It’s called holiday stress. Heard of it? With large family get-togethers, finding the perfect gift for aunt Marge, and a severe lack of sleep from partying, I tend to get more stressed around the holiday season. That’s how I got zit number three … which only made me more cranky.

When your stress level goes up, your skin produces more cortisol (a hormone that releases excess oil). This clogs your pores and causes breakouts, says Jaliman.

While you can’t avoid stress all winter long, you can take a break once in a while to actually enjoy the holidays. So in between your shopping trip with mom and family game night, don’t forget to take some time to relax and pamper yourself, says Wu.