After nearly a week spinning happily on the stuffing/ mashed taters/ vino merry-go-round (You know how I do.), I finally came to my senses and realized that it was time to end the Thanksgiving party. Yes, I was simply giving thanks for my uncanny ability to ignore the devastation that my Thanksgiving Food Pyramid was wrecking on my insides… but, sadly, the evidence of what this nutritional course of destruction was doing to my outside was all to clear.



So let’s put denial to bed and rehash all the shameful little things we might be tempted to do to our skin this holiday season – but that we should decidedly avoid.

Last week, the Today Show covered some of the horrid things that should be avoided in order to stave off signs of aging and keep you looking all dewy and delicious throughout the holiday season. (You should be avoiding these things year-round, but… ya’ know… baby steps.)

Number one on our No-No Hit List: Smoking. ‘Cause no matter how much the “cute” family banter and “gentle” holiday prying gets to you… reaching for the comfort of your old friend nicotine will only give them more stuff to talk about behind your back.

To double down on those rare times when you, my dear readers, aren’t heeding my warnings, The Today Show recently did a segment on the worst things you can do for your skin with special guest NYC’s own Dr. Deborah Wattenberg (creator of SkinCareRX) – who basically set out to scare those 20% of American’s who still smoke straight.

Wattenberg started off her Reign of Terror by stating the obvious: Smoking is the single worst thing you can do to your skin. For instance, smoking ages you more quickly due to the fact that the nicotine and chemicals in a cigarette destroys your skins collagen and elastin. (But wait? Aren’t those the very components that make up our skin? – Yes, Virginia. They are.) Smoking also destroys blood vessels, which means less oxygen can actually get to your skin – so essentially you’re kissing any hope for a youthful, rosy glow goodbye with every, single puff. She goes on to ice this cold-sweat inducing cake by mentioning that smoking also causes yellowing of the skin… and brown spots… and pucker-like wrinkles around the lips… and crow’s feet… and also destroys your hair. In fact, all hopes for your dermis and holiday cheer are destroyed each time you put a cigarette to your lips. (Merry Christmas!)



And lest you think it’s safe to turn instead to that standby holiday escape, al-chee-hol – remember that that glass of cabernet (or seventh cup of caffeinated beverage) can suck the very soul out of your skin. Yes, it’s very soul. Here’s the deal: caffeine and alcohol act as a diuretic, essentially preventing your skin from holding onto moisture. The effect is a dried, shrivly prune-like appearance.

Wattenberg isn’t shy about taking down that last bastion of holiday comfort too. You know, junk food. Too many preservatives, sugar and salt can have the same effect on your face as the aforementioned al-chee-hol.

Of course the good Doctor isn’t naive to the weakness of men (and by men, I mean ladies too.) She suggests a healthy increase in your water intake if you happen to be over-imbibing this holiday season, to tip those healthy, glowy scales at least a touch back in your favor. So while you should be drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day… the season might call for a few more.

Now, now… let’s not blame the messenger. Dr. Wattenberg was simply stating the facts – with a sprinkling of fear. Let’s just consider this a pre-holiday spreading of good cheer wrapped in a terrifying morality tale – now get out there and be fabulous! That new, sparkly party dress isn't gonna wear itself!