In the spirit of full disclosure, I am enjoying a glass of Cabernet right now. Which may or may not be a good idea, since I’m about to fill Project Beauty Blog’s readers pretty little heads with a bevy beauty pitfalls associated with imbibing – or should I say over-imbibing. (Again… I’m just the messenger, so refrain from directing any tantrums my way – thx.)

Trust me, I too want to cling to each and every news blip claiming the wonders of an occasional glass of vino or martini (red wine protects from cavities, red wine is good for your heart, drinkers tend to exercise more than non-drinkers), but the key word is ‘occasional’… and… on occasion… it’s all too easy over-do it. (*taking sip*)

No one rolls into work looking their visual best after a night of over-indulgence, period. That is the sad truth, known universally by celebrities and mere mortals alike. In Allure's April issue, Brooke Shields was quoted as saying: "When I drink too much alcohol, go on a few hours of sleep, don't eat well, and don't sweat, I look five to ten years older." I think we can all relate.

So let’s play amateur C.S.I. (Come one… what’s one more spin-off?!) and examine some of the physical evidence associated with one to many cocktails. (*taking sip*)

Puffy eyes: According to NYC dermatologist Erin Gilbert of Gramercy Park Dermatology: "Alcohol dilates the blood vessels and causes redistribution of fluid. Your whole body is affected, but you tend to especially see the swelling in the thin skin of your eyelids and the skin under your eyes." I know I’m not the only one who’s seen evidence of this in my very own mirror.

Wrinkle: Mortal enemy to women everywhere and a sure-fire sign of age, alcohol promotes the formation of wrinkles. Gilbert expounds (I’m really starting to not be cool with you, Gilbert.): "Chronic drinkers look older than their peers because they've been chronically dehydrated. When you're dehydrated, you're not regenerating collagen as well, and lines in the skin tend to become deeper faster." Age-acceleration? What?! (*Gasp.)

Dull Skin: All alcohol and no play makes Jack (and Jill) a dull boy. Okay, that quote didn’t work so well, but I think you get the point, and that point, again, is due in part to dehydration. It’s also due to the fact that over-imbibing isn’t exactly conducive to sticking to a good skincare routine or making good decisions – I’m just sayin’. (Remember what happened in London.)



"After a night of drinking, you often don't stick to your normal skin-care routine," says Debbie Downer, I mean Gilbert. "Not only are you not cleansing your skin properly, you probably haven't had water or consumed healthy fruits, or gotten enough sleep—all things that make us look healthy on a regular basis."

Rockin’ Rosacea: Not the party it sounds like, people. Alcohol takes rosacea and super-sizes it. Here’s how: As a vasodilator, alcohol “absolutely exacerbates rosacea and flushing,” (Back off, Gilbert). There is also a sad, strong link between psoriasis and drinking that is still being studied.

Sleeping Beauty Bummer: While most of us tend to think that a nice glass of Barolo will help us fall asleep, the reality is quite the opposite. Sure it might lull you into a false sense of nighty-night time unconsciousness, but “alcohol actually makes you more likely to wake up multiple times during the night,” says sleepy-time expert Phyllis C. Zee director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Northwestern University in Chicago. In fact, the University of Michigan recently performed a study that found that drinking was more detrimental to women's sleep than men's, with women waking up more frequently during the night and getting fewer hours of sleep. (More bad news for the ladies – sorry, gals.)

Diet Downfall: Dieting? Then put down that French Martini and listen up. Alcohol sabotages diets. NYC health psychologist and diet expert Stephen Gullo recently told Allure magazine that more than two cocktails tends to stimulate your appetite, making you apt to pick at hors d'oeurves (sauerkraut balls) all night. And let’s not forget that hangover greasy-spoon hankering that isn’t doing your bodacious booty any favors.



And Gullo isn’t the only one on backing the validity of this diet detriment. "Alcohol is a highly acid-forming substance,” explains health coach Jennifer Kass of Kass Health in New York City, “so after a night of heavy drinking, your pH balance is out of whack. You crave the salty (delicious), fatty foods (delicious) because your body is trying to create balance again—what you should be eating is super-alkalizing foods like leafy greens, but bacon and eggs will probably sound more appealing than a bowl of kale." (Preach it, sista’.)

(*Tearfully and ceremoniously dumping Cabernet in the sink*)