For many, Covid life has led to an increase in alcohol consumption and Netflix binging. I myself have become an expert on chardonnays and champagnes (my favorite), and I have gone down many mid-19th century rabbit holes with shows like Bridgerton and Vanity Fair. In short, I have kept myself relaxed and entertained! Although these activities keep us going, puffy and tired looking skin is not what we are looking for. Given that many of my clients share these common evening activities, they have repeatedly asked me what to do when the next morning arrives. First, I say, stop the adult beverages. That usually leads to an overwhelming NO…ok, so what to do? Here are my top five tips to retrieve that youthful glow quickly.
- Always perform your cleansing routine in the morning when you wake up. I am making the assumption that you did cleanse your face the night before. If not, understand that you are making the choice to age more quickly. Using a cleanser with gentle acids, like the Cleansing Gel from VIE, will remove dirt and debris and encourage skin cells to turn over more quickly. Coupling it with the My Skin Buddy will enable tightening, exfoliation, detoxification and collagen production. If you also need a quick pick-me-up, put a drop of peppermint oil into the palm of your hand and rub together. Cup your hands to your nose and take three deep breaths. You will immediately begin to feel your senses brighten. This is a great daily practice too!
- Always finish your cleansing process with a cold water splash. If you are extremely puffy, you might want to consider filling your sink with water and a dozen ice cubes and dunking your face. Yes, dunk, not splash. This will decrease swelling and reduce the appearance of capillaries by shrinking them. You should also have a jade roller on hand for this purpose. Keep it in the freezer for when you need to roll/massage yourself into a depuffed state! This method will help to reduce swelling and will stimulate lymphatic drainage.
- Typically, after a night of adult beverages, you might notice that your eyes are swollen. Massaging this area with an eye cream like Chrono Eye from VIE will reduce puffiness and dark circles, while also relaxing the eye tissue with a botox-like peptide. Here’s a pro tip: keep your eye cream in the refrigerator. The low temperature will help to reduce the swelling, shrink tissue and move lymphatic fluid.
- The best way to replenish moisture to dehydrated tissue is to apply a hydrating serum with hyaluroic acid. Simply slathering on more moisturizer is not going to do the trick. After a night of drinking alcohol, the tissue is craving water, not oil. Make sure your serums are water based and consider adding in a sheet mask like Le Mieux’s Bio Cell Mask, a collagen based brightening mask. This mask can also be kept in the refrigerator for a deeper cooling and de-puffing effect…notice a trend here?
- Always remember, not only are your skin cells dehydrated but your body is as well. Keep chilled coconut water on hand to revive internal cells, which will have an immediate effect on your outward cells, if not the dull headache you are probably feeling. Coconut water is naturally low in sugar and contains a variety of electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. It is a great hydrating drink that is low in calories and known to have better hydrating qualities than plain water. So drink up!
In close, I would like to point out that even though my preferred libation is a light, oaky chard or a dry, bubbly champagne, the best choice would be vodka or tequila on the rocks with soda water and a slice of lime/lemon. This is by far the best choice for keeping the calorie count down. Tequila is also known to have benefits for the heart and the digestive system (in smaller amounts of course, but we have to look on the bright side). Either way, follow each drink with 8oz of water and the next A.M. effects will not be so severe.
Cheers!