH New Year Sale here!

As much as we love the festive season, it can play havoc with your skin. But what are the worst offenders and how can you counteract them now?

1. One Minute It’s Hot, The Next It’s Cold …

The contrast of cold weather that lacks humidity, along with cranked up heating indoors can also take its toll on your complexion. Dry air sucks moisture and essential oils out of your skin which upsets the balance of your skin’s natural moisturising factor (NMF) and compromises its barrier function.

The Fix? Layer your moisturisers to really amp up hydration and help seal water and moisture into your skin ...

Spritz your skin with Diamond Toner after cleansing then apply Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum for a boost of hyaluronic acid and replenishing vitamin E. To finish, smooth on Imperial Moisturiser followed by Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil.

Need To Know: Your skin’s barrier function is the uppermost layer which forms a protective layer to stop moisture getting out and toxins from getting in. When your barrier function and NMF get out of whack, it often results in dry, itchy skin that can feel tight and itchy. Couple this with festive, cozy fires which dry your skin out even further and you could have a real situation on your hands.

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2. Burning The Midnight Oil

It’s all too easy to stay up way past your normal bedtime over the festive period. And missing out on valuable zzzs reduces your skin’s recovery time and can accelerate premature ageing.

You see, when you’re asleep, blood flow to your skin increases, cell turnover almost doubles, collagen and elastin production kicks in and your skin’s natural antioxidant system gets to work. This means that if you go to bed at 2am and wake up at 6, your skin has very little time to restore and repair itself from the day before.

The Fix? During really busy times, get at least six hours of sleep every night (preferably eight if you can manage it). And never skip your usual cleanse! If you're making up for valuable lost time with your head down, now's the time to stick to a few early nights to give your skin a fighting chance.

Need To Know: Staying up late isn't an excuse to skip your skin routine. Failing to remove your make-up and skipping your daily cleanse will catch up with you the very next day. Your skin will likely be dehydrated too from the lack of sleep. Try Natural Make-Up Remover, then thoroughly cleanse and treat your skin with Crystal Cleanser and Night Elixir.

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3. So. Much. STRESS!

A month (or more!) of making lists… checking them twice… shopping for gifts… preparing food… parties… family gatherings… gosh, the festive season is an extremely busy time. Unless you’re some kind of Wonder Woman, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the pressures of a ‘perfect Christmas.’

Emotional stress has a massive impact on the health of your skin, creating an abundance of cortisol which interferes with healing, encourages inflammation, increases sebum production, decreases hyaluronic acid production and breaks down collagen and elastin. Hello pre-mature ageing!

The Fix? De-stressing your body, mind and skin as soon as you realistically can. A relaxing bath, going for a walk, reading a book. Just doing something you enjoy! Create your home spa-like facial with Natural Element Clay Mask - a deep skin detox to draw out impurities to further boost your radiance. And oil your hair at the same time with our new No. 1 Natural Hair Oil for some serious you time!

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4. You Are What You Eat ...

One of our favourite things about the festive season is the food! We all know a festive diet is like no other diet throughout the year. But sadly overdoing the bad stuff (here’s looking at you salt, sugar, refined carbs and highly processed food), can create inflammation in the skin while stimulating oil production, increasing breakouts, accelerating the formation of wrinkles and causing excess dehydration. All in all unhappy skin.

The Fix? Of course, treating yourself is an absolute must during the festive season! But now's the time to balance out those indulgences and get your skin back in check. Plenty of antioxidant-rich fresh fruit and veg, nuts, seeds, pulses and healthy fats to boost the health of your body and your skin. Try juicing and smoothies too to make things more exciting after such wonderful Christmas delights!

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5. Watch Out For The Booze

Alcohol can easily get the better of you during the festive season. But remember, alcohol dilates the blood vessels (cue facial redness!) and has diuretic effects on the body which robs it of essential fluids and nutrients.

And dehydration has dastardly effects on the skin, making your face feel tight and dry, while appearing dull, pale, puffy or flushed. And in the long-term, alcohol can contribute to the visible signs of ageing! If you want to ensure indulging in a tipple doesn’t ruin your skin’s mojo, there are a couple of tricks you should know for next time ...

The Fix? 1. Down a glass of water for every glass of alcohol to help keep your body and skin hydrated. 2. Choose clear spirits like vodka, tequila or gin, which contain zero sugar. Red wine is also OK in small doses because it contains a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol. However, it can exacerbate redness and rosacea. If you need a helping hand in the meantime to cover up angry skin, reach for Organic Tinted Moisturiser!

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