Beauty tips: Stop skin stress from festive makeup and pollution

With the festive season in full swing, you are  all excited to dress up, celebrate, and immerse yourself in the festivities. But while you indulge in all the revelry, your skin often bears the brunt of festive makeup, pollution, late nights, and a diet that doesn’t always agree with you. As much fun as the season brings, it also leads to stressed skin, and that can result in several unwanted side effects.

If your skin feels dry, dull, or more sensitive, you're not alone. Dr Renita Rajan, dermatologist and founder of CHOSEN in Chennai, says stressed skin occurs when it can't handle internal or external factors. "These stressors include pollution, smoking, the products we use, and even sweets or alcohol. Internal factors, like hormonal imbalances, can worsen during the festive season due to these external stressors," she adds.

Dr Rajan shares 6 tips to protect your skin from festive stress:

• Use sunscreen: Sunscreen is crucial, even during the winter months. Not only does it protect your skin from UV rays, but sunscreens containing antioxidants like Pycnogenol, Silymarin, and Polypodium also guard against visible light and infrared radiation, which can cause oxidative stress on the skin.

• Cleanse before bedtime: Always remove your makeup before going to bed. Residual makeup can congest the skin, making it unhealthy and dull. Use a biphasic makeup remover followed by a gentle facial cleanser. Supramolecular salicylic acid is a great option as it cleanses and exfoliates without stripping the skin of its natural moisture.

• Skip the toners: Toners and overnight exfoliators can increase skin sensitivity, especially during times when your skin is already under stress. Instead, opt for exfoliators that work within minutes, as this is a gentler approach to maintaining skin health.

• Polyphenol-rich foods: Foods rich in polyphenols, such as cranberry and grape juice, or even Pycnogenol supplements, can help reduce skin stress. Add balancers like olives, avocados, sprouts, and microgreens to your diet to offset the impact of sugary, high-glycemic index foods.

• Hydrate: Festive drinks and sweets, combined with late nights and air conditioning, can leave your skin dehydrated. Drinking 3 to 3.5 litre of water daily will help keep your skin and body hydrated and healthy, thus reducing the likelihood of pigmentation and dullness.

• Prioritise sleep and moisturise: Adequate sleep is essential for skin recovery. Prop your head up with two pillows to avoid puffy eyes and sleeping in a comfortable environment to let your skin relax and refresh. Using a deeply nourishing overnight moisturiser on your face and body can also work wonders for stressed skin.