Overdone it this Christmas? Treatments to Recover Your Skin
It’s an inevitable fact of life that what goes up, must come down — and the same is true of Christmas party season. With festive sparkle, designer dresses, delicious party buffets and all-you-can-drink complimentary bars come late nights, falling asleep with a full face of make-up on, forgetting to drink any water because all your hangover can stomach is flat Diet Coke, and missed sessions at the gym…all of which takes its toll on your skin and body.
At Christmas, cutting back is rarely an option — after all, no-one wants to be the person hanging back and miserably sipping cucumber-infused water for their complexion when everyone else is dancing into the small hours of the morning. But don’t panic — there are quick fixes available to keep your skin looking radiant throughout the party season, despite the crinkly-eye bags and stubborn spots your late nights mean you rightfully deserve! These are the best no-downtime quick fixes for partied-out skin — whether you’re looking for a pre-party boost, or a post-party detox.
Dry, Dull Skin or Spots
Dehydrated skin is an inevitable concern during party season, and it can lead to a whole host of worrying problems. When the skin is dehydrated, lines appear more visible and outbreaks are common, as the skin increases oil production to compensate for the lack of moisture — and these problems can become even worse if you try caking on the makeup to hide your troubled skin away. So what can you do to nip dehydrated skin-woes in the bud, before they start a vicious cycle?
Firstly, obviously, make sure you up your water intake, and do try to take your makeup off before you fall asleep. Face wipes are far from the best way of cleansing your skin normally, but they’re better than not removing your makeup at all. But if you’re looking for an in-depth treatment to provide an instant deep cleanse and radiance boost, as well as a longer-lasting skin-boosting effect, the HydraFacial is your friend.
Cleansing, exfoliating, extracting and rehydrating in one go, the HydraFacial delivers nutrients to your skin, giving you instant radiance. Mechanical exfoliation removes the layer of debris sitting atop your skin, while a mild glycolic and salicylic acid facial peel deeply penetrates the skin, further exfoliating, brightening and stimulating collagen growth. Vortex extraction with salicylic acid painlessly removes blackheads and blemishes, and deeply nourishing serums replenish the skin with long-lasting moisture. The result is an immediate glow, with lasting effects — and you can have a series of treatments to maximise and prolong the results. The hydrafacial is a celebrity favourite due to its ability to negate late nights and poor lifestyle choices — so it can’t be beaten as an all-rounder for pre- or post-party prep.
Dark Circles
The ultimate tell, dark circles get worse as we age due to thinning of the skin — and there’s only so much that concealer can do, especially if your circles are accompanied by their irksome pal, eye bags. Anemia is associated with dark circles around the eye, so make sure your iron intake is sufficient. Most likely, though, the prominence of your under-eye shadows is a simple result of ageing and poor self-care over the party season — but there are effective treatment options available to you.
Lack of volume in the tear trough (the semi-circle under your eye) can accentuate dark circles, as the thinning of the skin in this area is one of the primary reasons why they become more pronounced as we age. You can address this lack of volume through hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, which take mere minutes to inject. Don’t be put off by the word ‘acid’, here — hyaluronic acid is a sugar which occurs naturally in the skin, and is our skin’s inherent moisturiser. Hyaluronic acid fillers contain a synthetic version of the substance, and are safe and biodegradable, absorbing naturally back into the skin over time. They’re perfect for treating post-party eye-woes, as the results are visible almost immediately, and there’s no downtime involved.
However, It is important to ensure your fillers are administered by a trained, licensed practitioner. A licensed doctor will always put the needs of the patient first, and ensure that the treatment is expertly performed. Your face isn’t the place to cut costs, so always do your research before entrusting it to someone else.
With these instant radiance boosts, you can make sure your skin dazzles throughout the party season and beyond — no restraint needed. No matter how tired or hungover you are, these zero-downtime quick-fixes will keep your secret safe — even if you’re feeling somewhat less than glowing on the inside!
