From a cocktail or two to ring in the New Year, to that Big Night Out catching up with your besties, as we come out of party season we’ve probably all been reminded of the effects that alcohol and late nights have on our skin. As a rule, we know alcohol = dehydration. We usually notice this when we wake up after a big night out ready to drink tons of liquids in an attempt to rehydrate our bodies... but what about our skin? From breakouts to dryness, if you are having the below issues, you probably have a skin hangover... yep this is how alcohol is affecting your skin... 

• Dryness 
• Dehydration  
• Inflammation 
• More breakouts  
• Dullness  

So, how does consuming alcohol affect the skin? 

Dehydration: 

The most common side effect is dehydration which leads to dry, dull, unhealthy-looking skin, this is due to alcohol being a diuretic, meaning it increases the normal production of urine leading to a loss of moisture held within our bodies. Dehydration of the skin can also lead to puffiness within the face as the skin tries to hold on to as much water as it can. 

Inflammation: 

If you spot your face looking red and blotchy (typically on the cheeks) after a few drinks, this is due to inflammation. Some may brush this off at first but over time this flush of the cheeks can become more permanent and leave you with a constant red flush.  

The solution... 

Dehydration and inflammation are best friends and they usually come as a package deal... however, there are a few steps we can take to reduce the impact that alcohol has on the health of our skin. To battle dehydration and inflammation, we would suggest drinking glasses of water in between alcoholic beverages, you could try your go-to spirit with soda water (and lime if you prefer) to keep your skin hydrated all night long. Hydrating serums and moisturisers will be your go-to!  Before winding down after your big night out, add a hydrating serum such as Hydration Hero or moisturiser – Calm & Soothe Cool Whip Moisturiser this will also help to reduce inflammation and redness as it contains hemp and jojoba.  

Why do I get breakouts after drinking? 

You may notice a few new blemishes the morning after, this is down to a number of things. Alcoholic drinks tend to contain more sugar and as we know a high sugar intake can cause breakouts. As a result of dehydration, your skin may be sporting a few more spots than usual. 

Is it bad to sleep in my makeup? 

We are aaaalll guilty of this at some point (and although not directly caused by drinking alcohol), sleeping in makeup is a sure way to cause a nasty breakout and clogged pores. A quick solution to this is to lay out your favourite cleansing balm and face wash before you head out the door as a reminder to double cleanse when the night is over! 

What can I do about alcohol affecting my skin?  

Now you know this is how alcohol is affecting my skin! So what can you do about it...?  

 Once the damage has been done and our boozy night has left a reminder on our faces the only thing left is to combat it... 

1. First things first is to rehydrate drink plenty of water, use ingredients such a Hyaluronic & Polyglutamic acid to a damp face to bring moisture back into the skin and lock it in.  
    

1. Follow up with a detoxifying face mask and targeted blemish treatment to get the ball rolling.  
    

1. This is the perfect time to be using barrier builder – the amino and fatty acids are going to enrich the skin and help strengthen the skin by repairing the damage we may not notice as an effect of drinking alcohol.  
    

1. Follow up with your favourite hydrating moisturiser and your skin will be glowing again in no time! 

Long term, why not look at cutting down alcohol intake..? It is dry-Jan after all. Take time to allow your skin to rejuvenate and glow from within by detoxing from alcohol – ultimately it is the best way to avoid a skin hangover!