The stress of the holidays can affect your entire body. Here are some helpful tips to deal with common holiday beauty issues from realsimple.com.
Overstyling can cause static in your hair. To prevent this, use a deep conditioner once a week to keep your hair moisturized. If your hair is not color-treated, you can remove styling product buildup by using a clarifying shampoo. Avoid nylon brushes, since they can contribute to static electricity. Use a boar bristle brush instead. If you have dry hair, use a silicone product to reduce flyaways and static. You can also remove static by running an anti-static dryer sheet through your hair or using a brush with a little hair spray.
For a flaky scalp, use a moisturizing shampoo once or twice a week. Avoid putting conditioner directly on your scalp. If the itching and flakiness are severe, use a shampoo with zinc, salicylic acid, or an antifungal agent. You can also warm olive oil, use your fingers to massage it into your scalp, leave it on overnight, and wash it off in the morning. If your scalp is itchy, use an over-the-counter cortisone solution for the scalp.
Stress can cause breakouts. Prevent them by washing your face every day with a soap that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. If you get a pimple, apply an ice pack for five to 10 minutes to reduce swelling and then pat the area dry and use a cotton swab to apply benzoyl peroxide cream or gel.
To prevent swelling in your face from eating salty foods, drink plenty of water or other caffeine-free beverages, such as peppermint tea. Sleep propped up on a few pillows to prevent fluids from puffing up your face overnight.
Your face can get flushed from cooking and cleaning. Prevent this by chewing on ice chips, draping a cold, slightly damp towel around your neck, or filling a bowl with whole milk and ice cubes and patting it on your face with a towel. If it is too late to prevent redness, you can cover it up with a yellow-based powder.
Remove wine or lipstick stains from your lips by exfoliating the outer layer of skin. Wet an extra-soft toothbrush with warm water and rub your lips in a gentle circular motion, then rinse, pat them dry, and apply a moisturizing lip balm with petroleum. You can also remove color by gently rubbing your lips with lemon juice, rinsing and drying them, and then applying lip balm.
Staying up late and eating and drinking too much can leave your eyes red, swollen, and tired. To remedy that, lie down and place cold cotton balls or a chilled gel eye mask over your eyes for 10 minutes. You can also soak cotton balls in water, flatten them, keep them in the freezer on wax paper, and then wipe your eyes with them in the morning. Use lubricating eyedrops, but avoid the kind that claim to get rid of redness. They work by contracting blood vessels, which can make your eyes get even redder later.
Carrying shopping bags and writing cards can leave you with sore hands. To alleviate pain and stiffness, stand over a table, place your palms flat on it, spread your fingers, and press against the table for 15 seconds. Then flip your hands over so your palms are facing you and repeat. Next, hold one hand in front of you, palm down, spread your fingers, and use the thumb on your other hand to press down on the webs between your fingers.
For sore feet, soak them for 10 minutes in warm water with sea salt, then for 10 minutes in cold water, then repeat. The heat will ease the soreness, and the cold will relieve swelling. Elevate your feet above heart level to drain built-up fluid, and massage them with peppermint foot lotion before going to bed.
If you follow these tips, you can look and feel your best throughout the busy holiday season.
