Having a little too much fun this festive season? Don’t let it show on your face. Leigh van den Berg shows you how to put yourself back together the morning after.

First up, be sure to drink two big glasses of icy water. (The colder it is the better, this will help your blood vessels constrict and tame puffy, swollen eyes). You’re body is also likely to be dehydrated and this will show up most on your face.

If, however, you’re looking a bit puffy, you’re probably retaining water and, oddly, drinking more of it will actually help with this. You could also try eating diuretic (water-flushing) foods like watermelon, green tea, asparagus or oats.

Once you’ve eaten yourself pretty, it’s time to whip out some ‘hangover face’ rescue products!

To re-hydrate, don’t mess around with a time-consuming mask. Instead, apply a good additional re-hydrator like The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Serum before you moisturize. No serum? Try using a slightly richer moisturizer, but avoid applying it to your T-panel if you’re prone to the oilies.

Need to de-puff those eye bags? Slap on a cooling, de-puffing eye gel. I love Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-puffing Eye Massage and Clarins Eye Contour Gel. They both work like a bomb. If this isn’t in your beauty artillery, you could also try resting two cold tablespoons on each eye for a bit.

Now, if you’re still not looking up to scratch, you could try another great face-saver like Clarins Beauty Flash Balm.

It contains cornstarch that tightens upon application to help give your face a nice ‘lifted’ look. It’s also a pretty peachy-colour to help add a little glow to lifeless, stressed-looking skin. Woolworths Time Defying Light Reflecting Serum is also a goodie. Its pigment particles emit an ultraviolet light that’ll help zap you back into the radiance zone.

Colour-wise, if you’re still looking a tad corpse-like, know that nothing else will help pep you up like blush. If you can, try avoid heavy foundation, especially the longwearing kind, as it’ll only dry you out. Instead, merely cover up any blemishes with a good concealer. However, if you simply can’t face the world with a bit of coverage, opt for a tinted moisturizer or a hydrating base like Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect foundation.

Also, know that those with light-diffusing or pearlescent properties will be your friend. Think Maybelline Instant AgeRewind Radiant Firming makeup or MAC Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 makeup.

Eyes-wise, DO NOT USE ANY EYELINER! This will irritate the living heck out of tired, swollen eyes and highlight the fact that they’re not looking their best. Instead, apply a few licks of mascara trying not to get too close to the root of the lash so as not to annoy your lids. Next, pop in a few eye-brightening drops and you’re good to go. Just don’t spritz on a perfume as you walk out the door – it’ll only make your feel naar!

See on the dance floor girls!
Love, love
Leigh

Want more beauty advice and general fabulosity? Pop on over to my blog, www.lipglossismylife.com