We’ve all been there. You tell yourself you’ll go out with the girls just for one drink - you have an early morning wake up, after all! Then one drink turns into two, then three, and then it’s all downhill from there… We totally understand that when you get home, the only thing on your mind is sleep, and the last thing you want to be doing is a full skincare routine. And don’t even get us started on the effects a hangover can have on your skin!
When it comes to hangover skincare, you need something simple and nourishing so you can get back to bed, curled up with all of the water in the world and your latest Netflix binge. So listen up, because we’re going to fill you in on a few handy tips so your skin doesn’t pay as much as your head.
Why You Shouldn’t Sleep With Makeup On
Hangover skin care starts the night before. In what will come as a surprise to literally no one, we have a hard ‘no makeup on while you sleep’ policy here at esmi. We know you’re tired, and we know your feet hurt, but please march yourself over to that sink and grab that cleanser. We’re not saying that this is the time to do a 10-step routine, but just taking your makeup off and applying a moisturising lotion is going to make a world of difference in the morning. Why is it so important? Glad you asked!
Acne
Sleeping with your makeup on puts you at risk of developing a breakout thanks to clogged pores. As we sleep, our cells undergo a regeneration process, during which time oil makes its way to the surface of the skin. When residual makeup sits on the skin after a night out, it traps the oil within the skin and there are no prizes for guessing what that means: acne.
Dry Skin
When we leave makeup on overnight, it has a tendency to dry out our skin, especially if your idea of night-of skincare is putting a bit of moisturiser on over your makeup. The moisturiser cannot penetrate through the makeup, making it pretty much useless. As for lipstick, leaving it on can cause chapped lips, which is never a cute look.
Premature Ageing
Makeup can trap dirt, oils, toxins and pollution in your skin. This increases free radicals which are nasty rouge electrons that breakdown the collagen in your skin, leading to less elasticity in the skin and fine lines and wrinkles. Makeup trapped against the skin can cause a little something called oxidative damage, which can damage the skin barrier and lead to premature ageing.
We know skincare after a late night is the last thing on your mind, but please remember our voice in your head as we say: always, always take your makeup off before bed.
The Hangover Skincare Routine
Whether you’ve taken your makeup off before bed or not (let’s be honest, we’ve all been there even though we’d never publicly admit it), the next morning you’re going to want to dive headfirst into a skincare routine that removes any toxins and deeply hydrates the skin.
Whether you were an A+ student and washed off your makeup the night before or not, you’re going to want to start with The Uncomplicated Cleanser to deeply but gently remove any evidence from the night before, and oils that have accumulated overnight.
Next up, grab one of our Gentle-Foliants to exfoliate away any dead skin and brighten up your complexion. Hey, you’re already looking more awake!
From here on in, your skincare routine should be all about adding moisture back into your face. Alcohol can severely dehydrate your skin so today, hydration is our number one priority (both with water and our skincare). The Hyaluronic Hydrating Booster Mask is a big drink of water for your skin thanks to the hyaluronic acid, which can hold 1,000x its weight in water. Perfect for all skin types to target issues of dehydration, oily and problematic skin, it truly is the best face mask for tired skin (read: hungover skin). It also pairs perfectly with a big bowl of pasta and reality TV.
After you’ve washed that off, you’re going to want to repair the skin barrier with the Probiotic Skin Mylck plus Hydration. It is a light moisturising lotion that will soothe the skin, while the good bacteria will strengthen the skin and increase hydration.
The last step is to grab your pillowcases and throw them in the wash. They may be harbouring residual makeup and who knows what other oils and nasties. Best to get them familiar with a bit of soap and warm water for good measure.
Don’t worry, we’re not here to tell you to ditch the margaritas for good, but we are telling you to take care of your skin as well! Before you leave the house this weekend, leave your products out for easy access so you remember to take your makeup off before you hit the hay, along with products that are going to save your skin in the morning. Those extra 5 minutes really are worth it.
If you have any other questions about hangover skincare, chat to our skincare experts.
