Happy Thanksgiving!

November is National Healthy Skin Month, and we can’t think of a better time for a reminder to prioritize self-care. Between planning holiday outings, traveling, and making sure our families have a memorable holiday season, it’s far too easy to neglect our own healthy routines in order to squeeze in everything else. This year, we’ve asked ourselves- is sacrificing the small things that make us feel our best really worth it? 

You guessed it! No. But how do we make sticking to our routines during the holidays realistic? 

We’ve put together 4 tips to help you make it happen. 

1. Get in the Mindset. Realizing self-care is not self-ish is critical. Think if you’ve ever heard the saying, “you can’t pour from an empty cup” or had a flight attendant tell you to put your own oxygen mask on before helping someone else in an emergency. If we ignore our own need for replenishment, we’ll find we have little left to give, and we’ll suffer in silence, enduring our own internal emergency. 

To show up well for others, we must first show up for ourselves. Taking just a few moments of peace at the beginning and end of each day to nourish our minds and bodies helps us be fully present for the time we spend with our loved ones.

2. Prioritize Hydration and Moisture. How many times do we arrive home at night wondering why we have a headache or feel depleted, only to realize we’ve barely had any water? When we forget to hydrate, our skin looks tired and dull, and dehydration leaves us feeling drained as we attempt to move through our daily tasks. Add on a little holiday stress and we’re in the trenches before we know it. 

To prevent low energy and dry, brittle nails and itchy skin from taking over your winter, start incorporating hydration and moisture into your routine this week. Sipping your favorite nourishing tonic and moisturizing proactively will give your hair, skin and nails much-needed support as winter sets in. So pop your favorite seasonal lotion in your bag (this one is ours), don’t forget to exfoliate, and if you need an excuse to gift yourself that cute water bottle you’ve been eyeing, now’s the time! Buy it without guilt and carry it with you wherever you go. 

3. Zone In On Nutrition. Cookies? Tempting. Pie? Oh no, really I couldn’t- well, maybe just a small slice…. 

Whatever your weakness, be it salty or sweet, it’s okay to enjoy the season! The problem comes when we end up feeling sluggish and overtaken by a lack of routine and make eating healthy an afterthought. 

The Fix: seasonal foods like pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, cranberries, beets and kale are some of the simplest foods to incorporate into soups, smoothies, juices, and mocktails. See where you can sneak some extra nutrients and adaptogens into your day and challenge yourself to do it. Your hair, skin, and nails will thank you. 

• To up your vitamin game quickly and easily, keep some organic canned pumpkin, beets, and sweet potatoes near your blender to toss them in smoothies and juices on-the-go. 

4. Rest. I know, what a dream it would be. But rest really can be your reality. 

From seeing family and friends to juggling work, school projects, holiday preparations and more, it seems like rest might never come our way. An hour more of sleep a night or a day at home to relax probably won’t happen anytime soon, so we have to make the most of the time we have. 

Small changes make a big difference, and we can set realistic goals for ourselves to rest. A small change could be waking up just 5 minutes earlier to meditate, pray, or journal before the chaos of the day sets in. It could be turning off Netflix in time to wash your face before you get too tired. Maybe it’s letting yourself slow down to enjoy a cup of tea and a face mask session once a week. Whatever your idea of rest, start small with goals you can reach without making more work for yourself.

As we get ready to gather with our families and friends and reflect on our blessings this season, we encourage you to show gratitude to yourself by allowing a few moments each day to care for yourself and to give yourself rest. The results will help with more than just healthy hair, skin, and nails- you may just find your soul feels better, too. 

Let us know what healthy skin habits you plan to try this winter! 

We are thankful for you. 

LPO

ANNIE CELENTANI