In the run up to Christmas, one tends to swap the summer rhetoric of “get the glow” for the convivial “get the vino.”
There’s nothing quite like it. That wine-fuelled marathon of giggles and gossip with your colleagues/ best friends/ in-laws while shivering in the corner of a dimly-lit pub, is what the festive season is all about (that, and family and the gifts, of course).
Then you get home and proceed to wipe off the makeup you artfully painted onto your face earlier in the evening with a baby wipe.
Twelve-step K-Beauty regime, who?
It is precisely this routine which wreaks havoc with our skin.
“Alcohol promotes oxidation and low level inflammation which have both been linked to speeding up ageing processes that affect the skin,” explains Kim Pearson, a Harley Street-based nutritionist.
Writing in her book Reverse the Signs of Ageing, Naturopathic doctor Nigma Talib says: "Alcohol is high in sugar, which triggers the skin to sag - something you often see first in the thinner skin around the eyes. Darkness under the eyes is a sign that the kidneys are overloaded, which would be the case when they are struggling to process alcohol. The spots or lines between your eyes signify an overload of your liver meridian, which also commonly occurs if you drink more than is good for you."
It was in this book that Dr.Talib first coined the term "wine face", which she established after noticing the same manifestations of alcohol consumption in each of her patients.
Wine face shows itself in redness of the skin, enlarged pores and pronounced lines or spots between the eyes and exacerbates already-dry skin.
Given that adult Brits consume approximately 6 billion units over the festive period, what can we do combat the telltale signs of all the good times?
Dr. Talib suggests living an “80:20” existence, where you abstain from drinking 80 per cent of the time, but indulge yourself – with the help of a glass of whatever-you-fancy - the other 20 per cent.
It can take up to three days for the liver to excrete alcohol and the sugars which come with it, so you may not have to keep away from the fizz for the whole of the Christmas period.
Here are more top tips for beating wine face...
Up your proteins
“Don’t drink on an empty stomach," says Dr. Talib. "That’s when alcohol can have its biggest impact on you because it can get in to your system quicker. Make sure you eat a protein-rich meal with healthy carbohydrates and healthy vegetables.”
Incorporate these supplements in your routine
"Take a probiotic before you start drinking to protect your stomach, mainly to protect your intestine,” she explains. “The other thing you can do is to take milk thistle, which is a botanical herb that will increase your body’s ability to clear alcohol out of the system.”
She also advocates for loading up on vitamin C because alcohol suppresses your immune system, meaning skin can look dull and lifeless.
Switch up your choice of poison
Pearson advises: “Choose drinks that are lower in sugar such as dry wines or white spirits and sugar free mixers, such as vodka, soda water and lime. Alternating alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones can be really helpful.”
In her book, Dr. Talib asks her readers to choose clear spirits, or dry red wine, which contains antioxidants.
Hydration station
For every drink you knock back, match it with a glass of water. Alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks can help to counteract alcohol's dehydrating nature.
Opting for hydrating food options too is another great way to replenish skin: watermelons, strawberries, spinach and tomatoes are all your friends for this.
B complex vitamins
During the party season, Dr. Talib recommends replacing your morning coffee with a Vitamin B supplement, as alcohol depletes the body’s natural levels of them. By replacing them, you will receive an additional burst of energy.
The morning after
Pearson recommends avoiding classic hungover cravings, which are usually laden with salt, and instead opting for “poached eggs with avocado on rye toast.”
Aesthetic practitioner Dr. Dev Patel also stresses the importance of switching up your standard beauty regime. “I upscale my pro-collagen and hydrating formulations in my skin regime as well as having a few skin treatments, most probably micro-needling which stimulates the production of collagen which is lost when we drink.”
For those keen to banish the boozy bloat, these small – but insightful tips – will help. For the rest of you, back to the bar!
