How to Revive the Skin After a Night Out

Let’s face it, as we age our bodies and our skin don’t quite bounce back as swiftly when we stay out a little too late. Many of us know the symptoms all too well…the brain stops firing on all cylinders, the body feels lethargic and sluggish, and the skin…well…it doesn’t look good.

How can you quickly revive the skin so co-workers or grandma at the Sunday family dinner doesn’t detect you were out too late the night before?

Scrub the Evidence

Wake up the skin with a good granular scrub. The action will get the blood circulating again and bring life back into the cells. Look for scrubs that use bamboo or jojoba beads, or a combination of the two, which will simultaneously give the skin a good cleanse.

Shed the Impurities

Your night out may have included loading the body with some less than savory “indulgences,” so now it’s time to get rid of the impurities. A mud mask containing Bentonite clay and Kaolin (China clay) will be especially useful in drawing out the toxins and rehydrating the skin. Also look for a mask boosted with cactus extract. This will send a dose of vitamins and minerals into skin cells. When is the last time your skin saw those?

Clear Up the Raccoon Eyes

A sure-fire way to get caught red-handed is to show up looking like a bandit (i.e. raccoon eyes). We all know the look…the ashen, sunken-in eyes, dark circles and bags. The key here is to stimulate the muscles around the eyes (did you know we have 22 different muscles in the area?). Look for peptides that specifically target muscle stimulation and reduce water accumulation around the eye like acetyl tetrapeptide-5 and a dipeptide complex.

Find Strength

Your body may feel weak the day after partying too hard, but your skin doesn’t have to. A skin-strengthening toner will complete your skin recharge (and clean-up from the night before). Look for stone extracts, peptides, good hydrating ingredients like sodium hyaluronate (L), and green tea extract. The combination of these will firm the skin, neutralize free radicals, and provide antioxidants and hydration.

Lastly, don’t forget the sunscreen! You did enough damage last night.