December is here and it’s time to let our hair down and party like it’s 1999!!
With the party season upon us, you may be enjoying late nights dancing in a club or enjoying a glass or 2 after the kids have gone to bed or you’ve jetted yourself off to an exotic holiday destination to get some much needed sunshine!
Whichever the case, it’s easy to forget that during the party season, we may tend to overindulgence and this can cause breakouts, wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes.
Now I don’t mean to be spoil sport and I love my food and a little bubbly too but this blog aims to just bring to mind how seemingly harmless activities can cause problems to our skin, health and well-being. As we are more aware of our actions, we are able to make better choices for ourselves.
So to party proof our skin, we need to be aware of the challenges that we will face:-
1. Dehydration
Without wanting to seem boring and a party pooper, we may be more inclined to reach for the bubbly, vino, shots, cocktails or liqueurs before our trusty and seemingly boring H2O!
Alcohol is a diuretic ie it makes you pee a lot, hence causing you to dehydrate even further without proper replacement with natural H2O. It also slows down the motility of the gut and function of the liver, affecting digestion and build up of heavy meals we eat during the party season causing bloating, breakouts and sallow skin.
Dehydration causes dehydration lines on the skin (often mistaken for poor elasticity), dark circles under the eyes, headaches, poor sleep, bad breath, bloating and slow digestion.
2. Lack of sleep
Late nights, different time zones and hangovers makes sleep a luxury!!
I don’t need to say much as you know sleep is super-important!! It is the golden time when our skin and body repairs itself!
Sleep helps to balance our hormones, firm our skin, boost our immunity and nourishing our brain.
3. Too much sugar
Desserts! Alcohol! Too much food! Late night snacks! Morning pick me ups!
December is the time when we let ourselves go a little before we go cold turkey and do a head-to-toe detox in new year.
“It’s only once a year!” As we often say to ourselves.
Too much sugar can be damaging in the long term, causing glycation (sugar crystals) in the cells creating wrinkles, turn our bodies into fat storing machines and fueling inflammation in our systems.
Here are some tips to counteract these challenges and soften the blow while still being able to enjoy the celebrations with your family, friends and loved ones.
1. Hydration! Hydration! Hydration!
Before you go for your party, drink a big glass of water. If you like a little fizz, you can opt for sparkling water with a squeeze of lime. When your stomach is full with water, you are less likely to eat too much food.
At the party, do your best to have a drink of water in between each glass of vino or bubbly. This will help rehydrate your system and reduce chances of a hangover.
When you come back home, before you head to bed, drink a big glass of water again to replenish and rehydrate overnight.
2. Eat before you go and add some cinnamon
Before you go for your party, it’s recommended to have a healthy light meal e.g. a small bowl of salad with a good portion of protein e.g. grilled chicken breast, salmon, tuna or tofu. This will help keep the hunger pangs away and avoid eating too much.
I would also recommend drinking a hot cinnamon drink to help balance your sugars, improve your immunity and boosting your brain function. Stir 2 teaspoon of cinnamon into a cup of hot water, mixed with a dash of honey for sweetness and some fresh ginger juice (you can also use powdered ginger if you are short of time). Drink up and enjoy.
3. Move
Don’t leave out your exercise plans until the New Year. Keep up your exercise routine or just dancing in the bedroom and moving your body. Don’t forget to stretch. This will help burn the extra calories you consume during the party season and avoid putting on stubborn fat.
4. Supplement with Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle is a flowering herb from the same family as daisies and marigold. It has been used in traditional medicine for more than 2000 years to boost the function of the liver, aiding metabolism and detoxification.
The standard does is 200mg taken 2 to 3 times daily, according to New York University. Your body absorbs milk thistle better if the extract is bound with phosphatidylcholine. If your supplement contains this extra ingredient, then the dosage is 100 to 200mg twice a day.
Be cautious if you are pregnant, taking other medications or have hormone sensitive problems as you may experience side effects from milk thistle e.g. allergy or laxative effect. Please consult your physician if you do decide to start taking milk thistle.
5. Use a Moisture Mask when you sleep (especially when you’re on the plane travelling)
A moisture mask will help rehydrate a much thirsty skin after the partying and travelling. It’s one of my must-haves when I travel. Apply a generous layer on your skin and leave it on over-night or throughout your flight. Your skin will absorb the moisture it needs and keep fresh, firm and less lined.
I love the Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask from BodyShop.
6. Stock up on Melatonin 2mg an hour before going to bed if you’re in different time zones
Melatonin is a powerful anti-oxidant and helps fight against age-spots, free radicals and wrinkles. It’s also a hormone that is secreted when you sleep. When you travel to different time zones or stay up too late for too many nights, your melatonin levels may be less than optimised. Hence I would recommend taking a melatonin supplement 2mg an hour before your bed time so you can regulate and optimise your sleeping pattern. Melatonin is often prescribed but can be bought over-the-counter in some countries.
And that’s my top tips to party-proof your skin.
Over to you…..
Which tip will you try?
What other tips do you have to keep you looking fresh and vibrant for this party season?