Alcohol is extremely dehydrating for the skin. This is why, after a bender, you can wake up with some of the dullest, most discolored or dry skin you’ve experienced. So, after you cleanse, use a toner to re-balance pH levels, and then it’s time to pump some serious moisture back into everything—and to calm some of that booze-induced inflammation.
We always tell guys to start with a hydrating mask. These are terrific for “emergencies” like this, as they work like a spa treatment to concentrate a ton of ingredients into your mug all at once. No two masks are alike, though, so you want to pay specific attention to the ingredients. For instance, our Cactus Sheet Masks utilize soothing cactus extract and cica grass to calm inflammation and redness; they follow with antioxidant-rich niacinamide to help mitigate the pore dilation that the alcohol did, and to tone down sebum production while providing a host of anti-aging benefits. Or, with a detox-focused option like Bamboo Charcoal Sheet Masks, you get the same soothing + toning powers of cactus extract and niacinamide, along with the perks of charcoal’s deep-pore suction.
However, the easiest and fastest way to pump moisture into freshly cleansed skin is with a super-charged moisturizer, like Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer. (You can follow a hydrating mask with a moisturizer.) You’ll recognize the ingredients in this one: soothing cactus extract, defensive and toning niacinamide, plus the addition of ultra hydrating rosehip oil. You want a densely concentrated but lightweight moisturizer like this in order to quickly revive (and preserve) moisture and nourishment in the skin.