Dublin beauty clinic owner’s tips on how to avoid ‘hangover skin’ this party season

If you’re complaining of dry, tight, lackluster skin, the bad new is, your favourite tipples could be causing your skin woes. You may channel Beyonce when you're a few cocktails deep but there’s no doubt alcohol takes its toll on the skin.

But never fear, that doesn’t mean you have to put the champers on ice, as Eavanne explains:

"A lot of my clients come to me worried about how their skin will respond to the excess indulgences they enjoy throughout the holiday season.

"Our skin can suffer from all the extra delicious food, sweet snacks, and alcohol.

" Because of this, plus the significantly colder and stormier weather, our skin tries to adapt as best it can, leaving it looking congested, exhausted, and lacklustre.”

The good news is there are lots of steps you can take to help your skin cope better and shine throughout the festive season.

Here are Eavanna's top expert tips to get your skin successfully through to the new year unscathed:

Don't Drink Yourself Dry:

Alcohol is a diuretic, which causes the body to become dehydrated and lose salt and water.

"Dehydration's effects on the skin include dry skin, sunken eyes, dry lips, and flushing. Alcohol can exacerbate inflammatory disorders including acne, eczema, and psoriasis because it also induces inflammation.

“On a night out, being clever about your alcohol consumption and limiting the amount of alcohol you consume can help you stay hydrated.

"Try switching to lower alcohol alternatives such as an alcoholic seltzer water option, which are now hugely popular, and always remember to drink a glass of water between every alcoholic drink.

"Switching to soda or sparkling water as your mixer is also an easy skin-winning tip. Your hangover, as well as your skin, will be extremely grateful!”

Combat excess rich and sugary foods with retinol:

A natural process known as glycation is where sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules known as advanced glycation end products or AGEs for short.

Eavanna says: “The more sugar you eat the more of these AGEs are produced in your body.

"This is bad news because the body does not recognise AGEs as normal and will produce antibodies that in turn cause inflammation in the skin. They also cause protein to become stiff and malformed, the proteins in skin that are affected are the collagen and elastin proteins, the same ones that are responsible for keeping our skin looking fresh and youthful.

"Using antioxidant ingredients like Vitamin C and Retinol will help to counteract the effects of excess sugar on the skin”.

Sufficient Sleep:

Your skin operates according to its circadian rhythm, carrying out specific tasks at specific times during the night. You might be denying your skin the chance to rejuvenate and mend itself if you don't get a full night's sleep.

“A top tip is to stop drinking alcohol at least one hour before going to bed and refrain from eating too close to bedtime, to help achieve a restful night’s sleep. Your skin will thank you for it.”

You still need SPF:

“While UVB levels are often lower in the winter, UVA levels—the UV rays that cause our skin to age—are still very high.

"You can still be in danger of skin cancer and early ageing from UV radiation even on cloudy days.

"Even though it can be difficult to believe on dark, chilly, winter days, we need SPF. This is one step that should never be neglected, no matter the time of year.

“The Protect & Care Sun Oil by German, applied-science led skincare brand Skinmade, is the best sun protection product I've ever used. You only need a tiny drop in the morning to provide 8 hours of complete protection.

Protect your Skin Barrier:

Our vulnerability to pollution, water loss, sensitivities, and bacterial infections that cause breakouts increases when our skin barrier is thin, damaged, or impaired, which harsher weather can often induce.

"Consider the skin barrier on your body as a bodyguard that keeps out all the harmful toxins. Using chemicals like niacinamide and antioxidants in your skincare routine can assist with maintaining a healthy barrier.

“It's possible to over-treat your skin just as much as it is to under-treat it. Take the uncertainty out of skincare decisions by speaking to a skin expert about your skincare routine at home.

"A massive percentage of the Irish population are not using the correct skincare products for their individual skin.”.