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You overdid it with the eggnog, had a late night dance party to “All I Want for Christmas” on repeat, and fell asleep in your make-up. Hey, it happens to the best of us this time of year. But now your eyes are puffy and ringed with dark circles, your skin is blotchy, a breakout is imminent, and on top of all that, everything hurts. You’ve already been chugging water (right?). Good, because we’ve got the rest covered. To revive your complexion, follow this advice from Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Here’s what to do if you’re suffering from…
…Tired, I-Only-Slept-for-5-Hours Eyes
Turns out, your grandmother was right. Placing chilled tea bags on your eyes is a great way to treat dark circles and puffiness. “The caffeine constricts dilated blood vessels that give skin under eyes a bluish hue,” says Zeichner. “It also removes excess fluid that contributes to puffiness.”
…Dry, I-Overdid-It-With-the Mulled-Wine Skin
Drinking a lot of alcohol can leave skin dehydrated (in other news, Santa Claus is not real). The best way to replenish your complexion is a super-hydrating mask, says Zeichner. We love Embryolisse Hydra Mask!
…It’s-Below-Zero-Outside Inflammation
Cold weather coupled with booze and staying out late can leave skin irritated and inflamed. “To soothe it, apply a basic moisturiser – one that doesn’t have any active anti-ageing or acne ingredients,” says Zeichner. We’re fans of Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré for this very reason. The velvety moisturiser contains soothing shea butter, aloe vera and soy proteins and is great for all skin types. If you have red, itchy or scaly spots that won’t go away, apply an over-the-counter cortisone cream for a few days, suggests Zeichner.
…and the Unfortunate Subsequent Blotchiness
“Blotchiness is the result of skin irritation,” says Zeichner. “Your blood vessels dilate causing blood to rush to the surface of skin, giving it a red appearance.” To calm your complexion and get rid of splotches, try a targeted moisturiser like Liz Earle’s Skin Repair Moisturiser, which contains botanical hydrators that leave skin clear. And a CC cream like this stila one can help even skin tone. Plus, it contains potent antioxidants like vitamin C and lycopene, which help promote softer, smoother skin.
…I-Slept-in-My-Make-Up Breakouts
Sleeping in your make-up isn’t the end of the world but it does clog pores and can eventually lead to acne. If you forgot to wash your face before bed, use Vasanti’s Detox Nutrient-Rich Purifying Facial Cleanserthe next morning. The foaming formula gently whisks away toxins and pore-clogging oils without drying out your skin. And with natural anti-ageing ingredients like omega 3 and 6, it’ll minimise party-induced wrinkles too.
—Abigail Libers
