We all look forward to letting our hair down at Christmas, whether it’s at the office party or on a night out with friends. The downside? The less than festive morning after. And while it shouldn’t put you off having fun, it helps to do what you can to pre-empt the inevitable. Read on for Vogue’s tips on how to look like you sipped on a soda water and slipped out early, even when you definitely didn’t.
Remove all traces of the night before
Even if you’ve been diligent about removing your make-up before bed, your skin will still be reeling from the diuretic effects of alcohol, which can include producing excess oil and more breakouts. “The first essential is a decent cleanser,” declares make-up artist Hannah Martin. “I love Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm for removing any stubborn eye make-up remnants and washing away any party-induced nighttime perspiration.” If you wake with bloodshot eyes, caused by increased blood flow while drinking, it’s helpful to have an SOS strategy in place. “Once your skin is clean try a few drops of brightening eye drops like the Optrex Eyedew Dazzling Eye Drops to help rehydrate and soothe your eyes and help diminish any redness,” adds Martin.
De-puff post-party
Waking up with a puffy face after a night out is common, according to health and wellness expert Donna Bartoli. “The key to reducing it lies in the kitchen,” she says. “Before going out, place a pair of cryo spoons, or even ordinary dessert spoons, in the fridge. The next morning, these chilled tools will become your best friends. Gently apply them around your eyes and face. This simple yet effective method helps with reducing puffiness and draining excess fluids, giving your face a more refreshed and awake appearance.” Vogue loves ESPA’s Cryotherapy Globes for an icy cool skin fix.
Opt for a make-under
A hangover is not the time to attempt any kind of lengthy make-up routine, or frankly, anything much at all. “Is there anything trickier than trying to do eyeliner when suffering the effects of the night before?” asks Martin. Instead of attempting to steady a shaking hand, focus on getting your skin looking as fresh as possible to detract from how ropey you may be feeling. “Apply an illuminating primer or illuminating tinted moisturiser like the Sculpted by Aimee Tint and Glow, so your skin looks fresh and radiant,” suggests Martin. “Add a pop of cream blush to the apple of the cheeks, Ruby Hammer’s Cheek Colours are beautiful. Curl the eyelashes, sweep a gel through your brows and layer on some lip balm. It’s simple, minimalistic and just enough to help your skin glow.”
Eat right
It’s tempting to reach for starchy, fatty foods when you’re feeling less than your best, but resist the temptation and stick to nutrients that can treat, rather than mask, how you’re feeling. “Sulphur is a key player in the liver’s detoxification process, particularly in phase two detoxification, where toxins like alcohol are processed and eliminated from the body,” says Dr Vijay Murthy, integrative medicine doctor and founder of The Murthy Clinic. “Including sulphur-rich foods in your breakfast can promote this crucial step, helping you feel better and get back on your feet faster.” Eggs, leafy greens like kale and spinach, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and sprouts are all sulphur-rich. “Create a hearty breakfast salad or add greens to your smoothie for a nutrient-rich start to the day. Or try a broccoli and cheese omelette, or roasted sprouts as a side dish,” suggests Dr Murthy.
Cleanse from the inside out
Every time you drink alcohol, your liver has to work hard to filter it out of the body, a process which causes damage each time. “To truly bounce back from the night before, consider your liver’s wellbeing too,” Bartoli says. “Create a liver-cleansing green juice using a head of celery, two lemons, fresh coriander and parsley, a cucumber, and a handful of fresh spinach. Run these ingredients through a juicer and enjoy this detoxifying elixir. This green juice not only detoxifies but also infuses your body with essential vitamins, aiding in a faster, more natural recovery.”
Spice up your life
We tend to think of spices as adding essential flavour to our food, but they have therapeutic value, too. If you’ve not yet explored their health benefits, recovering from the Christmas party is the perfect time to try. “Cinnamon is not only a flavourful spice but also contains compounds that can enhance detoxification pathways in the liver,” says Dr Murthy. “Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to your morning oatmeal or smoothie.” If you prefer something savoury, coriander and fennel seeds are potent herbs to have on hand. “Coriander – both the seeds and the fresh cilantro leaves – contains compounds that may help boost detoxification. Fennel seeds have been associated with liver health and may assist. They can be used in teas, as a spice in cooking, or chewed as a natural breath freshener.”
Try to think clearly
One of the most unwelcome side effects of excessive drinking is how anxious it can make us feel. “Drinking correlates with going to bed later, waking earlier and suffering fragmented sleep in between,” explains Dr Jenna Vyas-Lee, clinical psychologist and cofounder of Kove. “Sleep is a necessary process for effective emotion regulation that we need across a 24-hour period. When we don’t sleep well, we feel more tired and experience irritability and emotional instability as a result.”
As well as feeling emotionally fraught, too much alcohol results in problems with memory consolidation. This can often lead to that unpleasant lurking feeling that you may have said or done something you don’t remember while you were under the influence. While there are strategies you can employ while you’re out to limit the amount you drink and the severity of your hangxiety, it’s important to go easy on yourself. “Use self-compassion skills,” says Vyas-Lee. “Normalise and validate yourself. Everyone feels some of this, remind yourself that going over things doesn’t change anything, and it’s likely to not be as bad as you think it was.”