It’s the beginning of November, and you’ve already nailed the theme for this year’s Holiday photo. You’ve found the perfect outfits, you’ve planned your makeup, the photo shoot goes great, and then you see the pictures.
Sadly, I’ve heard it before. From multiple clients. “What happened?! Why do I look so puffy/tired/washed out?”
Unfortunately this is not the result of a naughty Christmas elf throwing an unflattering filter over your lens.
There is something about this time of year — the winter air, the social events and the shorter days — that creates the perfect storm for less than ideal portrait shots!
Factors working against you include:
The temperature. Colder air dehydrates the skin, which in turn makes your skin look tight and ashen.
Parties. The celebratory consumption of alcohol sadly also causes dehydration, as well as inflammation, nutrient depletion, and sleep disruption. It impairs liver function, which can cause breakouts and lackluster skin. Festivities also involve an increased consumption of food, especially fatty foods, which can exacerbate inflammation, bloating, and weight gain.
Sugar. It’s everywhere! And this naughty ingredient contributes to puffiness while also damaging collagen and elastin structures through a process called glycation.
Travel. Transiting either by car or plane is tiring, although flying is especially efficient at increasing the tally on that ever growing dehydration score.
Basically the whole season is fraught with triggers, and the very fun you want to capture in a holiday photo is the precise reason your image appears to let you down.
So here’s where your friendly neighborhood spa can step in with a helping hand. Assuming you are not able (or willing) to sequester yourself in an anti-inflammatory hydration pod for the duration of the season, we have some useful remedial tips for you!
Botox and other relaxers can take some tension out of those expression lines, which in turn reduces the tight, or “pulled” look skin gets when it’s dehydrated.
Small doses of filler will improve that “tired look” that comes from lost facial volume, or Sculptra for longer-term collagen support.
VI Peels and Microneedling are both amazing ways to bring some brightness and improved tone to your skin.
And a good old fashioned facial, coupled with good skincare, can definitely improve hydration and overall skin quality.
So what should you avoid? If you are about to go in front of a camera, I would suggest avoiding any kind of intense laser treatment, or anything that might involve “resurfacing” as your skin tends to remain red, rough, and generally not camera-ready for quite some time!
At the end of the day, remember to enjoy the moments both in front of and behind the camera, love yourself and those you are with, and allow yourself to have fun.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
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