How To Keep Your Mind & Skin Calm During The Holidays

Use your skincare to restore calm this holiday season

Just thinking about the looming holiday season sends my heart racing. I can’t be the only one who greets the festive period with part excitement, part terror. Thoughts of all the extra organizing, expectations, and crippling fear of everything not going to plan can quickly send me spiraling. 

And where’s one of the first places I notice extra stress? My skin. Whether it’s dry, puffy, inflamed, or breaking out, I know I need to find more zen when my skin is acting out.

If you’re someone who also finds themselves running around the grocery store, panicking because you’ve forgotten to buy a critical ingredient (there’s always one), then fear not! This article will share some super easy tips and tricks to keep your mind and skin as relaxed as possible over the coming months.

#1 Get a good night’s sleep

Every doctor and therapist will agree that sleep helps everything feel more manageable. It’s critical to helping us recharge and better handle whatever stresses may be thrown our way. Trust me, all the additional socializing and organizing will feel a thousand times easier if you’re consistently sleeping well. 

In one study, 21% of adults reported feeling more stressed after not getting enough sleep. Those who slept for less than eight hours a night said they experienced higher stress levels than those who slept a minimum of eight hours.

To set yourself up for a night of high-quality rest, why not create a ritual to prepare and prime your mind for sleep?

I personally LOVE Erno Laszlo’s Rising Star Sleep Set. 

The kit includes the Hydra-Therapy Memory Gel Sleep Mask - perfect for indulging your skin and restoring moisture overnight. There’s also a pink quartz Gua Sha facial massage tool. Massaging your skin helps increase dopamine and serotonin - feel-good chemicals - so what better way to treat your skin and mind? 

You can then use the Multi-Task Serum Eye Mask in the morning to hydrate and brighten.

#2 Wash away your stressful thoughts

If you know me at all, you know I’m all about connecting mindfulness with my skincare routine. This holiday season, use your cleansing process as a way to wash away any stressful thoughts or anxieties. Think of it as visualisation meets cleansing.

Studies on the brain reveal that thoughts produce the same mental instructions as actions. By visualising your worries washing away, your brain will begin to believe they actually are, restoring greater calm and inner peace.

To target whatever skin concerns you may have while calming your mind, the Big Break Soap Set is incredible. 

Is your skin feeling dry? Use the Phelityl Cleansing Bar, perfect for hydration and glow. Does your skin feel congested? If that’s the case, the Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar uses charcoal to detoxify. And, finally, if you’re just looking for an all-round pick me up, the Brightening Cleansing Bar will work wonders.

#3 Make life easier

The holiday season can be stressful, but your skincare doesn’t have to be. Despite how busy the season may get, schedule in non-negotiable time to relax. Block out an evening to run a hot bath and put on a face mask. The rest of the world can wait!

Hot baths have been shown to reduce inflammation - a key symptom of excess stress. They’ve also been shown to improve sleep quality. A perfect full circle moment back to tip #1.

The Vitality Treatment Mask is a favourite of mine to pair with an indulgent bath. It’s been shown to increase skin’s hydration levels by up to 48%, making it a real treat for your complexion and relaxation.

No matter what you’re doing over the holidays, or how manic life might get, remember to always take time for yourself. 

Even if it’s only a few minutes every day, put aside the time to treat your skin and mind. Sometimes this is all it takes to recharge and keep yourself at your best. This time of year should be fun, so go out there and have a blast!

With love,
Poppy
Founder of @happynotperfect  and Not Perfect Podcast with Poppy Jami‪e‬