If you’ve ever said “yes” to a few too many drinks on a night out, you know exactly what we mean by “hangover skin”. Puffy eyes, papery skin, enlarged pores, a sallow complexion - hangovers are not pretty!
Obviously the best way to avoid hangover skin is to abstain from alcoholic beverages, or at least to imbibe moderately. But if the damage is already done, pop some Ibuprofen and follow these tips for preventing and curing hangover skin.
How Alcohol Affects Your Skin
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning that it pulls moisture out of the body. When you’re imbibing, you’re less likely to drink water along with your alcoholic beverages. The result? Total dehydration.
Unfortunately, dehydration means less-than-stellar skin. A hangover means that your skin is extra dry and wrinkles become more visible. Alcohol also dilates the blood vessels, which causes your eyes to look red and puffy and your face bloated.
Before Bed...
Drink Water!
Force yourself to drink at least a half liter of water before you go to bed. Alcohol is extremely dehydrating, so restore lost moisture from the inside out by drinking water or an electrolyte beverage before bed.
Remove Your Makeup
Commit to always washing your face before you go to bed, no matter how many drinks you’ve had! Free radicals cling to makeup, and sleeping in your makeup causes unnecessary overnight exposure. Free radicals cause your skin’s collagen to break down, resulting in sagging, aging skin. Sleeping in makeup can also cause clogged pores, which lead to breakouts. We say no thanks to that!
Keep a pack of makeup remover wipes on your nightstand for evenings when you’re too tired to wash your face.
Apply Moisturizer
Moisturizing your face will help to rehydrate your skin while you sleep and create a barrier so your face doesn’t lose any more precious moisture overnight. Use a soothing night cream to fight alcohol-induced inflammation and redness. You may still be dehydrated in the morning, but at least your skin won’t be!
The Next Day...
Drink More Water!
Really! While you may only want coffee or hair of the dog, drinking water is the quickest way to recover from a hangover. For extra fast hydration, try watermelon or coconut water, both of which are loaded with hydrating electrolytes.
Exfoliate
Remove dry, alcohol-damaged skin cells by gently exfoliating in the morning. Look for an exfoliant formulated with lactic acid or fruit acids to exfoliate without drying out skin.
Apply a Moisturizing Mask
Restore lost moisture with a nutrient-dense sheet mask. Try our Pomegranate Crush Illuminating Mask to energize sallow, dull skin. Kick back, sip on some coconut water, and enjoy your favorite Netflix show while our mask restores your glowing complexion.
Rescue Puffy Eyes
You may be able to conceal your hangover skin with some foundation and blush, but there’s no hiding puffy hangover eyes. To repair late night damage, apply our Lost Baggage Under Eye Emergency Repair Mask. With a hydrating boost of hyaluronic acid, this eye mask will send bags, wrinkles, and dark circles packing.
For an extra dose of brightness, apply a small amount of highlighter on the inner corner of your eyes.
What’s your favorite hangover cure? Let us know in the comments!
Written by: Colleen Welsch
