Let’s face it, if there’s only one thing worse than having a hangover it’s looking like you have a hangover. After all, there are times (like when you’ve got to deliver an important presentation, have a make-or-break meeting with the boss or are about to tie the knot) when it would be preferable not to rock up looking like Uncle Fester.
Unfortunately, so sensitive is skin to what’s going on inside our bodies that it simply cannot help but tell the entire world about the six pints of boutique ale, whisky chaser and seemed-fun-at-the-time Café Patron shots we downed the night before. Thankfully, we have some post-hangover grooming tips that’ll have you looking half decent in no time…
There’s no better wake up call than a shower but what you take into the shower with you is crucial. With studies showing that the smell of citrus fruits acts as an instant energiser, you might want to try lathering up with Molton Brown’s Orange & Bergamot Body Wash or Recipe For Men’s Ultra Clean Shower Gel which contains zingy grapefruit and a hit energising guarana too. More exciting shower companions there may be but none quite so effective as jump leads.
Okay, so it may be the last thing you want to do when your head feels like it’s hosting a Death Metal gig but a quick work out won’t just get feel-good endorphins flowing, it’ll also stimulate blood flow and boost oxygen to the skin, quite literally putting some much-needed colour into your cheeks.
If hitting the gym’s too terrifying a thought, you can achieve similar effects by alternating between hot and cold water in your après work-out shower – it’s a great way to boost circulation. Or try using an exfoliator like ManCave’s Olivestone Face Scrub which will instantly brighten and invigorate skin by removing dead cells and by bringing blood up to the surface.
We all know about the dehydrating effects of alcohol but a headache and a mouth as dry as the Kalahari aren’t the only obvious signs of a body robbed of moisture. Skin is around 60% water and when moisture reserves are depleted it quickly becomes dry and dull-looking.
Downing plenty of water first thing will help, of course, but a breakfast of fresh fruit is a good idea too. Not only will it provide plenty of skin-saving antioxidants, the fruit will release its water in a steadier way throughout the morning, which means more of it will be absorbed.
Puffiness under the eyes is one of the most obvious signs you’ve had too much drink and too little sleep but, thankfully that excess ocular luggage is easy to remedy with the right products and a little know how.
Opt for an eye gel rather than a cream (gels tends to be better than creams at getting rid of eye bags because they’re lighter and cooler) and chill it in the fridge first – if it’s cold it’ll help reduce the puffiness faster. Then gently tap a tiny amount of the gel around the eye socket with the tip of your ring finger. This tapping motion is crucial as it helps stimulate the drainage of inflammatory toxins away from the eye area.
Alternatively, try a product like Clinique For Men’s Anti-Fatigue Eye Gel which features a cooling rollerball delivery system, making application a cinch.
Most of us think of face masks as things that take stuff out of skin (grease, grime and pollution being prime candidates) but some, like Stoer’s Vitamin Power Mask, actually put good stuff into it.
Packed with antioxidant vitamins A, C & E, this powerful 10-minute mask also contains anti-inflammatory Pro Vitamin B5, which is useful if you’ve a hangover because alcohol tends to have an inflammatory effect on cells and on the skin, creating redness and irritation. Think of it less as a face cream and more of a vitamin shot for skin.
Woke up looking like an extra for The Walking Dead? Don’t worry, fooling your boss into thinking you’re very much on Rick’s team is as simple as applying a dab of Tom Ford For Men’s Bronzing Gel.
To cover up the signs of that 3am finish simply apply pea-sized amount to you fingertips and apply to your skin as you would a moisturiser. Unlike fake tans, it washes off so you’re in total control of the results, meaning there’s little chance of you ending up the colour of an endangered wood.
Handily, the immaculately-groomed Texan also has a solution for under-eye dark circles, too, in the shape of his easy-to-apply Concealer which disguises any signs of over-indulgence in an instant.
It’s a bit of an ask when you can barely remember you own name but the easiest and best way to protect your looks from hangover hell is to slap on a face cream just before bed.
The peak time for skin rejuvenation is while you’re sleeping (it’s when skin switches to repair mode and is most receptive to hydrating moisturisers) so just before you crash out think about slathering on a product like Lab Series Night Recovery Lotion which is especially formulated for evening use. That way you’re guaranteed to give skin the best chance possible to look half decent come the morning after the night before.
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