In pursuit of perfect skin, you’ve tried countless serums and creams, face packs and toners. You’ve chugged water like it’s going out of fashion, and given your diet a complete overhaul. But you’re not seeing the results you want. Why? It could be down to what you’re drinking. Namely alcohol.
Most of us have a love hate relationship with alcohol; we love it and it hates us. Or at least that’s how it feels the morning after a boozy night out or the work’s Christmas party. But besides the pounding headache, dry mouth and nausea, it can also have a profound effect on our skin.
Why is it so bad for our skin?
Alcohol makes it impossible for your body to stay hydrated. This is partly because it’s a diuretic, but it also hinders the production of the hormone vasopressin, which helps you reabsorb water.
What’s more, alcohol acts as a vasodilator, meaning it opens up the blood vessels. This is why many of us get flushed when we’ve had a few too many. If your vessels over-dilate, they can burst, leading to permanent spider veins.
On top of all this, there’s lots of sugar and salt in alcohol. Sugar triggers the hormone IGF-1, which makes your skin oily and spot prone, while salt dries out the skin, leading to bloating and bags under the eyes.
So what can you do to save your skin from the damaging effects of booze this Christmas? Here are a few tips:
Choose your drink wisely
While all alcohol dehydrates the skin, some types cause more damage than others. How does your favourite tipple measure up?
Red wine: Packed with antioxidants. But if you suffer from rosacea, steer clear, as it’s known to cause flare-ups.
White wine: With no nutritional value, unlike its red sister, white wine contains both salt and sugar, causing swollen skin and bloating.
Beer: While beer contains less alcohol than spirits, most beers are salty, which leads to dehydration and puffy skin. But it’s not all bad as it also contains some anti-ageing properties and antioxidants.
Vodka: Clear alcohol such as vodka and gin is less damaging than beer and wines, as they contain no extra salt or sugar. Add a sugar-free mixer for maximum effect.
Cocktails: A fruity cocktail is a weakness for many as they not only taste delicious, they look pretty too. But they’re not so pretty when you consider that most cocktails contain a high amount of sugar, leading to inflammation, ageing and adult spots.
Eat while you drink
If you eat a small portion of complex carbohydrates and protein between drinks, you can slow down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream.
Stay hydrated
Water serves as a type of internal moisturiser for your skin. Staying properly hydrated can smooth out wrinkles, and firm up your skin from the inside, while your moisturiser works on the outer layers.
The next time you’re downing your favourite cocktails like they’re going out of style, have a tall glass of water between each one. This will not only make the hangover less painful, but also prevent your skin from looking dull and lifeless the next morning.
Drink less often
An occasional drink isn’t likely to have severe, long-lasting effects on your skin’s appearance. And alcohol isn’t all bad. Some studies suggest it may reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. And the antioxidants found in red wine may also help to increase good cholesterol levels. Alcohol’s impact is most prevalent when consumption habits are more extensive. i.e. when you overdo it. So by limiting your intake of alcohol, you can help preserve your body’s supply of vitamin A. That will limit the damage caused by free radicals and accelerate skin cell production.
Get a facial
If you want to do your skin a post drinking favour, why not visit Castle Thai Spa for a rejuvenating facial? The perfect tonic after a heavy night out. Call us on 0131 357 6453 to book your treatment.
