Why You Break Out More During the Holidays (And How to Prevent It)

Key Takeaways:

1. Stress, poor sleep, and overindulgence in holiday foods can lead to more breakouts.
2. Protect your skin with a consistent routine, gentle cleansing, and a rich moisturizer.
3. Consider facials and treatments to keep your skin clear, hydrated, and glowing during the festive season.

While the festive season is all about fun, parties, and gatherings, your skin may be telling a different story. The combination of stress, lack of sleep, cold weather, and indulgences can take a toll on your skin, causing you to experience more congestion, stubborn pimples, and skin breakouts. 

If your skin is typically clear but then breakout during the festive months, you are not alone. Holiday breakouts are very common, as the season is filled with triggers that can contribute to clogged pores, inflammation, and irritation. 

Continue reading as our aesthetic clinic in Singapore shares the top reasons holiday acne happens and what you can do to prevent it.

Top reasons holiday acne happens

1. Holiday stress can lead to hormonal flare-ups

Year-end events, travel, deadlines, and holiday shopping can elevate stress levels and increase cortisol. This disrupts the balance of other hormones, affecting bodily functions and weakening the immune system. This then contributes to acne as increased cortisol can:

• Increase inflammation
• Slow healing
• Stimulate oil production
• Cause deeper, more painful breakouts

What can help: To reduce stress, it is best to plan ahead, say no to over-scheduling, and seek support from friends and loved ones. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga, as well as regular physical activity, can help. 

2. Late night and poor sleep worsen skin issues

Low sleep quality doesn’t only affect how you feel the next day; it can also exacerbate acne, rosacea, and signs of aging. It robs your skin of the time and opportunity it needs to repair daytime damage, boost cell regeneration, and increase collagen production. Poor sleep triggers acne, creating an ideal environment for breakouts by:

• Disrupting skin repair
• Increasing inflammation
• Weakening the skin barrier

What can help: Prioritize sleep quality as much as quantity. Things that can help include maintaining a consistent sleep-wake schedule, creating a relaxing nighttime routine, and keeping your bedroom dark, cool, and quiet. 

For further reading: 7 Ways to Get Beauty Sleep

3. Overindulging in holiday foods and drinks feeds skin breakouts

Sugary treats and drinks are more common in December, which can contribute to or exacerbate acne. Sugar spikes insulin, which triggers inflammation and increases oil production. Alcohol, meanwhile, dries out the skin, disrupts the barrier, and encourages inflammation.

What can help: You don’t necessarily have to avoid all treats and drinks. Indulging in moderation helps, as well as

• Pairing sugar with protein or healthy fats.
• Drinking water between sweets or alcohol.
• Avoiding grazing on pastries and drinks all day.
• Avoiding sugary cocktails

Clinic Tip: If sugar makes your skin dull or congested, a Hydra-Clarifying Facial resets your pores and revives glow. This multi-step treatment combines deep cleansing, exfoliation, and hydration that can clarify the skin, decongest puffy eyes, and lighten dark eye circles.

4. Heavy makeup + not removing properly clogs pores

Holiday parties often mean trying on different looks and wearing heavier makeup than usual. This could include thick foundation, highlighters, powders, and multiple touch-ups throughout the night. And with busy schedules, late nights, or a rushed cleansing routine, it’s easy for pores to get congested quickly.

What can help: Proper makeup removal, paired with a solid skincare routine, is your main defense against holiday acne. And it doesn’t have to be elaborate or involve 10 products or steps. 

• Double cleanse, especially when attending parties or special events 
• Use a gentle exfoliant 2–3 times weekly
• Use a moisturizer that works for your skin type, morning and night
• Never sleep with makeup on (even “light” makeup)

For further reading: Healthy Skin: The Ideal Canvas for Flawless Makeup

5. The cold winter weather can weaken your barrier

If you’re in a cold climate or traveling to one this holiday, the chilly air and harsh conditions can dry out your skin and strip away its natural oils. This can weaken the skin barrier, leading to dryness, redness, cracks, and itchiness. Indoor heating, furthermore, can make things worse by further depleting moisture.

What can help: Use a rich, non-comedogenic moisturizer to fight dryness and support your skin barrier. Avoid harsh cleansers and keep your showers warm, not scalding hot. For extra care, try a complete skin rejuvenation serum like Multi Peptide Youth Infusion, which helps:

3. 3. • Firm and tighten the skin
      • Improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture
      • Stimulate collagen production
      • Reduce the appearance of dark spots
      • Protect the skin from environmental stressors

Don’t pop that pimple

We know it’s tempting, but popping pimples can lead to several problems. It spreads bacteria, increases inflammation, causes dark spots or scars, and prolongs healing. It’s best to avoid squeezing them and use a spot treatment instead to prevent further skin damage.

How to prevent holiday skin breakouts and keep skin glowing

1. Consider a deep-clean facial at the start of the month – our Hydra Clarifying Facial removes buildup and prevents congestion before events begin.
2. Keep your routine simple but consistent – cleanse (or double cleanse with heavy makeup), moisturize, and use SPF. Add a peptide serum to support the skin barrier or a spot treatment if you have occasional breakouts.
3. Consider a no-downtime glow treatment before events – At Cutis, we have the NIR Cinderella treatment that boosts radiance and provides an instant lifting and tightening effect. It is a no-downtime treatment, ideal before an event.
4. Maintain long-term skin strength – Use skincare with peptides to support repair and strengthen the skin barrier. Biostimulator treatments like CaHA fillers restore volume and stimulate natural collagen production for firmer, more resilient, and youthful-looking skin.

Enjoy the holidays without the skin breakouts

While holiday acne is common, it’s preventable. With good skincare, managing triggers, and the right treatments, you can keep your complexion clear, calm, and glowing throughout the season. 

WhatsApp us at +65 9780 2079 to learn how we can help with your skin issues or schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors in Singapore.