Maybe it’s a Pedialyte and a power nap. Maybe it’s greasy food and a Real Housewives marathon. No matter what your go-to hangover “cure” of choice may be the morning after a late night out, we’re willing to bet that your skin isn’t getting quite the same attention as your pounding head and queasy stomach. But here’s the thing: even one night of drinking alcohol can end up taking a toll on your skin.
“Alcohol is a diuretic. It increases the production of urine, which causes dehydration,” explains Dr. Robyn Gmryek, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. This dehydration is what contributes to headaches and nausea, but your skin gets dry too, she says. And it can, in turn, result in water retention, which leads to bloating and a puffy face the next day—aka hangover face. And the salty foods that often accompany a night out, like olives and mixed nuts, usually make matters worse.
Plus, “alcohol also causes vasodilation, the relaxation and widening of blood vessels that makes skin look red,” she explains. Couple that the systemic inflammatory effects of alcohol consumption, and a big night out can leave your skin flushed and generally irritated-looking—even more so if you have rosacea, psoriasis, or eczema. And then there’s the general lack of sleep, which can contribute to both dark circles and puffy eyes.
If you’re trying to figure out how to get rid of alcohol-bloated face but aren’t ready to swear off those delicious dirty martinis entirely, ahead are five hangover-skincare hacks that derms and estheticians recommend, both during and after imbibing.
The night of
1. Alternate your drinks
“The concentration of the alcohol is directly correlated with how much of a diuretic effect it has,” explains Dr. Gmyrek. In other words, a shot of hard liquor, which is 40% ABV, is much more likely to affect your skin than wine, which averages at 12% ABV. But no matter your beverage of choice, she adds, making sure you’re well hydrated before you start drinking can be hugely beneficial. Dr. Heidi Waldorf, a board-certified dermatologist in Nanuet, New York, says a good rule of thumb is to have at least one glass of water for every glass of alcohol.
2. Wash your face
We’ve all been there—you get home from a big night out and you barely have the energy to change into pajamas, much less commit to your full P.M. skin-care routine. Consider this permission to forgo multiple steps, although cleansing and moisturizing are nonnegotiable. Letting makeup, dirt, and oil sit on your skin overnight can clog pores and lead to further inflammation, while something as simple as applying a little moisturizer can go a long way toward minimizing dryness come morning, notes Dr. Gmyrek.
The morning after
3. Cool your skin
So—how to depuff your face after drinking? It helps to understand the cause first. Alcohol causes fluid retention, particularly in spots such as the eyelids and under-eye area, as a response to the dehydration, explains Dr. Waldorf. Once you stop drinking, your body holds onto every drop of water it has, leading to a build-up that results in a puffy, bloated face, adds Joanna Vargas, a celebrity facialist and the founder of Joanna Vargas Salons in New York City and Los Angeles.
Dr. Waldorf says sleeping on your back with your head propped up on a few extra pillows can help mitigate facial puffiness, but if it still looks swollens when you wake up, try splashing your face with cold water, which helps constrict blood vessels to tamp down puffiness—a classic hangover skin-care trick. You can also try ice cubes, a cold compress, or even a cooling face mask, such as the reusable Charlotte Tilbury Cryo-Recovery Lifting Face Mask ($55); it pairs an icy feel with acupressure to help, making it the right answer to how to get rid of alcohol-bloated face.
4. Give yourself a mini massage
If you’re feeling more motivated, Vargas suggests a quick facial massage to kickstart your lymph nodes. “A gentle lymphatic massage will release the fluids that collect around the eyes and reduce swelling,” she explains. Using all four of your fingers, delicately massage the area along the sides of your nose and underneath the eyes in a circular motion for about 10 seconds. Then, move to the corner of your eye, where the orbital bone meets the cheekbone, and repeat. Finally, massage the area in front of your ears, moving downward. (Too much friction? Layer a lotion or face oil beneath it.)
And if that all feels like too much effort, Dr. Gmyrek says that using a jade roller—starting at the center of your face and moving out toward your jawline—can have a similar effect. Bonus points if you keep said roller in the fridge or freezer so that you also get the de-puffing and redness-reducing effects of the cool temp.
5. Apply a hydrating face mask
To quickly combat dryness, a sheet mask is your best bet, says Vargas. Not only are they super easy to use, but the mask itself helps to push and seal the hydrating ingredients into skin so that you see an effect almost immediately, she explains.
Any option labeled as soothing or hydrating is ideal, though niacinamide, ceramides, and glycerin are all especially good ingredients to seek out. “Niacinamide is an anti-inflammatory, ceramides help repair the skin barrier, and glycerin is a humectant that attracts water to the skin,” explains Dr. Gmyrek. Try Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin™ Facial Barrier Mask ($9), which pairs ceramides with peptides to restore and protect the skin barrier.
