The holiday season brings with it an abundance of joy, festivity, and, unfortunately, oftentimes an overindulgence in tempting treats. While our taste buds may appreciate the delicious offerings, these festive treats can be some of the worst foods for our skin. The relationship between what we eat and how our skin behaves is more intertwined than we might think, especially when it comes to diet and acne. In this article we’ll explore the impact of holiday diets on our skin and how to navigate the festive season while keeping our skin glowing and healthy.

Best Foods for Skin [1]
Amidst the spread of holiday indulgences that tempt your mind and taste buds unmercifully, if you can muster enough willpower, there are plenty of skin-friendly options you can savor guilt free and still enjoy yourself. Consuming a balanced diet rich in nutrients is pivotal for maintaining healthy, glowing skin. Choosing to eat the best foods for skin like those high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals can work wonders. There is no shortage of foods that are good for your skin that can be enjoyed during this time of year including:

1. Fruits and Vegetables: Incorporating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables into your diet provides a lot of skin benefits. These foods are abundant in vitamins A, C, and E (great for skin health), along with antioxidants that combat free radicals (great for skin barrier maintenance), ultimately aiding in skin repair and rejuvenation.
2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in food sources like fatty fish (ex. salmon), flaxseeds, and walnuts, omega-3 fatty acids help in keeping the skin moisturized (from the inside), reducing inflammation (terribly damaging to skin health and appearance if chronic), and supporting overall skin health. 
3. Lean Proteins: Turkey, chicken, and fish are excellent sources of lean protein which supports collagen production to keep your skin healthy by helping with skin repair and renewal.
4. Hydration Heroes: Green tea, packed with polyphenols (powerful antioxidants), possesses anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the skin and help in fighting acne, an all-to common punishment for consuming large quantities of sugary holiday treats. And don't forget plain old water, herbal teas, and fresh fruit juices which will also help keep your skin hydrated and glowing throughout the season and beyond. 

Developing and sticking to a diet for healthy skin is about consistency and balance. It’s not just about what you eat during the holidays, but also about adopting a sustainable dietary pattern of consuming foods for healthy skin year-round, i.e., a healthy lifestyle choice.

Worst Foods for Skin

From creamy eggnog to sugary cookies and rich, decadent desserts, many of our beloved holiday treats contain ingredients that might not be the best companions for our skin. While it’s important to be aware of the foods that we should be enjoying during the holiday season, it’s equally as important to know which foods to avoid because of their negative impact on your skin’s health and appearance.

1.   Sugary Treats: Ah, the sweetness of the season! But that excess sugar found abundantly in candies, cakes, and desserts can lead to increased insulin levels, triggering inflammation, increased oil (sebum) production, and the dreaded acne breakouts.
2.   Processed Goodies: Picture those tempting store-bought appetizers or packaged snacks loaded with preservatives, additives, and other not so festive chemicals. These ingredients can contribute to skin inflammation and make existing skin conditions such as acne and eczema that much worse.
3. High-Fat Foods: While they may be delicious, dishes high in unhealthy fats can strip your skin of its natural glow and contribute to clogged pores which can lead to unsightly blemishes. 
4. Alcoholic Beverages: Celebrating the holidays with family, friends, and of course, spirits (the alcohol kind) is a joyous tradition. However, as is the case with most things in life, moderation is key and this is especially true when it comes to alcohol consumption due to its impact on skin health and appearance. Alcohol dehydrates the skin making it look dull and dry, triggers inflammation which can exacerbate acne and rosacea while giving skin an overall red, puffy appearance, and can worsen existing skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

So, if you ever wondered - does diet affect acne? - the answer is clearly yes! Research has shown that there is a correlation between diet and acne. While it’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario, some individuals may notice changes in their skin condition based on what they eat. The worst foods for skin have high glycemic index, dairy, and certain saturated fats, due to their known linkage to an increase in acne.  [2]

You want to look your best during this festive time of year for all the parties and social gatherings you’ll be attending. Avoiding (or at least limiting) your intake of the worst foods for your skin will help your skin shine brighter than Rudolph’s red nose. 

Tips for Taking Care of Your Skin During the Holiday Season

Excessive sugary treats (think cookies, chocolates, candies, cakes, and the like) during the Holiday Season are the worst foods for your skin because they negatively affect skin health and appearance. Too much sugar triggers inflammation in the body causing it to secrete excess oil/sebum which leads to acne formation on not only the face, but other parts of the body as well. This is especially true if you happen to suffer from hormonal acne.

