Say no to dull, dry, partied-out skin with our guide to staying ahead of the late night game.
If you’re a fully signed-up member of morning-after skin, the following tips are going to be right up your alley. Especially at this time of year when an entire month’s worth of festive partying make puffy skin, eye bags and dry patches particularly prevalent. Are we right or are we right?
Thankfully, here’s how to do some serious damage control before any post-party skin problems reach breaking point…
1. Do The Prep Work
Hopefully you’ve been employing an awesome skincare routine for, like, ever, anyway, but if not, it’s time to get a regular regime nailed. Why? Because skin that’s in great shape will repay you by not suffering the consequences of back-to-back parties too much. Simple as. Make sure your cleansing game is on point; tone with a gentle but nourishing facial toner; apply a daily antioxidant serum (we love Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum) to help keep environmental damage at bay, and moisturize thoroughly – morning and night.
2. Don’t Apply Makeup Until You've Thoroughly Cleansed
Getting ready for a night out might not require another shower, but you should definitely re-cleanse your face before applying makeup. Slapping foundation over unclean skin will never make for a flawless base, plus it could end up blocking your pores due to a build-up of oil, moisturizer, sweat, dirt and all sorts.
Your better bet is to start again with a blank canvas. This means gently cleansing with Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser, then moisturizing, at the very least.
3. Use Non-Comedogenic Makeup
If you often break out after big nights out, considering swapping heavy makeup for products that are less likely to clog your pores, aka non-comedogenic makeup. 'Comedones' is the medical term for blocked pores which often result in the frustrating likes of blackheads, whiteheads and gang. Nobody wants those – at any time of year – so always be on the lookout for the term ‘non-comedogenic’ to help keep your skin clean and clear.
4. Tie Your Hair Up
This might sound like a weird one, but if you’re going dancing or know you’re going to be somewhere hot and sweat, tie your hair up. A cute updo will stop any oil and sweat from your hair adding to what’s already accumulating on your skin to help reduce breakouts the morning-after. Smart, right?
The same also goes for bangs – sweep them to one side for the night, or wear a cute headband.
5. Remember, You Are What You Drink
Alcohol is fun… but can be a real devil on your body, skin, hair and entire health. When it comes to your skin, it’s seriously dehydrating and can leave your complexion dry and tight come the next day. So, think about what you pour down your neck, OK? Go easy on the sugar-laden cocktails which are a devil on your important collagen and elastin fibres, and stick to high-purity spirits like tequila, gin and vodka over darker spirits like whisky and rum – preferably mixed with sparkling water rather than soda or tonic.
Another good trick is to ALWAYS have a glass of water alongside your alcohol and drink this at the same pace as your booze. This will keep your hydration levels up, helping to prevent complexion carnage the next morning.
6. Say No To Junk Food
Fried chicken and late-night fries are super tempting when you’ve had one too many, but junk food contains tons of salt which is dehydrating and can make your skin super puffy the morning-after. Our favorite trick for avoiding the ‘too drunk to care what I eat’ temptation? Eat a big, healthy meal before you go out – making sure it contains plenty of antioxidant-rich veggies to fight free radical damage.
7. Thoroughly Remove Your Makeup Before Bed
Going to bed in your makeup is a big no-no – you know that. However, facial wipes are almost as bad. How so? Because they just move gunk around, rather than actually cleaning it away. Not good when your face is a tad sweaty and dirty from a big night out.
No matter how tired you are, cleansing your skin thoroughly before bed is vital. We repeat, VITAL. And it doesn’t have to be time-consuming either, simply grab our Charcoal Clarifying Cleanser which gently lifts away impurities and excess oils to detox your skin with zero effort.
8. Treat Your Skin As You Sleep
Overnight is one of, if not the most important times for your skin because when you’re asleep, your skin kicks into rejuvenation mode, repairing damage and renewing itself so it’s bright, fresh and ready for another day.
Research shows that people who get a good seven to nine hours of sleep each night have healthier, more moisturized skin that’s better able to protect and heal itself than those who sleep for five hours or less. When your body rests, blood flow increases, collagen and elastin production speeds up, your natural antioxidant system kicks in and your skin’s super important barrier function is restored. This means that if you don’t sleep well, you deny your skin this vital recovery time.
The thing is, eight hours isn’t always doable, especially if you’ve had a long night out. In these instances it’s even more important to boost your skin’s chances of recharging by applying a hydrating, antioxidant-rich moisturizer to cleansed skin before you hit the sack. Try our Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream which contains aloe vera, MSM, vitamin B5 and botanical oils (as well as vitamin C, of course) to restore your skin and add a morning-after glow you never thought was possible after a long, boozy night out.
Turns out, there IS a beauty god, after all!
