How Your Christmas Dinner Could Be Contributing to Fine Lines and Wrinkles

We all look forward to Christmas dinner—the turkey, the mince pies, the mulled wine (maybe more than one glass, let’s be honest). But while your taste buds are celebrating, your skin might be silently suffering. Fine lines and wrinkles can sneak up on you faster than Aunt Mary’s questionable Christmas jokes. It’s easy to blame the years or stress, but could your festive favourites be contributing to that sudden appearance of crow’s feet?

We’re not here to be Scrooge about Christmas. We want you to enjoy the season to the fullest. But if you’ve noticed that your skin is looking a little dull or that those fine lines seem more prominent after a feast, we’ve got the answers—and solutions—to help you bounce back before the New Year.

The Sugar Skin Saga: Sweet Treats, Bitter Consequences

Let’s start with the obvious culprit: sugar. Christmas desserts are a central part of the holiday spirit—think Christmas pudding, chocolate boxes, and endless dessert spreads. While it’s tempting to indulge in all the sweet treats, sugar can be a sneaky saboteur of your skin.

When you consume excess sugar, it triggers a process called glycation, where sugar molecules bind to proteins like collagen and elastin in your skin. This process essentially damages your skin’s natural scaffolding, leaving it stiff and brittle. The result? Collagen and elastin lose their ability to keep your skin firm and youthful, leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging.

Dr. Laura Geige, Senior Aesthetic Expert at It’s Me and You Aesthetic Clinic, explains: “Excess sugar can speed up skin ageing by damaging collagen and elastin. These are the proteins that keep your skin firm and smooth. The good news? Reducing sugar intake and using collagen-boosting skincare can help minimise the effects.”

It doesn’t mean you have to ditch the mince pies altogether, but try swapping out some sugary snacks for healthier options. Go for a fruit platter instead of a cake, or opt for dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Your skin—and your waistline—will thank you.

Alcohol: Festive Cheer or Skin’s Worst Nightmare?

We all know Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a glass (or three) of mulled wine or champagne. However, while alcohol is a key player in holiday cheer, it’s not doing your skin any favours. Alcohol is a major dehydrator, and dehydrated skin equals dull, tired-looking skin that’s more prone to developing fine lines.

But the skin-depleting effects of alcohol go beyond just dryness. It also causes inflammation, which, over time, can break down collagen, the protein responsible for skin elasticity. This leads to sagging and, yes, those dreaded fine lines.

Dr. Rimas Geiga, Senior Medical Expert at the clinic warns: “Alcohol doesn’t just dry out your skin; it also inflames it. This can break down collagen over time, leading to sagging and fine lines. Balancing alcohol with water and hydrating skincare can help counteract its effects.”

So, for every glass of wine, try sipping a glass of water. Better yet, consider swapping festive cocktails for refreshing mocktails. You’ll still enjoy the party atmosphere, and your skin (and liver) will appreciate the break.

Too Much Salt: The Wrinkle Culprit You Didn’t See Coming

We all love a bit of salt, especially with all those tempting Christmas snacks like crisps, pigs in blankets, and stuffing. But too much salt can wreak havoc on your skin. Salt causes your body to retain water, which can lead to puffiness around your eyes and bloating in your face. This isn’t the festive glow you were hoping for!

Salt also contributes to dehydration, which can affect your skin’s elasticity, making those fine lines more noticeable. Over time, this dehydration can cause your skin to lose its plump, youthful look.

Dr. Snieguole Geige, Medical Director at the clinic, advises: “Salt dehydrates your body, which can lead to swollen, puffy skin. Over time, dehydration also affects elasticity, making fine lines more noticeable. Keeping hydrated and using products with hyaluronic acid can help maintain a plump, youthful look.”

To minimise the impact of salt, try cutting back on the salty snacks and opt for potassium-rich foods like bananas and spinach. These help balance out sodium in the body, keeping your skin fresh and firm.

Stress Eating: A Recipe for Wrinkles

The holidays are full of joy, but let’s face it—Christmas can also be stressful. Between shopping sprees, family gatherings, and preparing for the big day, it’s easy to fall into the trap of stress eating. Unfortunately, stress eating often involves sugary or salty foods, which only make matters worse for your skin.

Stress itself can also contribute to skin ageing. When we’re stressed, our bodies release cortisol, a hormone that breaks down collagen and accelerates skin ageing. So, when you’re biting into that extra mince pie to cope with stress, you’re not only dealing with the immediate sugar rush but also setting your skin up for future wrinkles.

Birute Sutkiene, Marketing Lead at the clinic, says: “Stress eating is common during the holidays. Unfortunately, it often involves sugary or salty foods, which only compound skin issues. Managing stress is key—not just for your skin but for your overall health.”

Instead of reaching for that extra helping of pudding, try swapping stress eating for stress-busting activities like a brisk winter walk, some calming meditation, or belting out "Last Christmas" in the shower. Your skin—and your mind—will thank you.

Bounce Back with Smart Skin Solutions

Worried that your Christmas dinner might be leaving its mark on your face? Don’t fret—you don’t have to ditch all the festive fun. Balance is key, and so is looking after your skin. While you can’t avoid indulging in a glass of mulled wine or a slice of Christmas pudding, there are ways to help counteract the effects on your skin.

Dr. Laura Geige recommends: “Investing in treatments like hydrating facials or dermal fillers can help combat the visible effects of diet-related ageing. They work to plump, smooth, and restore your skin’s youthful glow, even after the indulgences of Christmas.”

Hydrating facials are a fantastic way to boost moisture levels in your skin, giving it that radiant, dewy look. Dermal fillers can add volume and smooth out fine lines, giving you a refreshed appearance in time for the New Year.

The Bottom Line

We all know the holiday season is about indulgence, joy, and making memories with loved ones. But it’s also a great time to start thinking about how we can protect our skin. While sugar, alcohol, salt, and stress eating might have a sneaky hand in the development of fine lines, there are plenty of ways to counteract their effects and keep your skin glowing all season long.

So, go ahead and enjoy that glass of mulled wine, but balance it out with plenty of water. Have a slice of cake, but mix it up with a fruit platter too. And if you’re feeling stressed, take a moment for yourself to unwind. This Christmas, it’s all about balance, and with a little effort, your skin can survive the festive indulgences and look as radiant as your Christmas lights.