Plus, having a fun, champagne-filled celebration with friends and family just might make the queasy feeling worth it. (After all, well-being is about balance!) However, your skin may beg to differ. To help you avoid dull, puffy, sallow skin the day after drinking, we asked a pro esthetician for the 101. Trust us, you’ll want to save this page for future reference. So, first and foremost, your goal should be to rehydrate the skin from the inside out and decrease inflammation. But that’s not all: “If you happen to fall asleep with your makeup on, that increases your risk for breakouts and further disrupts skin health,” Sobelman says. If you can, do your very best to cleanse your skin before falling asleep. While this isn’t always possible, it’s worth the friendly nudge. To set yourself up for success, consider laying out your skin care products before going out or placing a note on your pillow to remind yourself—you’ll be glad you did. Skip the sports drinks loaded with sugar and opt for something more natural, like these Hydration Mixes from Cure—they have zero added sugars and contain oral rehydration salts, which, according to the World Health Organization, offer comparable hydration results to an IV drip. Not only will proper hydration help your complexion the next day, but your body will be just as grateful for the additional H2O. But taking a raw ice cube to your skin isn’t the best idea, as it can result in increased sensitivity and make your skin angrier (it can even lead to broken capillaries for some). Instead, use an ice roller, ice globes, or dunk your face in a bowl of ice water for around 30 seconds. This step will feel so refreshing and may even help minimize your hangover headache. However, if chilly tools aren’t your thing, a gua sha routine can also help de-puff the face and trigger lymphatic drainage–here’s the how-to. “This will allow hydrating products to penetrate better without causing additional irritation since enzymes don’t dive into the deeper layers of the skin,” she explains. That said, fruit enzymes may provide a better form of exfoliation for the day after drinking compared to chemical exfoliants, like AHAs and BHAs, or physical scrubs. One A+ pick: the Image Skincare VITAL C hydrating enzyme mask. With a cocktail of stable vitamin C, natural fruit enzymes, and hyaluronic acid, this mask is just what you need to start your routine with a fresh canvas. For even better results, apply your HA serum to damp skin post-cleanse. Because hyaluronic acid is a humectant, it will pull water into the skin, simultaneously offering a plumping effect. Next, call upon antioxidant serums, like those with vitamin C. Antioxidants protect the skin from free radicals that cause oxidative stress and lead to more inflammation—here’s a list of our favorites if you’re ready to shop. If you want to go the extra mile, you can precede this step with a hydrating essence. Sobelman recommends the Luzern The Essence toner as it’s packed with HA, antioxidants, ceramides, and probiotics to feed your skin’s microbiome. Always top off your routine with SPF, even if you don’t plan on basking in the sun on the first day of the new year. Sitting by a window, taking a morning stroll to get breakfast, or even driving in the car will put your skin at risk of UV damage. Hydrating Mask
