How to Combat After-party Skin
Hey! did you have fun over the holidays? Great. Us too.
As magical as the festive season can be, the combined effects of stress, alcohol and late nights can wreak havoc on the complexion— we call it “after-party skin”. It’s like an after-party in the sense that it takes place after you party, but it’s way less fun and super uncomfortable. Here’s a quick guide on how to reset and reboot your skin so you can look and feel your best as you begin the new year.
What does after-party skin look like?
Before we begin, what exactly are we talking about when we say after-party skin? If your eyes are feeling tired and puffy, your skin looks dull or red and you’re breaking out in acne like a teenager— you might be suffering from the dreaded condition. Fear not—we’ve all been there and as ever, we’re here to help.
How to Combat After-party Skin
Rehydrate
Alcohol is a sneaky little saboteur when it comes to the skin— not only does it contribute to the water retention that causes puffiness, your poor dehydrated skin may also feel tight, uncomfortable and dry. Replenish your body by drinking loads of h2o—remember the skin is an organ too—it requires water to function.
Moisturise Wisely
Not all moisturisers are created equal. Products containing natural humectants (rather than the synthetic stuff) can be especially effective. They draw moisture to the surface of the skin while also improving the skin’s ability to hydrate itself by stimulating moisture production in the dermis and boosting new cell growth in the epidermis. Natural humectants like the Hyaluronic acid we use in our CODE LIP or aloe vera are a great place to start. It’s also wise to avoid very hot showers (weirdly, water, especially hot water, can further dry the skin.)
Go Natural
Don’t get us wrong—we love a good skincare product as much as anyone, but there are loads of plants and herbs that can work wonders for angry after-party skin. For example, chamomile can help reduce inflammation and soothe acne when used as a rinse. Calendula has been known to boost hydration, improve circulation and reduce inflammation if you pop the flowers into your bath. Mint, sage, lavender and thyme all also provide loads of soothing goodness as do turmeric, fennel and ginger. If you’re interested in cultivating your own skin saving garden—we found this great (Medically Reviewed) article over at Mind Body Green with really helpful information on how to grow and use these little wonders.
Prevention is Better than a cure.
We are definitely not suggesting you not go out and let your hair down— you do you! But, if you switch up your drinks throughout the night with glasses of water, you’ll reduce the chances of having skin as dry as the Sahara come morning. Also, we know it’s the last thing you want to think about at the end of a night out, but removing your make up and moisturising before you go to bed will make a big difference to the condition of your complexion when you wake up.
Failing that— the newest addition to our little family of products, Lid Lift Enhance was literally designed to help with tired, puffy eyes. Combine CODE LLE with our eye-opening Mascara CODE VLM and it’s like last night never happened. But, maybe an early one tonight?
Written by Ricki Unger