It’s that time of year again. Cookies, Santa & dare we say it: acne breakouts!
It may be the holidays, but acne is nothing to cheer about. The days are shorter. The weather is colder. Everything and everyone is causing you stress. Whether it’s the weight of finals looming over you, or the constant questions from visiting family members grinding your gears, tensions are at an all-time high during the holiday season.
December’s whirlwind of holiday soirees brings with it two of the most notorious aspects of the holiday season: treats and stress.
While every person’s skin is different when it comes to environmental and dietary stressors on your skin (some people are just more sensitive than others), one thing we know for sure is that during the holidays, you’re often hit with a combination of the two and that can mean some unwanted breakouts.
Holiday Cookies
A staple of holiday parties, cookies are often homemade and extremely delicious. However, with all the icing and the cookies themselves, you can run into a real sugar overload. From royal icing to buttercream, it’s quite a hearty dose of sugar.
Alternative?
Try making cookies with a flour substitute, like almond flour or coconut flour, that also has a reduced amount of sugar. Here is a great recipe for the most wonderful acne safe vegan chocolate chip cookies ever.
Are Vegan Cookies Acne Safe?
Did you know some of the most big-name soda drinks are vegan? It’s true. Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Coke, Sprite… no animal products in sight. But they’re certainly not what we’d call nutritious. Soda drinks have been linked to type two diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions.
Many processed foods, vegan-friendly or not, are junk, plain and simple. Refined carbs, soy, processed cheese, and milk substitutes, candy (so many different kinds of sugar-filled candy) all fit the vegan bill – including Oreos.
However, when trying to clear your skin, the win always goes to whole foods and healthy snacks.
Do Oreos Contain Milk?
The original Oreos do not intentionally contain dairy.
Like with many processed foods, Oreos are made in a factory on shared equipment where other products are also made. So yes, Oreos may contain trace amounts of dairy due to cross-contamination.
Is there a connection between drinking milk and acne?
According to doctors, there is strong evidence that points to yes. One of the culprits at the top of the breakout-suspect list is dairy. Read more about how to break up with dairy here.
Avoiding Processed Foods and Oils in Cookies
If we really want to become consciously clear, we would avoid processed foods altogether. However; we realize this can be less than ideal for busy moms who are trying to juggle households, jobs, athletics, homework, and more.
While Oreos have been touted as being Vegan, it doesn’t mean they are safe for people with acne prone skin. Not only do processed cookies contain soy…they are high in sugar and other bad-for-your-skin ingredients like canola oil.
When thinking about cookies to share with Santa this year, opt for some homemade goodness… The best part about homemade cookies isn’t just the memories of making them – it’s the simple fact that you always know what’s in it.
Bottom Line
There’s no question that the holidays are a food-centric time of year. It can be really hard to avoid some of those delicious treats that are high in fat and sugar. The best approach really is modification and moderation.
The best defense is knowing why skin breaks out during the holidays and finding ways to lower your sugar consumption and to relax and take care of your skin.
It will definitely make your holiday more enjoyable this year and keep those breakouts at bay!
If we’re all being realistic, we’re going to indulge a little during the holidays. Alternatives are a great way to enjoy some moderation, but we’re all human, so be sure to schedule your acne consultation before the holiday to help combat those unwanted pimples.
Cheers to clear!
Rene