How to deal with ‘hangover skin’ if you spent a little *too* much time in the beer gardens last week

We counted down the minutes. We planned our outfits weeks in advance. At times, we thought the day might never actually arrive. But, hallelujah, the big day finally rolled around, and we were officially allowed back in that sacred British institution – the beer garden. 

Cut to one week later, and there is a small chance that you may have over-indulged a little. Hey, we’re right there with you, and we won’t judge. Your skin, on the other hand, might be feeling less than impressed. 

If the visible effects of this week’s antics are showing on your face (we’re talking puffiness, dehydration, and breakouts to name a few), then you might just be suffering from a case of ‘hangover skin’. 

Luckily, we are on hand with the beauty equivalent of your tried and tested ‘Full English and an ibuprofen’ hangover cure. Keep reading for our tips on how to bring your hangover skin back to life. 

WRITTEN by Beth Ryan

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  1 Remove Your Makeup

  We’ve all been there. You’ve made it home, you’ve eaten your obligatory post-booze kebab, and you’ve finally crawled into bed, only to realise that you still have your makeup on. The bathroom may as well be on the other side of the globe at that point tbh, BUT, sleeping with makeup on is a huge cause of hangover skin. It can cause dullness, skin congestion, and can lead to breakouts. If you can’t face your usual skincare routine (we feel you), try keeping some cotton pads and a water-less cleanser, such as micellar water, by your bed.
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  2 Drink Water

  You’ve heard it a million times, but that’s because it works.  Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning that it just loves expelling all the moisture from your body (ever wondered why you need to pee so much more on a night out?) Try to drink a glass of water whenever you can in between drinks and before bed. This will help detoxify and flush out the gross stuff from within, and can prevent the pesky signs of hangover skin before they arrive. Double-down on the next-day hydration by opting for electrolyte-filled coconut water, which can help the body hydrate more efficiently.
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  3 Give your skin some TLC

  If you had a bit too much fun the night before, and you didn’t manage to follow the first two tips to prevent hangover skin (or, even if you did, because let’s be honest it’s sometimes unavoidable), then your skin might need some extra TLC the morning after. This is where face masks come in, and there’s one for every skin concern. Generally, detoxifying masks with purifying ingredients like clay or exfoliating acids are good to turn to. If you want to focus more on making skin look brighter and more awake, look for ingredients such as caffeine and vitamin C. Hyaluronic acid can help with dryness, and salicylic acid can help with acne-prone skin. For an added bonus – pop your mask in the fridge the night before- the coolness will help with de-puffing, and will also feel ah-mazing if you’re feeling particularly fragile. 
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  4 Get some sleep

  Tbh, the fact that sleep is one of the most important steps to curing hangover skin is the best news we’ve heard all year. This is especially true if you’ve had a particularly late one. Less sleep means that your body and skin have less time to undertake essential overnight repair, and can cause puffiness, dullness, as well as excess oil production which can lead to breakouts. BRB, climbing back into bed, like, now.  
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  5 Book a facial

  Okay, so some hangovers mean that getting out of bed for anything more than a trip to the loo or a cup of tea is just not an option – we get that. BUT, if you are able to drag yourself out of the house, book yourself in for a facial at your fave salon, and let the professionals work their magic on whatever tell-tale signs of last night are left on your face.  Your skin will thank you, and you will feel extra productive for having left your hungover cocoon for the day. Win-win. 
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  6 Massage your face

  A massage can work wonders for your skin if that last G&T has left your skin feeling a little (or a lot) on the dull and puffy side. If you have a jade roller- great. If not, your fingers will work just fine. Gently massage in circular motions, starting at your jawline and working your way up to your forehead. This will promote lymphatic drainage, which will help banish the puffiness. Combine this with some nourishing face products and you will be on your way to looking fresh as a daisy in no time (hangover, who?)

  With Treatwell, you can book beauty online at all your favourite salons – simple, hassle-free, and you can do it on the go. Discover amazing salons in your area.