The holidays are a time of good cheer, great food, and delicious cocktails all enjoyed with friends and family. Some of the most interesting holiday drinks are delicious concoctions like eggnog martinis and candy cane cocktails, but when you look into the effect alcohol has on your skin, it may leave you shaken and stirred.
All alcohol contains congeners, the chemical substance produced during the fermentation process. This is often what causes hangovers (aside from the obvious excessive drinking) even when only a few drinks are consumed. The worse your hangover, the worse your skin is in the morning. Dry, pasty and rough is how your skin feels after a night of consuming too many drinks.
As you know, alcohol like all other beverages we consume is processed through the liver acting like a filter. But alcohol is a hepatotoxin which means that it is a toxin to the liver. This can cause a heavy drinker to look sallow, pale and have huge pores. Nevermind the effects inflammation can have on skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
But don’t be disappointed! This isn’t meant to ruin your holiday spirit. What is most important is understanding what to stay away from when it comes to the festive cocktails. The beverages with high amounts of sugar are the worst, such as anything made with liqueurs and different types of juices. Colored alcohols like Midori or Chambord have high sugar contents. Straight whiskey and rum also have high congeners because of their long fermentation processes.
Even a simple glass of Chardonnay has a higher sugar content than what would be considered acceptable, especially when paired with rich, high fat and sugary foods. So what can you do to enjoy your yearly holiday party?
Always pair your beverage with water. Well hydrated skin is plump and healthy and by drinking water throughout the party, you counteract the effects of the alcohol on your skin. Also, one of the best drinks you can have because of antioxidants, is red wine. So the next party you attend, stick with water and red wine and you will find yourself with a better complexion and clearer mind in the morning.
For the nights that you do party hard, just remember to stick to your nightly routine no matter how hard it might be. Using natural cleansers and moisturizers can make your skin feel almost as fresh and soft in the morning as if you didn’t have a wild night of holiday partying. May your skin be as bright and rosy as your holiday season!