Here we are, my lovelies. On the back-end of yet another birthday – (*insert furious lash fluttering.) And for those of you who thoughtfully placed any bets on my ability to act like an adult and show a modicum of birthday restraint – it’s time to pay up. This birthday was quite literally a weekend-long merry-go-round of champagne, decadent dinners, late-late nights and one rather crumpled looking party hat. So if the additional digit on my numerical age didn’t do enough to damage the youthful glow I’m clinging to… then my own behavior certainly did.

Readers: Oh man! Is this another one of those posts?!
Me: Yes. Indeed it is.

Since it’s December, I know that I’m not the only one whose holiday/birthday party dance-card is full, so let’s take a look at a few of Self magazine’s handy tricks for undo-ing the damage voodoo we do do this season. In a recent article entitled “Fix A Beauty Hangover” the good people at Self have punched their timecards to help us recover from the frightfully dehydrated splotchy skin and I-haven’t-slept-for-days face that are the fruits of the previous nights party efforts.

First, acceptance. We must accept the fact that even without the addition of al-chee-hol and a delicious salt bath of gourmet delights… skimping out on sleep is one of the worst crimes we can inflict on our complexions. In fact, a study from the super-smarties at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden states that when you’re sleep deprived, you’re more likely to be judged as unattractive and unhealthy – (*gasp! Damn judgement! You take that back!) So the first to-do on the fixing-the-birthday-damage to-do list is sleep. A full 8 hours of it will do. Duly noted.

Sleep addendum: Before you lie down for your long-winters nap, TAKE OFF YOUR MAKE-UP. No matter how tired/intoxicated you are… a face full of makeup left on overnight will ensure that you wake up with dull, clogged skin. Skin guru, Dr. Patricia Wexler, M.D. doled out a little tough love in regards to minimizing the damage: Wash your face before bed. “I don’t care if you’re barely conscious.” Wexler says. Then apply a layer of lotion with niacin (a form of vitamin B) over the aforementioned skin to ease redness and inflammation. Dab on an eye cream (one with caffeine, cucumber or peptides will zap puffiness.) Then proceed to the pillow.

Looking a little puffy? (*Yes. Thanks for noticing.) Sometimes not even a good nights sleep can counter the crazy of a holiday soiree. So here’s another DIY de-puffing trick from Self. While you’re going about decorating yourself pre-party, steep one green tea bag and one black tea bag for 15 minutes and then put the potion (tea) in the fridge. When you awake the next morning looking way less Sleeping Beauty than you did the night before, drag what’s left of yourself to the fridge, soak cotton pads with the aforementioned potion (tea) and lie back down for another 10 minutes (preferably on the bed, however the kitchen tile will also do.) The tannins and catechins (fancy words) in the tea will soothe and depuff your sorely abused under-eye area. That's better, isn't it?



And it's just that easy. So, instead of continuing my frat-boy rampage on the cities hotspots, here is tonight’s plan – which I strongly suggest you partake in too. Himalayan pink salt rub and bath. Slather entire being with coconut oil. Hermetically seal said being into footie pajamas. Apply moisturizing face mask and undereye treatment. Amp up the dehumidifier. Sleep. Sleep. Zzzzz….