Christmas party season: How to look fully awake in work, when you might not feel it

As we enter the month of December, nights out are not just limited to weekends. With pre-Christmas and after work catch-ups with friends, late night shopping that turns into a bottle of wine, and not to mention the office Christmas party around the corner, you’ll more than likely have a few early starts after a few drinks on your calendar. So here’s how to cheat, and help your skin look it’s best (even when you’re definitely not feeling your best).

Puffiness

After a night of gin-and-tonics, your skin can feel a little puffy, especially around the eye area. For this, we love an under-eye mask as it will reduce the appearance of bags as well as hydrating the area. Imagine a sheet mask, but usually with more of a gel texture. Anatomicals Puffy the Eye Bag Slayers are brilliant or you can go more luxurious with the Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels from Skyn Iceland. If you don’t want to fork out on an eye mask, you can also stick two clean spoons in the freezer and press them under the eye area to take down puffiness. Not as glamourous, or with any of the other skincare benefits, but this really does work.

Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up Under Eye Patches; €6.22 at ASOS

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels; €19.00 at Marks and Spencer

Dryness

If you’re up early for work after late renditions of Last Christmas, chances are your skin is probably a bit dry and dehydrated. You need to fake that full nights sleep glow with a sheet mask. Try to give yourself an extra 15 minutes before work to cleanse thoroughly (as you probably didn’t the night before) and pop on a sheet mask. We rate the Image Skincare Biomolecular Hydrating Recovery Mask as well as the Garnier Moisture Bomb Hydrating Mask. Trust us, those 15 minutes you could have spent in bed will be worth it for the boost of glow you get from one of these.

Garnier Moisture Bomb Pomegranate Hydrating Face Sheet Mask;  €2.66 at Boots

I-Mask BIOMOLECULAR HYDRATING RECOVERY MASK; €8.10

Bloodshot eyes

This is a dead giveaway that you’ve had little sleep and one too many Sauvignons the night before, and is also the hardest to disguise. Eye drops are your new best friend to brighten and take away redness. Pop them in as soon as you wake up and bring them with you in your make-up bag for regular top-ups throughout the day (or whenever you feel you might fall asleep at your desk). Another great product to brighten the look of your eyes is Charlotte Tilbury’s Eye Cheat, a nude liner that sits on the inner water line, this is instantly brightening, as well as making your eyes look bigger and more awake.

Optrex Double Action Drops for Dry & Tired Eyes ; €12.49 at boots.ie

Charlotte Tilbury Rock n’ Kohl; €25.00 at Brown Thomas

Distraction

When all else fails, sometimes distraction is the best way to cheat the hangover. Slick your (probably unwashed) hair back into a ponytail and add either a red lip or a pair of killer earrings. These will draw attention away from tired eyes, flat hair and the glazed look in your eyes. Trust us, nobody will know you are hungover if you wear a red lip, it works every time.