How to Look After Your Skin After a Hangover
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
It’s party season - and the thing with party season is that it goes for a season.
So while a big night here or there won’t do your skin much harm, if you’re constantly having late nights, drinking more than normal and falling asleep with a kebab in your hand you know… it might just have a bit of an impact on your complexion.
The thing with alcohol is, it’s a diuretic, which is why after a big night not only do you wake up feeling thirsty AF, but your skin will end up thirsty too.
Meaning you might notice decreased elasticity, drier lips, dullness and just an overall sad/tired looking face.
Obviously, alcoholic drinks like red wine and beer can also increase skin flushing and rosacea symptoms for some people because it can stimulate the histamine response; and histamines are chemicals your immune system releases - that cause the blood vessels under the skin to dilate.
So this is something to be mindful of (especially during holiday season).
And of course, alcohol also disrupts your sleep. And a lack of sleep will always = a dull face (and mood.)
While I’m obviously not here to suggest we all fall asleep with kebabs in our hand too frequently this party season, I am just going to say that if you accidentally have one too many margaritas, as a Dermal Therapist - I have your back.
Below, is a foolproof way to revive your face and give back to your skin after a big night out.
Save this article for a special post-party occasion...
6 Steps to Treat Post-party Hangover Skin.
1. Water Before Anything Else.
Skin health is more than just topical products and obviously you will notice this the most the morning after a big night out.
So before you do anything else - yes, even Uber yourself a coffee - drink a litre of water. At least.
Dehydration will make your hangover feel way worse, but if you up your water intake it will make you feel a little more human.
2. Use a Cleansing Balm or Oil the Morning After.
If you fell asleep in your makeup - it happens. We can move on - but now is the time to undo the damage.
So start your morning with an oil or balm cleanser because they’re gentle and can remove your makeup really well.
Just make sure you’re really emulsifying the product into your skin - for at least a minute to make sure everything comes off.
3. Follow Up With a Gentle Cleanse.
Follow your first cleanse, with a second gentle cleanse - to really clean your skin and get all the grime from the night before off.
Normally, you don’t need to double cleanse in the morning, but when your face is feeling a little fragile the morning after a big night it will help.
Again try to hit the one minute mark with this cleanse.
4. Wake Up Your Complexion With a Chemical Exfoliant.
Now it’s time to wave goodbye to your dead skin cells and really wake up your complexion with chemical exfoliation.
For the purpose of this post-hangover skin facial, I’d use either a toner or a peel pad because we will be going in after with a bunch of masks!
5. A Clay Mask to Help to Draw Out Excess Oil.
A clay mask is not only a good step to help draw excess oil and gunk from your pores but it can also make you feel like you have a handle on life when last night’s choices were less than ideal.
Clay doesn’t necessarily “detox” your skin but it will make it feel balanced and healthy.
Side note: because there is always a side note when it comes to skincare - if you are a drier, more sensitive skin you might want to skip this step.
Not every skincare product is for every skin.
6. Put Hydration Back Into the Skin.
Naturally after taking from the skin via chemical exfoliation and clays - we then need to give back to the skin with a ton of hydration so pop on a hydrating mask and let your skin soak it up.
I always tell my clients, hydrated skin = healthy skin so I don’t think you can overdo it after a big night out, but you want to be giving back to your skin.
You could even do a sheet mask here. The world is your oyster.
Finish With Moisturiser and SPF.
*Ok this is technically two more steps - but we want to make sure your skin is back to its hydrated, healthy self!*
Then obviously you'll lock it all in with the most luxe, hydrating moisturiser that you own.
You need to bring in the big guns. Like we are not f-ing around here. Lock it all in and pretend like the night before never even happened.
Also never forget an SPF. Always. It is a given. The glowier the better.
Remember you have just used a chemical exfoliant so you need to protect that skin.
Final Thoughts...
To conclude: big parties happen. Sleeping in your makeup happens.
As long as it’s not a constant every day occurrence your skin will recover… even if maybe your bank balance / cringey flashback moments won’t.
Most importantly though, we will always move on from these mistakes.
Want more expert advice and product recommendations from Yads, check out these BIQs:
