What does it mean for your skin to have a hangover? It means that your skin, as the largest organ in the body, is feeling the effects from the toxins in alcohol, not unlike how your stomach, head, and brain feel the next day.
- Alcohol dehydrates the skin; this accentuates dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles.
- Alcohol is inflammatory and causes the release of histamines which can lead to flushing, redness, puffiness, and broken capillaries. Hello red nose. ?
- Alcohol disrupts the microbiome of the stomach. A healthy microbiome helps to regulate our immune system, which is important in managing inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema.
- Sugar in alcohol triggers the insulin response which can have a negative effect on hormones, which will affect the skin in the form of breakouts, dryness, and dullness.
How to prep your skin before a night of responsible drinking:
- Hydrate your skin with a cream rich in hyaluronic acid, omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamins A & C, and anti-oxidants to protect it from the effects of alcohol.
- Drink plenty of water. Also feel free to opt for coconut water or other electrolyte drink.
- Remember if you are drinking outdoors, nothing is more important than sunscreen. It protects from the outside and reduces the risk of broken capillaries that cause a red nose and cheek effect.
How to rehab your skin after a night of responsible drinking:
- First, rehydrate your body and your skin. Drink 2 liters of water throughout the day, and fuel up with coconut water or other electrolyte drink. Products that replenish moisture and contain hyaluronic acid, omega 3 essential fatty acids, and ceramides will help support the dehydrated barrier function of the skin and restore some moisture and plumpness to the skin. We recommend RESET or BOOST. Or both.
- Support the blood capillaries that risk breaking due to flushing with a product high in Vitamin C. Vitamin C also helps prevent collagen breakdown. We recommend HYDRATE as your go-to Vitamin C serum.
- Restore brightness to the skin with Vitamin A, which helps increase cell turnover and gets rid of dead skin cells on the surface. Vitamin A also help undo the fundamental damage to cells by the toxins in alcohol. Turn to RESET for a healthy dose of Vitamin A.
- The day after, do a very gentle cleanse, mild exfoliation, and follow up with that hydrating hyaluronic acid, omega 3, Vitamin A, C & anti-oxidant cream to reduce the effects of inflammation, dehydration, and collagen breakdown from the alcohol.
We hope you enjoy these tips for keeping your skin in tip-top shape in the midst of responsible drinking. Cheers!