Christmas is meant to be a time of festivity and celebration, but in truth it’s really a week long abuse of your body, mental strength and wallet. Sounds harsh? Well, how many people really enjoy being herded into a room with people they only see once a year to make polite small talk, eat food you really shouldn’t (and worse still- in excessive quantities) and to top it all off, have the privilege of parting with some solid mullah to gift them all something. This is just the Christmas shin-dig with the family that I’m thinking of, it doesn’t have a patch on the work Christmas party. Nothing is as prolific. Nothing. To prepare you for such trials, I have prepared a survival kit for you. I’m yet to set up my online store, so I can post out to you my kit of Band-Aids, 2016 motivational calendar, stress ball and whistle, but I can instead help you with a survival kit of strategies to maintain you clear skin lifestyle in the face of all the festive season’s tests and trials! Be a picky eater Christmas is a season of excess and all sense with food seems to go out the window. Maintain your clear skin lifestyle by moderating your consumption of white bread & pasta, chocolate, dairy and sugary foods. Yes, those are all things which are aplenty during Christmas- Eggnog is a great example! Treat them as… treats and ensure with each meal you’re still taking your Acne Control Caplets. Not only will you be thankful for maintaining your clear skin, but you’ll also not have to suffer the consequences of a greater waistline!
Enjoying a festive nap in Upper Beaconsfield, in Melbourne’s outer southeast Sleep well! Sleep can be taken for granted, particularly if you’re up late or travelling a lot between friends and family, you may even have some late nights to get everything done at work before the holidays begin. There is no shame in a cheeky nap either, as sleep is regenerative to your skin and bolsters your immune system. Just make sure your sleep isn’t alcohol induced, as this leads to a poor quality sleep! Moderate your alcohol! I know that sounds as exciting as going on a shopping spree with spare change, but alcohol whilst seemingly an ally in the festive season, is not as friendly to your skin. Alcohol affects hormone levels, and an imbalance of testosterone or oestrogen levels can cause excessive production of sebum and the development of acne. Alcohol is a hepatotoxic, which damages the cells that act as a detox for the body. Furthermore, it drains your body of nutrients- particularly B vitamins, and it dehydrates you, which is also bad for your skin! A strategy to moderate your alcohol consumption whilst maintaining you clear skin could be to have an alcoholic drink with each meal where you take your SkinB5 Extra Strength Tablets. Another could be to match each alcoholic drink with an equal sized glass of water. Keep moisturised Should you find yourself in the cold winter of the northern hemisphere, or sheltering in air-conditioning during the stifling heat in the southern hemisphere, you should watch out for dry skin. Use a non-greasy moisturiser such as Acne Control Moisturiser which is oil free. Have fun, be safe and don’t forget that the temptations of Christmas are good and well, but a moment on the lips is a lifetime on your hips (and skin!). Who is Nick Bell? Nick joins SkinB5 as a writer, contributing monthly to the blog. A mid-twenties Melburnian cliche, the bearded student suffers wanderlust, a soft spot of his city's cafe culture and a love of cycling. He writes from experience, having suffered acne himself throughout both high school and university, and it's something he still battles today. Nick also writes a personal blog where he is documenting his journey for clear skin with SkinB5, having previously given up after years of ineffective products and medications.