1 in 3 Have Skin Issues After Easter Chocolate; Here’s What to Do
Dermatologist shares 7 hacks to keep your skin happy during an indulgent Easter
With Easter comes chocolate – and often, unhappy skin. New research by the face yoga app Luvly shows that 1 in 3 people suffer from skin issues after overindulging during the Easter holidays – including facial swelling and acne breakouts. But there’s good news: Olga Skydan, dermatologist and licensed esthetician at Luvly, shares 7 expert-approved hacks to help you enjoy your treats and keep your skin glowing.
1. Wash away the acne with apple cider vinegar
High in fat and refined sugars, too much chocolate can cause acne – but thankfully, you likely already have a cheap and effective remedy in your kitchen. Apple cider vinegar works as a gentle, natural toner to avoid clogs, tighten pores, and banish bacteria before it has a chance to cause pimples. Just mix it with two parts water, close your eyes, and dab it on.
2. Treat your skin to cinnamon and honey
Cinnamon doesn’t just taste good; it’s also anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Mixed with a teaspoon of honey – particularly raw or manuka – it offers a real treat for your skin, fighting back against Easter-induced breakouts. It’ll leave you smelling and looking amazing for less than the cost of a chocolate egg.
3. Pair every treat with a glass of water
If you can enjoy your favorite treats, your skin deserves its favorite fix too: water. While the holidays come with a free pass to eat whatever your heart desires, junk food fills your body with toxins, and you need to flush them out to avoid oily skin and clogged pores.
4. Call in some herbal support
As Easter Monday rolls around and your skin starts showing signs of stress, herbal supplements – such as turmeric, green tea, or burdock root – can help to revive it. With their anti-inflammatory properties, these natural remedies can alleviate skin issues after an indulgent long weekend.
5. Combat sugar damage with vitamin C
When your sweet tooth takes over, vitamin C steps in. As all that sugar eats away at your collagen – your skin’s building block – vitamin C commands your body to produce more, protecting against dark spots, fine lines, and dullness and keeping your complexion bright despite the sugary assault.
6. Maintain a skin-friendly diet throughout
In between mouthfuls of candy and chocolate, make sure to eat a healthy meal packed with fiber. Your plate should be full of spring vegetables, such as radishes, watercress, carrots, and fava beans, and high-fiber fruits, such as apples and strawberries, to flush the toxins from your body. While you’re free to enjoy yourself, maintaining a healthy diet before, during, and after sugar-fueled holidays can minimize the damage to your skin.
7. Cool your skin with a cold spoon
When your eyes show signs of last night’s chocolate binge, teaspoons are your secret weapon. Freeze them the night before and press the backs under your eyes in the morning. Similarly, try wrapping ice cubes in a cloth or sticking your facial rollers in the fridge. The chill constricts blood vessels and stimulates circulation to reduce swelling, puffiness, and inflammation – and while cold therapy may be uncomfortable, it sure is effective.