You've just raged back-to-back weekends, consumed countless cocktails and practiced less-than-stellar personal care. Your liver is shot, and your body is telling you that it's time to get back into green veggies. But what's your game plan for reviving tired, dull and parched skin?
If you feel too spent to deal, never fear. Dr. Dennis Gross, a New York-based dermatologist who treats celebs like Olivia Palermo, is here to help with skin fixes for everything from oncoming zits to dull complexions—so you can rock out like Sarah Hyland, and still emerge looking like every bit the beauty.
Gently erase flash tattoos and body paint.
Don't succumb to harsh scrubbing in the shower to rid skin of lingering ink from temporary tattoos. Instead, Gross advised, gently remove them with soap and water, and follow with a moisturizer. "If removing oil-based body paint, use baby oil or an essential oil to remove the paint without stripping the skin," he said.
Take it all off.
Practice complete makeup removal, no matter how knackered you are. "Hitting the sheets 'made up' can clog pores and oil glands, which is almost a surefire ticket to blemishes and irritation." Even worse, Gross noted that once makeup becomes impacted in pores, it can actually stretch them out and make them appear larger.
Counteract the cocktails.
"Alcohol harms the skin through dehydration, oxidative stress and free radical damage," Gross said. To fight these effects, Gross recommended adding an antioxidant serum to your post-party regimen. (Look for formulas made with vitamins A, C, E, green tea, ferulic acid and/or ellagic acid.) "Topical application of antioxidants is best because ingredients applied directly to the skin are the most effective means of treating the condition," he said.
Drink H20.
Think your skin looks dull post party? It probably is. "Dehydrated skin loses its plump, firm and dewy appearance, so it may appear drawn, lax and more lined than usual," Gross said. "Rehydrating revives skin after consuming large amounts of alcohol."
Give yourself a facial.
"Doing an at-home facial is a great way to get skin back in shape after being on the road or in the desert," Gross noted. Try the following doctor-approved DIY steps: Use a gentle cleanser to remove dirt and degrease skin, steam to allow skin care ingredients to better penetrate, apply an exfoliating peel to slough off any dead skin cells and a moisturizer to lock in hydration and protect skin.
Eat a tri-colored salad.
"One of the easiest, least expensive and guaranteed ways to achieve and maintain radiant and beautiful skin is to eat well," Gross said. "If you order a salad, make sure it contains a bunch of different colors (like red cabbage, green lettuce and orange carrots to start). The more colors you eat, the better."