Your No-Fluff Holiday Skin Plan: Control Stress, Cut Cortisol, and Keep Your Glow Intact
- LaReine Chabut
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
As we roll into the busy holiday stretch, I wanted to bring you something special straight from someone I trust completely with all things skin: Dr. Ava MD. This blog highlights her expert take on how stress, late nights, winter weather, and all the “holiday extras” can impact our glow—and what we can actually do about it. I’m so excited for you to hear her voice in this, because her advice is smart, doable, and perfect for keeping our skin happy through the season. Let’s dive in. 🎄
Holiday stress, late nights, winter weather, and festive indulgences all team up to spike cortisol and throw your skin into chaos right as we head into the New Year. The combination can be a perfect recipe for dullness, breakouts, and irritation if you’re not proactive.
1 — ’Tis the season to… actually sleep and manage your stress 💤
This is the real gift you should be giving yourself. When you don’t, you invite a full lineup of dermal disasters on the first day of Christmas: excess oil that drives breakouts, faster collagen and elastin breakdown that shows up as fine lines, inflammation, irritation, and a compromised skin barrier. The old saying “take care of yourself so you can take care of others” hits especially hard this time of year.
2 — Treat yourself and lock in a couple of appointments 🧖♀️
Give yourself permission to prioritize feeling good. Book a facial or a massage. Try a Japanese hair mask and finish with a quality blowout. Schedule a manicure and pedicure a few days before hosting or traveling so you look and feel polished. Set the tone for the New Year by taking care of yourself now, not later.
3 — Go through your skincare and makeup drawers and toss 🗑️
This one’s not glamorous, but it’s transformative. Check the expiration dates on your skincare, sunscreen, foundation, and mascara. If the color, texture, or smell is off, it’s time to part ways. When in doubt, throw it out. Your skin will thank you.
4 — Recommit to your home-care maintenance and invest in a tool that works 🏠
My C.A.R.A. device is a best-in-class, multi-modality powerhouse that clarifies, activates, restores, and amplifies using LED, RF (radio frequency), and EMS (electromagnetic muscle stimulation). Just 10 minutes, three times a week delivers noticeable lift, tone, contour, and radiance. Enjoy the treats of the season, but aim for nutrient-dense, lower-glycemic options to help your skin recover and glow.
5 — Deck the halls with conscious choices that prevent breakouts, bloating, and glycation 🍫
Dark-chocolate-dipped strawberries or frozen bananas are firmly on Santa’s nice list. Keep dark-chocolate nut bark or dark-chocolate-covered popcorn on hand. Blend up a frozen Greek yogurt parfait with berries and honey—or peanut butter and chocolate chips if you want something richer. When you’re toasting, opt for red wine or tequila instead of sugary cocktails or champagne. And if your sweet tooth needs satisfying, bake high-protein cottage-cheese brownies and lean in guilt-free.
Final Takeaway
When it comes down to it, holiday stress isn’t going anywhere—but neither is your ability to stay ahead of it. A few intentional choices go a long way toward keeping your skin stable, your energy up, and your confidence intact as you head into the New Year. Control what you can, cut the noise where you can’t, and treat your skin like the asset it is. Strong finish, smooth transition into January.
