Glug a glass of H2O“If you wake up feeling rough, the most important thing to do is to rehydrate,” stresses Dr Ejikeme. “The recommended water intake over the course of a day is 1.5 litres for a woman or 2 litres for a man, but you may want to slightly overshoot this by a glass or two to replenish what’s lost.”
Top up your electrolytes
“Adding
electrolytes (essential minerals, like sodium, calcium,
magnesium and potassium) to your water via powders or tablets that dissolve in drinks can improve the amount of water your body is able to retain,” says Dr Ejikeme.
“I’d avoid the popular TikTok trend of making your own homemade electrolyte drinks with sea salt, citrus and coconut water though,” she warns, “because it’s difficult to measure the exact amounts you need. Getting the balance wrong can be extremely harmful to health.”
Slather on a humectant
“The right skincare can help to pull moisture into the skin after a late night,” Dr Ejikeme explains. “After washing your face, use a humectant product containing glycerine or hyaluronic acid – this can attract moisture from both the environment and the deeper layers of the skin to the epidermis (outer layer).”
Pop on a vitamin C serum
“Nights out can expose us to free radical damage from things like pollution, cigarette smoke, wind exposure and alcohol,” Dr Ejikeme adds. “Left unchecked, free radicals (unstable atoms in your body) can contribute to skin issues like fine lines, dark spots and dullness. Antioxidants are your go-to for supporting this, which you can find in products that contain vitamin C and coenzyme Q10.”
Seal in the hydration with an emollient
“After applying a humectant, follow it up with an emollient-rich moisturiser that can lock in that all-important hydration,” advises Dr Ejikeme. “Look for soothing ingredients like squalane, ceramides and panthenol that can help to protect the skin’s delicate barrier and seal in the good stuff.”