Refreshing Dull, Tired or “Hungover” Skin in 5 Easy Steps

There’s nothing more enjoyable than a night out on the town, a little dancing here a little flirting there and not to mention the string of beers, shots and cigarettes to accompany the evening’s festivities. Combine all this with only a few hours of sleep and you have the perfect recipe for tired, dull, lifeless and unevenly toned skin. Not the picture of perfection you would like to have at your mid-morning brunch date with cute Katie from the bar.

Not to fear, the following steps will have you looking bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and back to your former glory in no time at all.

Step 1 – Liquids
The reason you’re feeling so groggy first thing in the morning is that your body is trying to flush out that half a keg of beer you triumphantly managed to get down your gullet – and your body needs 8 parts of water for every 1 part of alcohol to do this successfully.

Whilst on your night out try and alternate every 2 beers / drinks with a tall glass of water (either still or sparkling will do) this will lessen the severity the ‘morning after’ plus it will help flush out the alcohol and any other toxins. First thing in the morning try and drink a sports drink, preferably one that contains electrolytes as this will both quench your thirst and replenish lost nutrients.

**TIP**

Substitute caffeine (i.e. coffee and energy drinks) with pure apple or cranberry juice. Coffee is a diuretic and will, albeit give you a short lived boost, have you visiting the bathroom (and losing liquids) more often than both your Grandparents combined.

Step 2 – Hydrating Clay Mask
To regain vital moisture and nutrients lost, plus get back that fresh looking face – use a clay based facial mask. Apply the clay mask before breakfast, this will not only hydrate your skin but clear up any blotchiness and uneven tones, and in all your “maskliness” will guarantee you as the topic of conversation around the breakfast table. Leave the mask on for around 20-30 mins (or until completely dry), then remove with warm water and pat dry with a towel. Your skin will now feel smooth, supple and soft.

Step 3 – Wash, shave, tone and moisturise
1. Wash
Using a face wash such as Lab Series For Men Multi-Action Face Wash, with its super-foaming cream cleanser and gentle exfoliating beads will leave your face glowing and free from grime and impurities.

2. Shave
With your skin feeling slightly tender, if possible use an electric shaver versus its razor counterpart, as they can strip many layers of skin and leave your skin feeling very sensitive and may cause unnecessary redness.

3. Tone
Toners and astringents are great solutions to improve skin tone (even colour) plus reduce the size of pores. Apply a small amount of the toner evenly using cotton wool / pads and covering the entire face. Have a look at Murad Clarifying Toner 150ml a great toner (containing glycolic acid).

4. Moisturise
When it comes to a moisturiser make sure you choose one that is non-greasy, easily absorbed, and contains at least an SPF 8, like Zirh Defend – Facial Moisturiser (to prevent premature aging and protect the skin). An additional ingredient to look out for, that is highly beneficial to your skin, is glycolic acid (found in sugar cane) which is a natural exfoliant and moisturiser. Apply a small amount of moisturiser and evenly spread to cover your entire face, using gentle circular motions to rub it in.

Step 4 – Puffy Eyes
Only a few hours of sleep will leave your eyes puffy, tired and bearing an uncanny resemblance to Fester from the Adams Family. After moisturising, apply a small amount of Skin Doctors Instant Eyelift which will, as the name suggests, instantly lift away the signs of aging, tired and puffy eyes.

Step 5 – Conceal
The final step to ensure completely healthy looking and even toned skin is to use a light concealer. This is a great little trick that is both time efficient and highly effective in achieving a fresh looking complexion. Apply a small amount of the concealer and ensure that it is rubbed in completely. Make sure and apply the concealer after putting on any clothing and wash your hands thoroughly to prevent any rubbing off onto your garments. Alternatively, a powdered concealer may be used where instead of cream, a powder is gently patted onto your skin – and can be topped up throughout the day.

That’s it! These 5 simple steps should have your skin (and confidence) radiating, and leaving you with a brilliantly fresh feeling that others will notice too.