Night outs, card parties and alcohol: Expert tips for healthy skin through the festive season

The festive season has its own rhythm. A beautiful blur of endless laughter, midnight games of teen patti, shimmering outfits, and slightly too many laddoos. It’s the time of year when social calendars are packed, sleep takes a backseat, and skincare quietly slips off the priority list. Between makeup, cocktails, sugary treats, and back-to-back nights out, the skin is often the first to show fatigue. Alcohol and sugar accelerate oxidative stress, the kind that leaves your face looking puffy, dull, or inflamed even when you’re glowing on the inside.The trick to getting through the festive marathon isn’t a last-minute facial. It’s small, steady rituals that keep your skin supported while you celebrate fully. Think of it as pacing your glow, balancing late nights with quiet repair so the festivities show up on your face in the best way. These expert-driven skincare hacks will help make that glow last well beyond the celebrations.

HEALTHY SKINCARE TIPS THROUGH DIWALI FESTIVITIES

1. Stick to your basics

It’s easy to push skincare to tomorrow when the party goes on till 3 a.m. But it’s precisely during these weeks that consistency matters most. Stick to your non-negotiables: cleanser, serum, moisturiser. Keep it minimal and familiar. No experimenting, no new actives, just a simple, steady routine that keeps your skin barrier strong enough to handle the late nights and sugar highs.

2. Soothe first

Post-party skin asks for calm. Focus on repairing rather than chasing instant brightness. Cooling compresses, aloe gel, or ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide help restore balance, soothe inflammation and make your skin feel settled again. Healthy skin glows on its own; it doesn’t need to be forced.

3. Build a reset ritual

If nights are indulgent, mornings need to be gentle. A short, structured routine with cleansing, hydration, moisturiser and SPF, paired with a nourishing breakfast rich in antioxidants, can reset your skin’s rhythm. Something as simple as soaked nuts, yogurt or fresh fruit gives your body the fuel to keep up with the season, inside and out.

4. Exfoliate gently

Festivals are not the time to over-exfoliate in the name of glow. Overdoing scrubs or strong actives can strip the skin, making it more reactive. Choose mild exfoliants with low concentrations of AHAs or BHAs, and use them sparingly. Let your skin breathe instead of fighting it.

5. Hydration isn’t optional

Cocktails and sugary treats can quietly deplete your body’s water levels. A simple habit of alternating each drink with a glass of water can make all the difference the next morning. If you forget, double up on hydration the next day. Coconut water, lemon water with a pinch of salt, or infused water help replenish what late nights take away.

6. Sleep is equal to skincare

The single most underrated glow ritual is sleep. During deep rest, the skin renews itself, collagen production increases, blood flow improves, and stress hormones drop. Even during the busiest festive week, aim for six hours of proper sleep or sneak in a power nap when you can. A small wind-down ritual with no screens, dim lights, and a calming moisturiser signals your body it’s time to rest.

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Don't forget!

Festive weeks are meant to be lived fully, not micromanaged. A breakout or a dull morning isn’t failure, it’s life. If you stay consistent in small ways, your skin will carry you through the marathon beautifully. Celebrate, rest, hydrate, repeat, and let your glow last longer than the party.

Text by Dr. Aparajita Lamba

Dr. Aparajita Lamba is a distinguished alumna of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. She is the Founder of Iksana Wellness, has a Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine from Dubai and pursued it through training in London.

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