5 Miracle-Working Beauty Products To Help You Look Refreshed And Hangover-Free On New Year’s Day
Happy New Year, lovelies! Before you head out to party ’til it’s 2015 this evening, remember that you will, at some point, have to wake up tomorrow and face the day — and that’s never any fun when waves of nausea are surging through your body, your voice has been reduced to a faint whisper due to all the festive shouting and singing, and your head is pounding after you decided there was no harm in another glass of champagne (or the three after that one). Party hard, eat, drink, laugh, dance, clap, cheer, sing, and enjoy the evening, but do know when it’s quitting time — especially if responsibilities await you in the morning. And, if you want to look poised, composed, and radiant on the first day of the New Year, count on these quick fix beauty solutions, which will de-puff eyes, replenish dehydrated skin, reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles, and generally help you fake the funk — even if all you want is some Alka-Seltzer and a pillow!
Talika Eye Dream Regenerating Eye Mask, $57. Available at Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com
The eyes are the windows into the soul, so they’re also quick to tattle on you after a rough night (whether it involves insomnia, endless partying, or libation after libation), announcing these facts to the world via under-eye bags, puffiness, dark circles, an dilated blood vessels. To minimize any evidence of debauchery, try applying the Talika Eye Dream Regenerating Eye Mask to the delicate skin underneath your eyes before hitting the sack. Since the body goes into recovery mode as we sleep, seeking out amino acids, nutrients, and moisture to replenish skin cells, build healthy tissue, and undergo DNA replication within each cell, it’s wise to apply power-packed ingredients to the complexion in the evening, right before bed, so they can work in tandem with the skin’s circadian rhythm. This was precisely the mindset of the Talika experts who masterminded the Eye Dream mask, which contains such ingredients as skin-firming algae extract, brightening lime and orange blossom floral waters to diminish any skin discoloration or sallowness, and lipo-dipeptides (fatty acids mixed with amino acids) that reduce the appearance of wrinkles and penetrate the skin rather easily due to the fat and water combination in their constitution. The mask comes in a sleek silver-toned tube with a rollerball tip that features a small opening through which the cream is dispensed. Once the product is visible along the tip, you can simply glide the rollerball underneath the eye area, which will cool the skin while also stimulating circulation and hence aiding in the absorption process. In the morning, you’ll awake to bright eyes that reveal nothing of the prior evening’s antics. Win!
Bausch + Lomb Thera Pearl Eye Mask, $9.99. Available ar Walgreens, Rite Aid, Kroeger, Meijer, Harris Teeter, and Publix stores.
Some folks may rise on January 1st feeling energized and ready to start whatever juicing experiment, weight loss routine, or detoxifying cleanse they listed within their New Year’s Resolution list, but many hard-partying sorts will awake to pounding headaches (as if Michael Flatley were river dancing inside their craniums) and an aversion to all light sources, wanting nothing more than to pull the covers over their heads and snooze the day away. But when duty calls — whether it’s kids that need to be fed and entertained, dogs that need to be walked, or jobs that need to be done — the option to waste the day away or call out simply doesn’t exist. In these cases, replenishing fluids (water, electrolyte-packed Gatorade and coconut water, etc.) and Advil will prove vital. Another great way to relieve some of that hangover-induced discomfort — particularly itchy and dry eyes, swollen lids, headaches and migraines, and sinus congestion — involves the new Bausch + Lomb Thera Pearl Eye Mask. Like a hot or cold compress specifically designed for the delicate and irritation-prone eye area, the mask is designed to be placed atop the eyes and features an elastic band along the back for a secure fit. The clear mask is made of non-toxic latex and features tiny beads (or Thera Pearls) within an aqueous solution that can be heated or frozen depending on the desired intent. To help soothe puffy eyes, diminish the appearance of dark circles, alleviate swelling, and eliminate migraines, place the Bausch + Lomb Thera Pearl Eye Mask in the freezer for at least two hours and, once it starts feeling solid, place it over your closed eyes and lay back for 20-30 minutes, enjoying the relaxation. If your chief complaint is dry eyes, try heating the eye mask instead, microwaving it for 10-15 seconds and then propping it atop your eyes. Since puffy eyes and migraines are the chief post-New Year’s Eve woes, I’d suggest placing the mask in the freezer before heading out to your parties so that, when you wake up, the mask will be ready to go!
