We’ve all been there: the holidays roll around, and suddenly you’re living on mince pies, champagne, and 3 hours of sleep. It’s fun at the time, but your skin? Not so thrilled. By January, it’s dry, dull, breaking out, or just looking a bit… confused.

Don’t panic. Post-holiday skin is totally fixable. Here’s how to get your glow back after a little seasonal chaos.

Step 1: Rehydrate (Inside and Out)

Sugar, salty snacks, and prosecco leave your skin gasping for water. Dehydration is often the biggest culprit behind that “why do I look so tired?” face.

• Drink more water. Yes, it’s obvious, but your skin really does thank you for it.

• Lock in moisture. Look for humectants like hyaluronic acid to pull water into your skin, then follow with a nourishing moisturiser to seal it in.

Step 2: Ease Back Into Skincare

Resist the urge to punish your skin with every acid and mask you own. After all the sugar and late nights, your skin barrier is probably a bit fragile.

• Stick to gentle cleansing. Avoid stripping foaming cleansers.

• Add antioxidants. Vitamin C can help brighten up dullness.

• Keep exfoliation light. Once or twice a week is plenty—overdoing it will only make things worse.

Step 3: Sleep Like It’s Your Job

Holiday fun usually means your skin missed its nightly repair shifts. Sleep is when your skin does its best healing, so getting back on track is essential.

• Aim for 7–9 hours of actual sleep, not Netflix-in-bed sleep.

• Change your pillowcase (sugar, sweat, and makeup traces do no favours).

• Try a calming night cream or overnight mask to help replenish your skin while you snooze.

Step 4: Balance Out the Breakouts

Too much sugar can trigger inflammation and spots. If your skin decided to throw a breakout party, here’s how to calm it down:

• Use a spot treatment with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (sparingly).

• Apply a calming serum with niacinamide to reduce redness.

• Don’t pick. Seriously. Post-holiday regret is bad enough without acne scars.

Step 5: Don’t Forget SPF

Just because the holidays are over and it’s grey outside doesn’t mean you can skip sunscreen. UV rays are still working against you, even in January.

A good SPF protects your skin from further stress while it’s busy recovering. Think of it as a security guard for your face.

The Takeaway

Holiday skin hangovers happen to the best of us. With some hydration, gentle care, and decent sleep, your skin will bounce back faster than you think. So go easy, stay consistent, and in a week or two, your complexion will look far less “holiday survival mode” and far more “fresh start glow.”