We can often be guilty of not doing things for ourselves in the lead-up to Christmas. So, to help calm your heart right down after all that frantic running around, here is the full rundown on taking care of your skin this Christmas.
Why a skin treatment could be just what you need
No matter where you sit on the festive cheer spectrum, the silly season comes with a much higher frequency of socialising than other times of the year. And, even if you sit squarely on the ‘grinch’ end of the scale, a lot of these events cannot be missed, no matter how much you might want to. This means that a bit of inevitable tiredness is looming, and when we feel tired inside, we can start to look tired on the outside too.
When we socialise more, we want to look our best. But when we socialise more, looking our best is a lot… harder to maintain? Navigating this modern universe is not easy, and we completely sympathise with this position, but we can also offer some guidance and respite.
To guide you through the whirlwind of the next few weeks, the best piece of advice we can give you is to get your Caci Clinic skin treatments booked in ASAP. Even if you’re feeling it on the inside, glowing skin on the outside can give you that confidence boost from looking your best for all your social engagements.
While heavy socialising may be unavoidable, looking like you are socialising heavily is not ideal. Here is a breakdown of where to have your pre-Christmas skin treatments booked.
Geographical location matters
Another thing to note is that where you are in the country makes a difference, too. Here are a few things to think about depending on where you intend on spending your Kiwi summer:
North Island
If you live in the North Island, especially areas like Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, you will know that come summer, humidity is the biggest seasonal shift. This means your biggest skincare woes will likely come from sweat, sunscreen, and congestion. Clients often benefit from clarifying, brightening, or exfoliating treatments like Microdermabrasion and Hydradermabrasion in the lead-up ad during the holidays.
South Island
If you're in the South Island, the climate tends to be far less humid. Even if you’re not spending every weekend at the beach, the combination of higher UV exposure, and those strong nor’wester winds can leave the skin feeling tight, dehydrated, and more prone to redness or sensitivity. This means hydrating, barrier-repairing treatments and regular LED sessions often become the go-to for achieving that healthy, plump glow.
How the Festive Season Affects Your Skin
Between summer sunshine, Christmas feasts, and a few extra glasses of bubbles, your skin can go through a lot in December. Understanding what’s happening beneath the surface helps you choose the right treatments, skincare and keeps you glowing through every celebration.
☀️ Sun Exposure: More UV = More Skin Stress
Kiwi summers are strong - really strong. Increased UV exposure doesn’t just risk sunburn; it also breaks down collagen, dehydrates the skin, and can make pigmentation appear darker or more noticeable. Even harmless-looking time in the shade or cloud cover still exposes you to UV. This is why skin can feel tighter, look dull, or show more fine lines during the festive season. Treatments that hydrate, repair, and strengthen, especially LED Light Therapy, barrier-boosting facials, and skincare infusions can help counteract that extra sun time. Plus have your SPF on, always!
🍽️ Festive Food: Sugar & Salt Sneaking Into Your Skin
With Christmas platters, BBQs, pavlova, and grazing tables at every turn, December tends to be higher in sugar and salt than other months.
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Sugar can trigger glycation, a process that stiffens collagen and leads to dullness, breakouts, and inflammation.
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Salt can pull moisture from the skin, leaving it puffy one day and dehydrated the next.
Combined, they can make the skin look uneven, tired, or congested, especially around the chin and jawline. Exfoliating or clarifying treatments like Hydradermabrasion are ideal for keeping things smooth and bright, we also love Murad's Vitamin C Exfoliating Facial.
🍷 Alcohol: The Dehydration Domino Effect
Alcohol is a vasodilator, meaning it widens blood vessels, which is why flushed cheeks can show up after a couple of rosés. It’s also dehydrating, which can make fine lines more pronounced and the skin appear less plump. For some people, alcohol can also trigger temporary redness, increased sensitivity, or post-party breakouts. Hydration-focused treatments, LED light therapy, and skincare that supports the skin barrier becomes especially helpful at this time of year = Murad's Cellular Hydration Repair range.
In short: more sun, more sugar, and more celebrations = a perfect storm for dullness, dehydration, and congestion. But with the right pre-Christmas treatment, you can offset most of this and keep your skin clear, hydrated, and radiant, even if your calendar is packed.
If you could only pick one treatment to have before Christmas - we say Treat yourself!
Hydrating, calming and instantly brightening - sounds great! Our Skinsmiths B12 Hydrating Facial or a Sonophoresis Skin Infusion is your answer. While a single treatment won’t transform your skin, they can still leave you smooth, glowing and makeup ready for all your numerous social gatherings.
How to book
Whether you are a Caci clinic frequenter or a first-time visitor, locating your nearest Caci couldn’t be easier. With over 75, there’s bound to be one within a reasonable distance of you.
If you are a last-minute gift organiser, don’t let that translate to your holiday season skincare bookings. Remember that December is the busiest month of the year bookings-wise, so if you want your dream appointments, secure them sooner rather than later!
