9 Hangover Cures For Your Skin

We’ve all been there. You overdo it on the drinks and end up paying for it the next day. Whether it’s the virtual office Xmas party or a post lockdown meal with your housemates, it’s not just you but your skin that suffers. We have some vital tips will help your skin recover, when you wake up and realise that a ‘substantial meal’ didn’t soak up as much of the alcohol as you’d hoped…

What happens to your skin when you’re hungover?

There are many reasons why your complexion doesn’t look great when you’re hungover. The first being that you’re dehydrated, so your skin often appears flaky and dry. Alcohol leads to constricted blood vessels, resulting in dull and puffy skin. It can also increase redness and flare up conditions such as Rosacea.  When we’re tipsy, it can be tempting not to remove our make-up properly. This often leads to panda eyes in the morning and spots appearing or worsening overnight.

What can you do to get your glowing complexion back ASAP?

• DRINK WATER - Drink at least 2 pints of water (just not too quickly, if you’re feeling queasy!) to rehydrate your body and skin, helping to flush out those toxins and get your body functioning again.
• EAT AVOCADOS - Eating something that’s high in natural fats but also nutritious, helps replenish the vitamins you may have lost and prevent further damage to your skin. Avocados also contain vitamins E and C, which are vital for healthy skin. Poached eggs and avocado on toast is a great post-hangover breakfast.
• EXFOLIATE - Remove your make-up again, cleanse and exfoliate your skin with a facial scrub. This will remove dead skin cells and help invigorate your skin and make it glow. I like to use St Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub. If you don’t have any, you can make one yourself using a tablespoon of sugar, a tablespoon of honey and a teaspoon of yoghurt. Have a look at these recipes for home made exfoliators for inspiration from whatever you have in the cupboard.
• AVOID CAFFEINE - Have a herbal tea. Try to stay clear of coffee if you can, to avoid further dehydration. Go for peppermint or green tea to help you detox and further hydrate you.
• MASSAGE YOUR FACE – Massaging your face can increase blood flow and help reduce any puffiness. Use a jade roller (which you can put in the fridge to cool) or cold, clean hands and apply some moisturiser to your face. Gently massage your cheeks and forehead in circular motions (also a great cure for your headache).
• USE ICE– If your face is prone to redness after alcohol or you’ve got some particularly sore blemishes, gently holding an ice cube on the affected area for 5 minutes can reduce swelling. It can also help your skin gain some colour if it’s looking particularly grey and dull. Just remember to rinse the ice cube in cold water first so it doesn’t stick to your skin.
• DO A HYDRATING FACE MASK – Apply a face mask or make your own to help your complexion recover, such as a full fat yoghurt mask. Our blue clay mask is detoxifying and cleansing, and works wonders on skin that needs some TLC.
• MOISTURIZE – When you’ve finished cleansing, apply your normal moisturizer to help re-hydrate your skin and leave it to sink in. Avoid make-up if you can, particularly if you didn’t remove it the night before.
• SLEEP – Although alcohol can make us drowsy, it does not aid a good night’s sleep, particularly if you don’t get to bed until the early hours of the morning. Your skin needs sleep to rebuild collagen, repair damage and increase blood flow. Take a nap or make sure you get an early night.