Some might think that a 9-to-5 job means partying is for weekends only, but the truth is office parties can occur on more or less regular basis. However, there’s one significant downside – coming back to work the morning after. A study showed that beauty sleep is not just an expression – sleep deprived people are often seen as less healthy and less attractive. Add weariness from work and alcohol to the equation and you certainly won’t be satisfied with what you see in the mirror in the morning. There are, however, a few tricks to help you look fresh regardless of how wild your company’s party sometimes get.
The Best Ally – Makeup
Makeup can really do wonders and help you achieve fresh look, so make sure you use it properly. As a general rule, you should avoid applying heavy foundation the morning after a sleepless night since your skin will be dehydrated and there’s a risk your foundation won’t absorb very well. BB cream or moisturizer will do just fine, so stick with those. The corrector is a must – for hiding dark circles, redness, and other discolorations. If your eyes are still puffy and tired, go with distractions – wear a bright lipstick or highlight your cheekbones, chin, and forehead. Avoid dark eyeliner or eyeshadow as those will just draw attention to your eyes. Add some blush to your pale cheeks and you’ll be good to go.
The Worst Enemy – Puffiness
While any other skin imperfection can be covered with good makeup, puffiness is something you can’t hide. It happens when you don’t sleep enough (or sleep too much for that matter) and the most critical areas are usually around your eyes and the sides of your nose. Putting used green tea bags on your eyes is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Some beauty experts say use them while they’re warm, others think they should be cold, but caffeine is the most important thing here. It combats inflammations and can tighten the under-eye area. Try also the back of metal spoons or cucumber slices – basically, anything cool enough will do the trick. Even a refrigerated eye cream can have this cooling effect and reduce puffiness, advise at Ultraceuticals.
The Most Important Thing – Hydration
Besides the recommended daily intake of liquids, which is between two and three litres, party nights require some extra hydration. As you become dehydrated, your body releases a hormone that helps retain water – to prevent further dehydration. But, alcohol causes less of this hormone to be released so that’s why you feel so thirsty after drinking. Although it has been proven that drinking water doesn’t prevent a hangover, there are other reasons to drink it before you go to sleep, during the night, and when you wake up. It will make your skin look healthier and you’ll feel refreshed. The same goes for taking a shower – don’t skip it because you’re too tired since it can do wonders for your overall look.
The Best Cure – Prevention
Company’s parties, sleepless nights and hangovers are not one time things so you should learn a little something about prevention. The old proverb says prevention is better than cure so here’s what you should do. Using extra pillows and sleeping on your back can minimize or even completely avert dark circles and face puffiness. Taking off the makeup before going to sleep is an absolute must – your skin must be clean in order to look healthy. If possible, limit caffeine and alcohol intake before bedtime, since both are dehydrating and cause your blood vessels to dilate and make your skin flush.
Office parties are a genuinely good thing – it’s a great way to relax during workdays and get to know your colleagues better. So, try these tricks and enjoy the party without worrying about tomorrow’s fresh look.