Black Friday has come and gone, the stores are vying for your business and your calendar is filling up with holiday parties and events. As you are tackling your Christmas cards and shopping lists, it’s easy to get burned out. Especially if you are like me and have two small children to add into the mix. Family traditions are important to me and nothing makes the holidays feel like the holidays like having these traditions every year. For our family it means a visit to Santa, baking cookies, seeing The Nutcracker and the Elf on the Shelf. With so much going on, it’s not hard to start skimping on our beauty ritual. A big part of looking our best is our overall health. Listed below are tips to help you stay healthy during this season so you and your skin look and feel great.
Eating Right
This time of year brings holiday parties, office potlucks and lots of home-baked goodies. All this indulgence can not only pack on extra pounds but also make you feel terrible. Before a party, make sure you are properly hydrated by drinking 1 – 2 glasses of water. The water is great for your skin but will also help curb your appetite. At the party, head to the veggie tray first and swap out every other alcoholic drink for water. Your head will thank you in the morning and you’ll save some calories. Moderation is key when it comes to food and dessert. No need to clear your plate. Eat slowly, taste your food and have fun!
Exercise
The biggest excuse to not exercising is lack of time and all the extra holiday hoopla only exaggerates the time crunch. Best way to overcome this is to simply schedule your exercise, like you would a trip to the hair salon. It’s on the calendar and it’s been confirmed. Schedule 30 minutes 3- 4 times a week and make it easy. If you pass the gym on the way home from work, make your exercise appointment at that time. If you don’t have a gym membership, set out to go for a brisk walk or jog. And remember, any exercise is better than no exercise. Aim for 30 minutes but if you can only do 10 or 15 minutes, then that’s ok. But make sure to schedule the 30 minutes so once you’ve hit the 10 or 15 minute mark and you want to keep going you can.
Beauty
In trying to fit everything into our day, you may be tempted to start cutting corners. Stress has a bad way of showing up as dull, tired skin and can even lead to breakouts. So whatever you do, be consistent with your beauty ritual. No matter how long the day or how tired you are, make sure you take off your makeup off every night. Exfoliate with a facial brush like a Clarisonic or a wash cloth. With the colder weather you may need to add a moisturizer or switch to a heavier one. And don’t forget to use an anti-aging treatment every morning and night. Once a week, take a few extra minutes and use a mask to help tighten and firm. If you need more hydration, there are some moisturizing masks that you simply leave on and massage in, no rinsing necessary. If last night’s party leaves you with puffy eyes in the morning, apply cucumber slices for a few minutes. I eat a lot of salads so I usually have cucumber slices ready to go. Consistency is key when it comes to great looking and healthy skin.
Sleep
Getting enough sleep is always a challenge. On nights you don’t have a party or children’s activity, try to go to bed earlier to make up for those nights you are going to be out late. If you come home and you are still wired from activity, make a cup of hot decaf tea and start getting ready for bed. Partake in quiet activities so your body can start getting ready for sleep. Dim the lights, turn off your cell phone/laptop/tablet and you should even avoid television. Some light reading always helps me. And then lights out. If you consistently have problems sleeping, I recommend you talk to your doctor. A good night’s sleep is imperative for overall health.
Enjoy
Remember, the holidays are supposed to be fun! You are making memories with family and friends. Don’t stress when plans don’t go exactly according to plan. Take a few minutes every day to clear your head, be thankful and take stock on what is truly important to you. Happy Holidays!!!
RITUAL BEAUTY 