Patchology Energizing Eye Kit, $75. Available at Patchology.com, Neiman Marcus stores, Bergdorf Goodman, and NeimanMarcus.com
Micro-current technology powers the reusable patches in this revolutionary kit, enabling the anti-aging ingredients within each patch to penetrate the skin and deliver concentrated doses of these ingredients to the areas that need it most, thereby yielding visible results more rapidly. Each Patchology Energizing Eye Kit contains three pairs of comma-shaped patches meant to be placed below the eyes and worn for a minimum of 20 minutes per treatment. Each patch boasts a unique design so that it incorporates a protective outer layer; a micro current unit directly beneath it that sends gentle waves of micro current to the lower layers of the patch; and a cosmeceutical, gel-based bottom layer formulated with such anti-aging ingredients as hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and lock in moisture, Argirelene peptide to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, a peptide derived from the okra plant to combat visible aging signs, and vitamin C to brighten the skin and boost radiance. To use, you simply need to squeeze out a bit of the included Activating Gel out of its tube, applying a thin layer onto the bottom of the patch, then press each patch onto the skin. The sticky Activating Gel will ensure the patches stay in place but, moreover, it will work as a conductor for the micro-current patches, pushing the anti-aging ingredients into the skin. The gel also contains its own anti-aging ingredients like hyaluronic acid, cucumber extract, cactus extract, and an okra-based peptide, making the system pack all the more punch. After 20-40 minutes, you can remove the patches and wipe off any gel residue using one of the Refreshing Wipe towelettes in the kit, which are moistened with soothing aloe, marshmallow, cucumber, and chamomile extracts, and which incorporate AHA-loaded papaya and pineapple extract to gently cleanse and exfoliate the skin. Since each patch set can be reused four times, this kit will yield 12 treatments. But most importantly, your eyes will look revitalized in a treatment that lasts only slightly longer than it takes to boil an egg.
Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Water-Max Sleeping Mask, $48. Available at Sephora stores and Sephora.com
Not only does alcohol consumption affect the liver and kidneys, it also takes a toll on the skin — your body’s largest organ. Even if you don’t drink heavily on a regular basis, every time you consumer alcohol, it will dehydrate your skin. This New Year’s Eve, then, enjoy your champagne (or your Cuba Libre cocktails and creamy coquitos) but, before going to sleep, make sure to wash your face, apply your serum and night cream, and then top everything off with a light layer of the Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Water-Max Sleeping Mask. This lightweight gel is quickly absorbed by the complexion, leaving behind no greasy residue, and it’s designed to infuse moisture into the skin, so that you can wake up looking like you abstained from sipping the previous evening. The key ingredient in this leave-on mask (yes, you don’t have to rinse it off or peel it off) is hyaluronic acid, which delivers continuous moisture deep into the dermal layer, filling in the skin’s depleted water tank. The hyaluronic acid macromolecules in this mask’s formula can hold up to 1,000 times their weight in water, so they effectively plump the skin from the inside out, making it look smoother and more youthful. Other ingredients include white olive leaf extract, which work to strengthen the skin’s barrier function, helping to lock moisture and nutrients therein, and antioxidant-rich cranberry extract, which boosts skin elasticity and firmness. Lavender oil and chamomile oil, meanwhile, soothe irritated skin and reduce redness while also providing a sense of relaxation thanks to their aromatherapy benefits. With this melt-on mask, even if you spend the night drankin’ — to quote Beyoncé — you don’t have to wake up looking like “How the hell did this sh*t happen?”
Wilma Schumann Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads, $18 for 5-pack kit. Available at WilmaSchumann.com
Give your tired eyes a pick-me-up in just 20 minutes with the Wilma Schumann Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads, which have a gel-like consistency and boast 100% pure collagen to immediately firm the skin and fill in fine lines and crow’s feet. In addition to firming collagen, these eye pads boast hyaluronic acid to seal in moisture, wild rose extract to brighten the under eye area, moisturizing glycerin, and skin conditioning allantoin. After 20 minutes, eyes should look brighter and any lingering puffiness should be reduced. Another benefit: you can use these pads around the mouth area to diminish the appearance of laugh lines or between the eyes to eradicate frown lines.
