How to revive hangover skin We’ve all been there; those nights when an extra glass of wine while out with friends seems like a great idea – until the following morning, when waking up with a hangover isn’t quite so amusing. The joy and enthusiasm of the night before is quickly replaced by a throbbing headache and a room that won’t stop spinning. However, it’s not just a sore head that tells you you’ve probably over-indulged on the cocktails. Believe it or not, your skin can also feel hungover. And indeed, it can look it too! If you’ve ever experienced irritated or itchy skin after drinking alcohol, then it’s important to take action to minimise the effects of too much alcohol on your skin. Yes, you’ve got hangover skin, along with the hangover head, gut and lack of wellbeing! If you’re keen to get out there and start partying now that lockdown restrictions have been lifted, read on to discover the effects that alcohol has on your complexion and the best ways to care for hangover skin. Does alcohol age your skin? In short, yes, drinking alcohol ages your skin. However, the amounts consumed and the frequency you drink all play a major part in how profound the effects will be over time. Alcohol also has a negative impact on vitamin A levels, which is a key antioxidant to help fight the signs of ageing. So you need to look at the longer term bigger picture – there’s no need to panic about one heavy night out. Vitamin A is also important in the production of collagen – which keeps your complexion taut and looking youthful. It’s a sad but true fact that the more you drink, the faster you’ll age. At the risk of sounding like your Granny, it pays to live by the adage: everything in moderation. Does alcohol dehydrate your skin? Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it removes water from the body and skin and leaves your complexion looking dull and feeling dry. It’s advisable to drink a glass of water between alcoholic drinks to nourish your skin and keep it hydrated. It’s a handy habit and you and your friends can be accountable to each other here. Not only will your skin thank you for the hydration, but you might just avoid a monumental headache the following day. The more dehydrated you are, the longer the symptoms of a hangover will stick around. Hangover skincare tips Despite knowing all this – there are bound to be nights when you overindulge. And after eighteen months of lockdown restrictions and the closure of bars and clubs – we’re totally up for a party! Here are our top tips for curing your skin’s hangover. 1. Combat puffiness with ice Too much booze can cause your skin to become inflamed and puffy. One remedy to soothe hangover skin is to wrap a few ice cubes in a clean cloth and apply gently to the inflammation. It can bring relief and calm sensitive skin – and may even help to reduce your banging headache. 2. Rehydrate with a face mask Dehydrated skin looks and feels sallow and dry. Having alcohol in your system makes it harder to rehydrate your complexion, so it’s time for a little helping hand to rehydrate your skin. Use the ‘morning after’ to pamper yourself with a rich hydrating face mask that can restore moisture to your dry skin. We recommend a mask that contains hyaluronic acid, a substance that our skin cells produce naturally. It tops up the skin’s hydration levels and acts as a magnet for moisture. Apply the mask, lie back, relax and allow the hyaluronic acid to revive your tired and dehydrated hangover skin. It’s the perfect tonic for ‘the morning after the night before’. 3. Drink, drink, drink! Sadly, we’re not talking about the ‘hair of the dog’ here. Although some people swear by a tot of whisky to alleviate the effects of a hangover, it’ll only do more damage to your already stressed skin. Instead, concentrate on rehydrating your system with good old H2O. Try to drink a pint of water before you roll into bed, and leave a glass of water by the side of your bed in case you wake up thirsty in the early hours of the morning. It’ll do your skin the world of good, and will help to reduce the puffiness that goes hand in hand with hangover skin. Also plan a day of antioxidant rich foods, such as leafy greens, to mop up all those alcohol-induced free radicals. 4. Have a massage You may be surprised to know that a massage can be a brilliant cure for a hangover. A massage helps to increase circulation, pushing blood to the brain and helping to get rid of that horrible hangover headache. This increase in blood circulation also promotes skin regeneration. Not only that, but a massage will also help relieve tension in tired muscles. This will encourage your body to relax, aiding rejuvenation and healing both inside and out. Plus, it’ll also be helpful if you have achy muscles from dancing the night away, or have put on high heels for the first time since lockdown! As you may already be aware, it’s important to stay hydrated before and after a massage, as the treatment helps to release built-up toxins that are stored in the muscle tissues. A massage stimulates your body to direct those waste products to your organs for proper removal. The more hydrated you are, the more your body is able to flush the night before out of your system. That’s why we recommend pairing a massage with an IV drip treatment… 5. Rejuvenate hangover skin with an IV drip Drinking water can help to revive hangover skin, but for a skin boost that provides noticeable results to hangover skin immediately, why not treat yourself to a hydrating IV drip to revitalise your complexion? Our skin contains 64% water, and when we are dehydrated, we need to replenish fluids fast. Get a boost with an IV drip that delivers fluids and nutrients directly to your bloodstream to revitalise your skin. An intravenous drip may sound like a medical procedure, but IV therapy is a safe and effective way to boost dry and dull skin. The IV drip contains essential nutrients and vitamins to pep up your complexion and replenish your body and skin, helping you to reduce the effects of a hangover and recover faster. For a post-night-out IV drip, we recommend our Deluxe Recovery IV drip. The biggest benefit? You see the results fast. Secret Spa offers IV drip therapy, enabling you to minimise the effects of the hangover on both your body and your skin from the comfort of your own home. 6. Treat yourself to a facial If your skin is suffering from a booze-related breakout, then book yourself in for a reviving facial treatment. And since we know you won’t feel like leaving the house, we’ll come to you! Our Decléor Vitamin Glow Facial is the ideal hangover skin cure to purify your pores, replenish lost moisture and leave your complexion glowing and healthy-looking. Feeling better? Sadly, we can’t offer a magic formula to deal with your pounding headache – but by following our hangover skincare tips, at least your skin will look great while the rest of your body recovers!
