Even if you’re in no shape to talk about your evening, your face says it all. Whatever the cause – beers over a braai with the guys, an all-nighter knocking back shots of who knows what – don’t let bleary eyes, dry mouth and puffy skin ruin your morning. Put your best face forward.
Acne flare-up
The damage
An outbreak could mean you didn’t wash your face well before bed. Cocktails loaded with carbs and with high glycemic loads could also be to blame.
The fix
Restore balance with a clean sweep from Beaucience Cleansing Gel (R82, Buy It Here), a deluxe natural soap-free facial cleansing gel with anti-ageing properties. It has a special active ingredient called Proteasyl which is a powerful botanical skin rejuvenator made from pea extract and also contains witch hazel, aloe vera, peach extract and organic green tea. All of these balance and cleanse your complexion, without stripping your skin of its natural oils. The pH-balanced cleanser will gently wash away dirt and impurities, while also nourishing your skin and fighting the signs of ageing so you can focus on fighting the hangover instead of fighting acne.
Related: These Are The 5 Hidden Causes Of Acne
Puffy eyes
The damage
Excess sodium makes your body retain water and puffs out your eyes when you lie flat.
The fix
Put the kettle on. “The tannins in herbal tea help reduce puffiness and swelling, while caffeine in black tea acts as a constrictor to tighten loose skin,” Dr Dilshaad says. The best tea for a hangover is Dr. Stuart’s Liver Detox Tea (R85, Buy It Here). The delicious, detoxifying Dr Stuart tea utilises dandelion root, a natural diuretic and liver tonic that helps flush your body of harmful toxins; Milk thistle, to repair and rebalance your system and help reduce damage caused to your liver; liquorice, which promotes liver function as well as peppermint and chamomile to soothe and calm your system. After sipping the tea, some old school remedy might do the trick: cool the tea bags in the fridge and then place them on your eyes for a few minutes.
If your stomach is feeling uneasy like you could bring up your greasy breakfast at any moment, we recommend sipping on a cup of Yogi Tea Stomach Ease (R 87, Buy It Here). This tea has been inspired by the Indian Ayurvedic tradition of masala blends, special herbal blends that add delicious flavour and work to ease discomfort of the stomach. We’re not judging, we’ve all had to pull over the car after a night out, once, twice, maybe even three times before. And that was just in one car drive home.
Related: 23 Cheats To Bulletproof Your Body
Chapped lips
The damage
Your cadaverous-looking lips are tip-offs to skin dried out by booze or neglect.
The fix
Remove dead skin with a paste made of baking soda and water, rubbed in lightly with your finger. When the dry patches are rinsed away, seal in moisture with a protective coating like Dr. Hauschka Lip Care Stick (R215, Buy It Here) to bring your smackers back to life. Made with beeswax, jojoba wax, shea butter and plant oils, it’s a completely natural and organic lip balm stick, free of nasty synthetic ingredients like petroleum and parabens.
Related: Don’t Leave Home Without These 10 Travel Essentials
Dehydrated skin
The damage
Sleep deprivation reduces skin clarity, says Dermatologist Dr Dagmar Whiter. It spikes production of the stress hormone cortisol, which damages your skin’s primary structural protein.
The fix
Smooth on a serum or cream with retinol, tretinoin, vitamin C and peptides and drink plenty of water. Try Lab Series Max LS Overnight Renewal Serum or HG for Bros Men’s Vitamin C Serum (R230, Buy It Here). The natural, pure serum that’s free of harmful chemicals stimulates collagen production, combats free radicals and provides nutrients. Vitamin C in the form of magnesium ascorbyl phosphate also acts as an exfoliator to eliminate dead cells.
Related: Detox Skin After Overdoing It On Sugar, Salt and Alcohol
Cotton mouth
The damage
Excessive salt or alcohol consumption dehydrates your mucous membranes.
The fix
To dislodge the gunk, vigorously brush your tongue after you scrub your teeth. Then, Dr Mariwalla suggests, rinse with a mouthwash, which keeps the odor-causing bacteria count down. Try Organic Machine Mouth Wash (R130, Buy It Here) with bicarbonate of soda. Afterward, pop a mint.
Related: 7 Things You Do In The Morning That Make You Feel Tired All day
Mobilise For morning
Prevent tomorrow’s problems tonight with these five tips
1 Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Eat a full dinner to slow alcohol absorption and lessen the potential for hurt tomorrow.
2 Sleep on an extra pillow to elevate your head and keep fluids from pooling around your eyes.
3 Before you hit the sack, slather a night cream on your face to stave off dehydration. One rich in antioxidants, such as Antioxidant hydramist 150ml R510, Dermalogica, can help restore essentials to your skin.
4 Apply lip balm before bed. It’ll be absorbed in the night, and the swelling will fuse any skin cracks before they form.
5 Sleep with a glass of water by your bed so you’ll be more likely to drink it if you wake up in the middle of the night. Also, frequent urination helps flush the toxins from your system sooner.
