The holidays are basically a sugar highlight reel. Cookies at work, peppermint lattes, that one dessert table you “only meant to sample.” It is fun, and you are allowed to enjoy it.
If your skin gets a little dramatic around this time of year though, you are not imagining things. When sugar intake jumps higher than your usual, it can nudge a few systems in your body that show up on your face. Not in a scary way, and not overnight, but enough that you might notice extra breakouts, more redness, or your glow feeling a bit muted.
Let’s talk about why and what to do so you can have good cookies and good skin.
The “why is my skin acting like this” part
Sugar spikes can turn up oil and inflammation
Most holiday sugar comes from higher glycemic foods and drinks. Those cause quick blood sugar spikes which can increase inflammation, something acne loves.
What that might look like:
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chin or jawline breakouts you did not ask for
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more clogged pores on the forehead or cheeks
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skin that feels like it stopped responding to your usual routine
Sugar is not the single villain behind acne, but in a season where intake is higher and routines are looser, it can be the extra nudge.
Winter + sugar can make skin more reactive
Cold air outside, dry heat inside, travel, late nights. Your barrier already has a lot going on in December. Add more sugar than normal and your body can generate more inflammatory signals and oxidative stress, which can show up as redness, flushing, or sensitivity.
If products you normally tolerate suddenly sting, or your cheeks look permanently pink, this is one reason.
So what do we do with that info
No food guilt, no “detox,” no banishing joy. The move is buffering your skin while you live your life.
One product to help with that gentle buffing process would be our Cream Exfoliator w/ 9.8% Glycolic Acid. If sugar season has you feeling congested, a creamy exfoliation 1–2x/week helps clear buildup without stripping your barrier. Or if you want something a little smaller, try one of our exfoliating face masks. Read here to find the one that best suits your skin needs.
Eat sweets in moderation
Pair sugar with meals that have protein, fiber, and healthy fats. It slows the spike and your skin is usually happier about it.
Little swaps that help without sacrificing the holiday spirit:
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dessert after dinner, not instead of dinner
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latte with breakfast, not on an empty stomach
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cookies alongside a meal that has real food in it
Hydrate, because holiday life is dehydrating
Travel, salty snacks, alcohol, heat blasting indoors. Dehydration makes your barrier cranky and can cause that weird flaky-but-oily situation.
Support it from both sides:
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steady water through the day
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hydrating layers in skincare
Keep skincare calm and simple for a minute
December is not the month to stack five new active products and hope for the best. If your skin is feeling reactive, go back to a simple rhythm:
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Cleanse + Tone
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Hydrate
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Seal with moisturizer
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SPF in the morning
A stable barrier handles the sugar season way better than an over-exfoliated one.
Let us do the heavy lifting in the treatment room
If your skin is stinging, red, dull, or breaking out faster than normal, a barrier-support facial can reset things quickly. At The Skin Spa at withSimplicity, we focus on calming inflammation, hydrating deeply, and gently refining texture only where it is safe.
Translation: your skin chills out, and you get your glow back before the next party.
A quick self-check for the rest of the season
If you are noticing a couple of these right now, sugar might be part of the mix (along with winter stress in general):
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breakouts popping up more often
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redness that lingers
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products stinging out of nowhere
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flaky and oily at the same time
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makeup not sitting right because texture feels off
None of that means you did anything wrong. It just means your skin is asking for support.
Keep the treats, keep the glow
You can enjoy the holidays and still look like you slept eight hours. The secret is not being perfect, it is being consistent with the basics while life gets a little sweeter.
If your skin is feeling extra reactive or breakout-prone right now, keep your routine simple: Pro-Age Cleansing Milk to cleanse without stripping, Barrier + Beyond Vitamin Water Serum for hydration and barrier support, and Blue Dew to seal everything in. If you’re dealing with congestion from sugar season, add Cream Exfoliator 1–2x a week for a gentle reset.
If you want help building a winter routine that works for your skin (and your schedule), take our skincare quiz or DM us. We will keep it simple, promise.
