Make sure your season is jolly by avoiding these common mistakes!

Drinking too much: During the holidays, it’s easy to get carried away and drink more than usual. Too much alcohol accelerates the aging process, and we all know that pasty, hollow-eyed look that comes with a hangover. Limit alcohol intake to one or two glasses of red wine, which contains grape seed extract and resveratrol — both are powerful antioxidants that actually prevent aging.

Skincare experiments: Tempted to try a peel before that big party? If you’ve never used a treatment or product before, now is not the time to start! Your skin may have an allergic reaction to an unfamiliar ingredient or you may experience unsightly side effects from a cosmetic procedure. Give yourself at least two weeks before an important event to try something new.

Sleepless nights: Research shows that people who’ve had a full night’s rest look more attractive to observers. When you’re tired, enzymes that help skin producefats don’t work properly, leaving skin dry and dull. Cortisol levels also increase, which leads to wrinkles through a process called glycosylation.

Waxing burns: If you use a prescription retinoid (such as Retin-A, Atralin or Tazorac) or an over-the-counter product that contains retinol, discontinue use 10 days before waxing. These products slough off your skin’s protective outer layer of dead cells, leaving you vulnerable to burns.

Too many sugar plums: Back away from the dessert table! Too much sugar can aggravate acne and cause premature wrinkling

Using the wrong products: If you receive a skincare product as a gift, make sure it is right for your skin type — if it isn’t, exchange it for one that will work for you.