Skincare Protocols | December 21, 2021

Holidays always seem especially cheerful when our skin is healthy and glowing from within. However, achieving it can seem especially difficult through a whirlwind holiday schedule and cold winter weather. Plus, when the holidays start catching up, travel, family stress and lifestyle changes—like drinking excess alcohol—can impact your skin’s appearance.

To get your holiday skin back on track, follow this simple guide to achieve your best ZO® glow.

Cleanse AM + PM

Step one, cleansing, is perhaps the most important step in your skincare routine. When you cleanse at night, you’re removing impurities that have accumulated over the surface of your skin throughout the day—and trust us, it’s not just make-up. You’re cleansing away dirt, oil, and pollution—several things that can aggravate your skin and cause breakouts and other skin issues. Take it a step further and cleanse in the morning as well—overnight your cells slough off naturally, and sometimes in an accelerated way if you’re using active ingredients like acids and retinol. Cleansing in the morning removes your overnight skincare and dead skin cells so you can start your day with a clean canvas.

Choose a cleanser that leaves your skin clean and refreshed, not stripped or dry. ZO’s Gentle Cleanser is a great starting point for all skin types with oat amino acids and a skin-calming, botanical blend. If your cleanser is leaving you feeling dry, balance out your skin with a hydrating, soothing toner. Calming Toner infuses the skin with light-weight hydration and a ph-balanced formulation leaves you feeling refreshed.

Exfoliation Is Key

Exfoliation is key to experiencing an immediate improvement in a glowing complexion. Dead skin cells can often accumulate on the surface of the skin, especially during the wintertime, making skin look dry, dull and flaky.

Use a gentle, mechanical exfoliant regularly to buff away dead skin cells and reveal brighter, glowing skin. Exfoliating Polish, which contains ultra-fine magnesium oxide crystals is a ZO® favorite to remove dead skin cells and unclog congested pores. Plus, the gentle stimulation of mechanical exfoliation provides you with the at-home benefits of microdermabrasion and can improve microcirculation for overall skin health.  

If you’re not a fan of mechanical exfoliants, chemical exfoliation could be right way to go! Chemical exfoliants like alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids, and even fruit enzymes can gently dissolve the glue that holds dead skin cells to the surface of the skin to improve its appearance. Enzymatic Peel uses a glycolic acid and enzymatic blend to remove dead skin cells. Apply it overnight and wake up to a visibly smoother, softer, and glowing complexion. You’ll have revitalized skin just in time for any holiday party or family get-together.

Exfoliation is key to experiencing an immediate improvement in a glowing complexion.

In-Office Results

In-office procedures are a great option if you want to take your glow a step further. There are several procedures you can get during the holiday season that don’t require down time. Here are some patient-favorites:

HydraFacial – This patented technology cleanses, extracts, and hydrates. HydraFacial’s remove dead skin cells and impurities, while simultaneously delivering hydrating serums into the skin. Add on ZO’s Brightalive® or Rozatrol® HydraFacial boosters to brighten the skin and lessen the appearance of discoloration, or minimize the appearance of red, sensitized skin, respectively. Whichever serum you choose, you’ll be left with an incredibly gratifying glow.

Lunchtime Peel – Unlike deeper peels that require several days of down time, a lunchtime peel is a quick and mild chemical peel that can theoretically be done “on your lunch break.” Most patients can return to work or their usual social life right after. ZO’s Stimulator Peel features a blend of glycolic, lactic and citric acids plus soothing plant extracts and antioxidants. It can be done on a weekly basis to improve the appearance of fine lines, dull skin, a rough skin texture and uneven skin tone. No recovery or down time needed!

Most importantly, try to keep up with your current skincare protocol. The holidays can make us all feel stressed and tired but taking a couple of minutes a day for yourself to perform some self-care is all you really need to feel and look your best! We wish you a happy and bright holiday season!