Have you ever peered into the mirror after an especially big night out and recoiled at the sallow, lifeless reflection staring back at you? You’ve probably had a case of hungover skin (along with the head-throbbing, nauseating real thing). According to Sylvia Crouch, founder of Brisbane-based cosmetics clinic Angel Aesthetics, drinking is one of the worst things you can do for your skin and those margaritas you guzzled are sure to show on your face the morning after. Lacklustre skin is the result of alcohol-induced dehydration.
Can good skin and a few drinks ever mix? Sylvia enjoys a glass of wine like the rest of us and she has some safeguards that can protect your skin against the worst of the boozy damage. Alcohol will never do good things to your complexion, but a few easy hacks can ensure you wake up looking more wholesome than hungover.
Hydration station
Hydration is key! Any chance you get to drink water throughout the night, do it. Sylvia says she’s made a habit of filling a tall glass of water with ice to sip while she gets ready for a night out. Really make an effort to up your water intake throughout the day before heading out for a wine-infused night, and aim to have a glass of water between each alcoholic drink.
Cleanse before bed
Never, ever get into bed without cleansing your skin, especially if you have been out in bars and touching your face all night long. The call to bed might be strong, but resist the urge of sleeping with a face of make-up (and dirt!). You don’t need to overcomplicate it; simply use a non-abrasive cleanser to remove any dirt or makeup and oil from your skin.
Hydrate with hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid serum is your best friend. Sylvia recommends making sure the skin is still damp from cleansing when you apply it to allow the hyaluronic acid to better absorb into the skin. Use it before bed and in the morning for an extra boost of hydration.
Brighten with vitamin C
Vitamin C brightens the complexion, so it’s your best friend on hungover days. When using vitamin C serum, the face needs to be dry, so the best application is after your hyaluronic acid serum has dried into the skin.
Calm and cool
When your head is pounding and you feel hot and bothered, a cooling treatment is exactly what the doctor ordered (and your skin is craving!). Get an ice-cold face cloth and place it over the skin to reduce puffiness and redness, repeat as necessary.
Protect, protect, protect
If there is one key takeaway Sylvia has to offer, it is to always wear broad-spectrum SPF. UV damage can make hungover skin appear even worse. Blotchiness and uneven skin tone is made more severe by sun damage, so do your future skin a favour and lather on the SPF daily.
Greens to glow
Greasy food and takeaways are calling to us from the moment we wake up after a night out, but Sylvia sets the record straight and tells us that those leafy greens we don’t really feel like on a hungover day are more important than ever for our skin.
Will you think twice about ordering another cocktail or pouring that extra glass of wine? Probably not, but at least you have the tools to treat and minimise the signs of hungover skin from home.
Angel Aesthetics has a range of beautiful treatments including Healite therapy, dermal filler and anti-wrinkle packages if you want to go the extra mile with your skin.
