We are slowly counting down the days until the Christmas holidays, and then to the final farewell to this year. December brings a touch of joy from day one, as if we are preparing for joy, enjoyment, socializing until Christmas and New Year's Eve. But precisely because of that, we can also say that December seems like a month without rules, because we eat and drink more than usual, sugar that most people consume with reasonable restraint throughout the year is consumed in huge quantities, with the explanation that it's only once a year, only once in the year, Christmas, only once in a year, New Year's Eve...

So, December weeks have their charm and emotional value, but also their downside. Preparations for the holidays can cause stress. The joy of giving brings with it the tension of shopping, choosing, pushing through crowds... The joy of a family meal brings with it weeks of careful planning, grocery shopping, baking cookies, cooking, decorating... And in the end, all of this can reflect on our skin. Moreover, after the Christmas and New Year holidays, we can look in a way that makes it clear at first glance that our face, but also our whole body, need a general overhaul...

In this pre-holiday guide, we remind you of three troubles that can affect anyone during the holidays and that can leave a complete chaos on our face, but we also bring recommendations on how to deal with them.

1. LACK OF SLEEP, STRESS, ANXIETY, TENSION...

Lack of sleep, stress, anxiety, restlessness, sleep deprivation... - all of this shows on the face. There are unequivocal data indicating that sleep disturbances contribute to cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory, and mental diseases, weaken the immune system making the body susceptible to inflammation and infections. Lack of sleep reduces skin blood flow and leads to a long-term lack of collagen and elastin. All of this contributes to skin aging and the deepening of wrinkles, especially wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes, and around the mouth. When we are stressed, our nervous system releases the so-called stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which make the skin more sensitive and reactive, can cause irritation, redness, clog pores and cause pimples, blackheads, and acne.

However, there are ways to help ourselves, to calm down and protect our skin. Winter Fairy Tale oil for care and massage, from the rich range of Nikel products, will help you relax and lull you into a refreshing sleep. A 100% natural oil composed of a wonderful composition of wild rose, orange essence, grapefruit, and pine needle, in just a few drops, will enchant your senses and provide you with complete relaxation. Additionally, Winter Fairy Tale protects the skin from drying out, wrinkling, scarring, and stretch marks. SILKY Night Balm, on the other hand, will encourage the skin to regenerate during the night rest. At night, our skin regenerates and rejuvenates, producing more collagen and growth hormones and less cortisol that harms the skin, which is why sleep is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. The rich nourishing balm enhances this nocturnal renewal process, alleviates discomfort for dry, sensitive, and fragile skin prone to redness. It restores the epidermis, soothes, reduces signs of aging. Nikel Probiotic cream, the first Croatian probiotic cream, is an exceptional ally in restoring very damaged skin. It contains a milk protein that accelerates the recovery of the physiological state of damaged skin, and is recommended for damaged and cracked skin, peeling skin, acne-prone skin...

2. DANGER LURKS ON THE SWEET PLATE...

Christmas cookies - dry and creamy, gingerbread cookies, cakes... The soul sings at the mere thought that we are close to that sweet paradise, and the holiday splendor... However, the skin is not excited about it. Excessive sugar consumption is a heavy burden on the skin. Sweets stimulate the glycation process, which accelerates skin aging. Doctors warn that sugar in our body breaks down into glucose, which increases insulin levels, and high insulin levels are the main driver of inflammatory processes. Chronically high insulin levels can lead to diabetes, even autoimmune inflammations, which have catastrophic effects on various organs, including the skin. Inflammation caused by excessive sugar intake can worsen various skin conditions and cause conditions such as eczema, acne, and rosacea, and lead to the appearance of dark spots on the skin. Chronically high glucose levels change the protein structure of the skin, breaking down collagen and elastin, and the skin becomes saggy and wrinkled. Therefore, although Christmas and New Year's holidays are once a year, it is wise to be careful when we find ourselves near plates of cookies.

In addition, of course, we have support in the Nikel range, which will help keep our skin preserved, healthy, and beautiful despite the sugar challenges. Control 365 Undo Age Cream with snow algae protects and activates the longevity gene. This innovative anti-aging active ingredient is based on an extract of a unique snow algae that has managed to develop a survival strategy in extreme conditions on glaciers and eternal snow. Anti Wrinkle Elixir, a hundred percent herbal concentrate, with its unique formula, provides synergistic action of essential oils of immortelle, myrtle, sweet orange, and tangerine, and cold-pressed plant oils of jojoba, passionflower, virgin olive, marigold, lady's mantle, sunflower, sweet almond and natural vitamin E from wheat germ. It is a perfect combination of original natural ingredients that restore the epidermis within a few days, prevent moisture loss, and smooth wrinkles and rejuvenate. NIKELIFT cream - Intensive anti-wrinkle cream is a rich anti-aging cream that stops time! It restores the epidermis, promotes the formation of collagen and elastin. It contains a powerful protected anti-aging factor and vital elements necessary for balance, beauty, and youth. For intensive skin care, we also recommend NIKELIFT eye cream - Intensive anti-wrinkle eye cream. It is ideal for deep care against wrinkles around the eyes, visibly reduces wrinkles and fine lines and removes signs of fatigue. An exceptional ally is also Nikels Anti Wrinkle Eye Serum with Immortelle. This divine eye and lip wrinkle serum delays the formation of wrinkles and visibly smoothes existing ones. It has a light, fluid texture that instantly absorbs into the deep layers of the skin.

3. ALCOHOL AND POOR MAKEUP REMOVAL LEAVE TRACES

During the holidays, we drink much more alcohol than is desirable, because, it's the holidays, right... However, it can definitely be seen on the face because alcoholic beverages produce free radicals that damage the skin. Free radicals are insatiable electron snatchers that destroy cellular DNA, threaten health and beauty. They cause oxidative stress under the influence of which cells are damaged and die. The impact of free radicals can be reduced and the process of premature skin aging can be prevented by using appropriate cosmetic products rich in vitamins and other antioxidants. We recommend HYALURON cream with vitamins C and E. Hyaluronic acid is a hydroxyl donor and free radical scavenger that rapidly restores the hydro-lipid barrier, physiological functions of cells, and the overall condition of the skin. It is an intensive anti-aging formula for skin. Likewise, it is easy to forget, tired of holiday gatherings, how important it is to thoroughly remove makeup from the face, or do it quickly and superficially. Since we wear significantly stronger, heavier makeup for the holidays, the importance of deep cleansing is even clearer. Let us remind you, uncleansed or poorly cleansed facial skin, where dead cells and dirt remain, is prone to clogged pores, which leads to acne, blackheads, and wrinkles. Quality facial cleansing is a prerequisite for well-groomed skin. Nikel Cleansing Milk with Orange will thoroughly remove makeup and impurities and make the skin velvety soft. Additionally, it nurtures and soothes the skin, and does not need to be rinsed off.

NIKEL RECOMMENDATION

Finally, look forward to the holidays that are coming with the sound of bells, but keep in mind that sleepless nights, alcohol, smoky rooms, heavy makeup, as well as stress, anxiety, and excessive consumption of sugar and other varied foods have their price. And it will show on your face... Be prepared for that too...