IT’S AN ALL too familiar scene. On Sunday morning as the sunshine creeps into the bedroom you wake and immediately the telltale signs of last night’s excesses — pounding head, dry mouth and an all-encompassing ‘groggy’ feeling — hit you. Stumbling to the bathroom mirror to inspect the damage, you recoil at the sallow-skinned, bloodshot-eyed reflection staring back at you. To make matters worse, you’ve got a brunch with your girlfriend and her folks in an hour. What to do?
Rather than going into panic mode, instead make a beeline for your bathroom cabinet and read on for a few top tips that will take you from dusty to dashing in under an hour.
DRY SKIN
The Sahara-like condition of your skin is one of the first calling cards of alcoholic excess. Ethanol robs fluid from body, leaving you looking (and feeling) parched.
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Look for hyaluronic acid. A powerful moisturiser, hyaluronic acid holds 1,000 times its weight in water, which means it’s a godsend for restoring moisture, softening fine lines and more.
Dr. Jart+’s Vital Hydra Solution Hydro Plump Treatment Essence features hyaluronic acid at its core. Available through skincare one-stop-shop, MECCA the fast-absorbing treatment primes, plumps and helps rebuild skin’s barrier after just one use.
Another great option is Software’s Hyaluronic Complex Serum. A lightweight serum, the ultra-hydrating product is enriched with four different types of hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturise the skin and target dryness, dullness, and fine lines.
OILY T-ZONE
If you’re even more shinier than usual on your nose and forehead, there’s good reason. While oil production is essential for healthy skin, the oil slick on your t-zone could be the result of a late night and alcohol combo. Both of these things stimulate excess oil production and the results ain’t pretty!
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A deep clean. It’s the cornerstone of any skincare regime (as any dermatologist will tell you) and you should be spending at least one minute cleansing the skin to remove all the pollutants and oil from the previous night.
The Luna 4 Men Smart Facial Cleansing and Firming Device by Foreo is equipped with bristles especially adapted to men’s thicker, oily skin, helping to remove pore impurities, oil, dead skin cells, and everyday pollution in just 30 seconds. It’s also an ideal skin prep ahead of shaving (more of that below) which helps prevent razor burn.
Avoid skin-stripping soap and use a product specifically developed for men’s skin, which is oilier and thicker. Omorfi’s Skin Clearing Salicylic Acid Face Wash is ideal. Formulated with potent ingredients – including salicylic acid and witch hazel – the lightly foaming gel will clear impurities and tighten enlarged pores.
Finally, if you need even more of an oil slick mop up, then try a facial masque. NIOD’s Flavanone Mud is one pf the best on the market. Purifying the skin and enhancing natural radiance, its three-phase “dermal decongestion” system helps rid the skin of surface impurities and excess sebum.
STUBBLE
While shaving may seem even more of a labour than usual in your hungover state, letting your stubble grow for more than a day can result in ingrown hairs and unsightly razor bumps. Plus, being clean shaven will detract from any lingering signs of a heavy night.
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After cleansing (see above) with the Luna 4 Men Smart Facial Cleansing and Firming Device, lather up with Foreo’s antioxidant-rich LUNA™ Shaving + Cleansing Foaming Cream. This two-in-one wash doubles as a shaving cream and is designed to produce a rich lather to help soften bristles for an extra-smooth shave.
Afterwards, splash with a quality toner to close pores and remove residue. The Perfect Toner for Aussie skincare brand, Leitin’s is a great option. Skin-loving ingredients include actives rich in antioxidants and four distinct molecular weight hyaluronic acid compounds.
DULL AND BLOTCHY SKIN
Most of us know that one of the side affects of alcohol is blood rushing to the surface of the skin. And while some of us are impacted more than others, a night on the tiles will leave most of us with a complexion that’s far less than perfect. Add to this a shortened and interrupted night’s sleep (alcohol also affects the quality of sleep) and the dehydration affects of booze, and you’ll be left with a blotchy, dry and discoloured mug.
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The simplest (and quickest) way to give your skin a post-party wake-up call is to exfoliate and the ELEMIS Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads from MECCA are idea. Harnessing dual-action resurfacing tech, the best-selling facial pads sweep away dead skin and impurities revealing a visibly smoother and more even complexion.
An absolute game-changer in the skincare world was the invention of the LED facial mask and when it comes to the granddaddy of at-home facial masks, the San Lueur LED Light Face Mask is it. Billed as the world’s first LED mask that delivers all three clinically approved wavelengths (that’s blue LED light targeting blemishes and breakouts, red LED light minimising redness, inflammation and hyperpigmentation, and near-infrared light stimulating collagen and elastin) the Australian-owned brand has already made waves in the grooming world internationally.
Working on a cellular level to stimulate new collagen production and to tackle an A to Z of other skin woes, it is clinically proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, redness, irritation, dark circles, under-eye bags, pigmentation, and overall skin tone — and all in an easy 10-minute session. How’s that for a claim?
For extra glow oomph, follow with a top-tier Vitamin C serum, such as E.S.K’s C Forte. Hydrating and brightening, this L-Ascorbic Acid rich serum also helps to actually reverse sun damage.
Still need a pick-me-up? If you’re feeling seriously pallid then you can even out your complexion with a tinted moisturiser or BB cream. Try O Cosmetics Mineral Pro Spf 30+ Sheer Tint, which gives lacklustre skin a subtle, sun-kissed glow.
DARK CIRCLES AND TIRED EYES
Eyes are said to be the window to the soul — they’re also the window into a heavy night out. In fact, nowhere betrays a booze-fuelled stint of partying more than the delicate eye area. Dark circles are emphasised by a lack of sleep and alcohol, while bloodshot eyes are the result of smoke, pollution and booze.
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Geske’s Warm & Cool Eye Energiser. A game-changing grooming tool from Sweden, this versatile device combines cutting-edge technology to rejuvenate your delicate eye area. The warm mode gently soothes, increasing blood circulation and reduces puffiness, while the cool mode refreshes and tightens the skin. But it doesn’t stop there – built-in micro-current and sonic vibrations stimulate collagen production helping to diminish fine lines and dark circles.
The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the body, which means that your average moisturiser is far too thick. Instead, invest in a specially formulated eye product like Clear Skincare’s Moisture+ Plumping Eye Gel. Packed full of antioxidants and vitamins, the gel helps hydrate and nourish the delicate skin around the eyes all while reducing the appearance of fine lines and dark circles.
To combat red eyes, use brightening eye drops sparingly and regularly.
LANK AND SMELLY HAIR
Excessive application of hair product the night before can block hair follicles, leaving hair looking fine and dull. Also, hair absorbs odours, so chances are your barnet will have retained some of the nasty night before niffs.
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A good cleansing routine doesn’t end with your skin. Make sure you remove all traces of product and night-club air, and give your hair a thorough clean with a deep-cleansing shampoo. Software’s Hair Growth Shampoo is a triple whammy formulation. Hair is deep cleaned, deeply hydrated, and hair growth is boosted with hair-loving ingredients. Follow with Software’s Hair Thickening Conditioner.
Post-wash, go for a styling product that offers a strong, pliable hold with low-shine to give hair a natural, clean finish. American Crew’s best-selling Classic Fiber is a great option for adding fullness and texture and it’s suitable for both curly and straight hair.
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