Inflammation also negatively impacts the skin barrier allowing moisture to more easily escape, and pathogens to more easily get in. Hence, the use of gentle skincare products focused on the management of oil production by the body, together with those intended to help repair and maintain the skin barrier, is highly recommended. Fortunately, Codex Labs has scientifically developed products and strategies that specifically address both oil production and the skin barrier to help your skin protect itself during this festive time of the year. So in addition to eating foods for healthy skin, consider the following ways to achieve that glow:

1.   Maintaining a Consistent Skincare Routine: Cleanse your face twice a day, exfoliate gently to remove dead skin, and moisturize regularly to keep your skin balanced and prevent excess oil production. The SHAANT® OILY SKIN SET is focused on combating acne and inflammation with its patented ShaantComplex® technology, was specifically designed to help reduce oiliness, purify pores, shed dead skin cells, and reduce redness, in other words, to avoid acne formation. What makes us so confident? Because we have the clinical data to prove it!
2.   Choose Suitable Skincare Products: By “suitable” we mean those that are non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic, i.e., oil-free and won’t clog your pores. As an FYI, the entire SHAANT® COLLECTION clearly (pun intended) qualifies as non-comedogenic/non-acnegenic.
3.   Avoid Harsh Ingredients: Steer clear of using moisture-stripping products with harsh ingredients like alcohols and sulfates as they can trigger acne-causing inflammation. You should also avoid using benzoyl peroxide (a harsh ingredient) to treat acne breakouts because of its potential to damage both your skin barrier and skin microbiome. [3] If you do happen to experience an acne breakout, a much gentler, yet highly effective, alternative to benzoyl peroxide is colloidal sulfur found in Codex Labs’ SHAANT® SPOT HERO to gently, but effectively, shrink pimples and reduce redness within 24 hours after use.
4.   Holiday Lifestyle Habits: Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the holidays (much easier said than done) by eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, staying hydrated, getting sufficient sleep, and managing stress. And, to help get you on the path to clearer, de-stressed skin you may also want to incorporate some daily supplements like  SHAANT® SKIN DE-STRESS DIETARY SUPPLEMENT and SHAANT® CLEAR SKIN DIETARY SUPPLEMENT that introduce good, supportive bacteria into your body’s microbiome.

When it comes to repairing and keeping your skin barrier in tip-top shape during the holidays, you will definitely want to consider the following: 

1.   Look for cleansers like the ANTU® REFRESHING GEL CLEANSER with moisture-locking ingredients like Quillay and Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate that help to seal in moisture and protect your skin barrier from becoming compromised which can lead to dry, flaky, red/inflamed skin.
2.   Moisturize regularly to keep your skin barrier adequately hydrated and prevent moisture loss. Look for skin barrier strengthening moisturizers that contain powerful hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid found in the ANTU® SKIN BARRIER MOISTURIZER. And before going to bed, be sure to apply some ANTU® SKIN BARRIER NIGHT CREAM, a rich, nourishing night cream made with our patented AntüComplex® that strengthens the skin barrier, nourishes skin, and locks in moisture, all while you wait for Santa to arrive.
3.   Use antioxidant-containing products with powerful antioxidants like M3™ and M3+™ flown in by Santa from the Patagonia region of Chile, which are found in our ANTU® COLLECTION to neutralize free radicals that can damage your skin barrier.
4.   Protect your skin microbiome with products that are MyMicrobiomeTM-certified to ensure that what you are applying on your skin is not damaging to your skin’s microbiome.
5.   And, if you’ve been especially good this year, be sure to ask Santa for some treats that you skin, mind, and body will absolutely love, and want like those found in the Codex Labs SOAPS AND SOAKS COLLECTION because you deserve it!

Codex Labs – Your Partner in Holiday Skin Wellness
Codex Labs understands the importance of maintaining healthy skin, especially during the holiday season. Our range of skincare products is scientifically developed and formulated to address various skin concerns. From cleansers to serums to moisturizers, each product is specifically crafted with your skin’s health and appearance in mind. Visit CODEXLABSCORP.COM to explore our collections and embark on a journey to healthier, happier skin this holiday season, and beyond!

In conclusion, remember that diet does affect acne so making mindful choices to consume foods that are good for your skin during the holiday season can have direct skin-boosting properties that will significantly impact your skin’s health and appearance. Consider opting for foods that are good for your skin during the holiday season that include lean proteins, whole grains, healthy fats, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Hydration is key as well so make sure you’re drinking enough water to keep your skin adequately hydrated and moisturized from the inside. By making informed dietary choices, and incorporating suitable skincare products and strategies, you can enjoy the holiday season while keeping your skin happy, healthy, and looking its best!

References:

1.   https://www.webmd.com/beauty/ss/slideshow-skin-foods
2.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2836431/
3.   Dermatology Advisor