It's the season of countless party invites! While it can't hurt to be merry and festive, an overindulgence in libations can be harmful to your complexion afterwards. While we're all familiar with the morning after headache, do you notice that your skin is affected also? More often than not excessive alcohol consumption can severely dehydrate skin. This results in a tight, dry, and puffy complexion. If you've noticed this look lately, keep reading to discover my best tips on how to avoid a complexion hangover, just in time for New Year's Eve!
1. Relieve Tightness with a Splash of Cool Water
It's so common for people to think they need to over-moisturize when their skin is dehydrated. My advice? Don't! While it can be helpful, what you really need to do is replenish your skin's water loss. Alcohol depletes skin of natural moisture, so if you're acne-prone applying layers of moisturizer can clog your pores. Luckily, there is a better solution! Try filling up your sink with cool water and add approximately 10 ice cubes. Once they melt simply splash your face a few times. Not only will this hydrate your thirsty skin cells, but it will also relieve puffiness caused by inflammation, and quite possible ease your headache!
2. Relieve Your Skin with a Gentle, Cooling Mask
Once you've splashed your skin with the cool water, pat it dry with a towel and immediately apply a thin layer of Dermalogica's Skin Hydrating masque to further hydrate your skin. Rinse with cool water and apply Dermalogica's Multivitamin Power Serum with Vitamins A, C & E, followed by your prescribed Dermalogica moisturizer. You'll immediately notice that your skin will look and feel much less tight, softer and healthier!
3. Increase your Vitamin Intake
Since alcohol deplete vitamins from the skin and body it's critical to load up, topically with antioxidant rich products but also internally with vitamins and healthy foods. Green veggies, like kale, spinach, cilantro, mint, and parsley contain large amounts of nutrients and electrolytes that help heal a hung-over body and face! I also highly recommend drinking a glass full of green juice since they typically contain some or most of these foods!
4. Hydrate!
Since dehydration is the most harmful side effect of alcohol consumption the key to a quick hangover recovery is to rehydrate! My recommendation is to replace water and antioxidants internally. How? Snack on berries and melons, they contain so much water. You can also add them to your glass of water to sweeten the flavor and get a double dose of hydration!
5. Prevention is Key
Remember, to prevent a complexion hangover simply limit your alcohol intake and or choose your drinks wisely. A gin and tonic with lime may result in less of a hangover. Why? Cocktails with less sugar may result in less or no hangover. This is based on a theory that sweeter drinks mask alcohols flavor, causing us to drink more. Also, following up each alcoholic drink with a glass of water will most likely eliminate any morning dehydration and puffiness!
These easy tips will soon return your complexion to its normal healthy glow – just in time for New Year' Eve! On that note, Happy New Years and thank you from me and everyone at Pia's Day Spa for your business this past year! I wish you a fabulous, fun and safe New Year's Eve and we look forward to seeing you at the Spa again in 2015!
