Party Skin SOS

Zits, dehydrated skin and aching feet? I’ve got the party girl’s guide to combating festive season blues.

Christmas and the New Year are just around the corner, so it’s time to pop the champagne, turn up the music and dance up a storm! While such parties do wonders for your social life, excessive alcohol, late nights and lack of sleep are bound to take a toll on your skin and feet. Here’s an advice on how to ease your suffering.

You’ve got the slinky party dress, so slip on those Blahniks and dance away! Impress everyone with your snazzy moves, but be aware that long-term dancing and standing in high heel shoes can cause ankle, forefoot (ball of foot), knee and lower back pain.

High heel shoes alter the pressure distribution of the forefoot. The higher the heel, the more weight is carried by the forefoot. Pointy toe-box shoes also squeeze the toes sideways which can lead to foot deformities like bunions. Short of ditching those heels, there’s nothing you can do to prevent this problem.

Heels should not exceed ¾ of an inch. Anything higher and you’re inviting a host of foot, calf and back problems.

But if you must wear stilettos, relieve tired feet later with foot or leg gels which contains ingredients such as diclofenac or methyl salicylate.

Origins Foot Rest is a soothing foot soak made with eucalyptus and menthol.

Terra Firma Tired Feet Rescue Balm has wild peppermint and cocoa milk to relieve aching arches.

Clarins Energizing Emulsion soothes feet and legs.

Sothys Anti-eau body concentrate reduces water retention with marine extracts.

Juggling work and social engagements can be stressful. Stress creates a hormonal imbalance leading to overactive sebaceous glands that cause pimples. Pre-empt breakouts by regularly using beauty products with salicylic acid which breaks up or dissolves blackheads. If a flare-up occurs, prescription strength acne products or topical antibiotics should help solve the problem

H₂O Body Clarifier Anti-Acne spray has salicylic acid and provitamin B. Spray onto arms, shoulders, back and chest.

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Night Treatment Gel has salicylic acid and sugar cane extract that banish blemishes and unclog pores.

Evans Dermalogical AHA 8 Acne Solution has alpha hydroxyl acids and a glycolic acid base to get rid of acne.

The ultimate beauty sin: Going to bed without removing your makeup! Dirt and grime mixed with makeup lead to clogged pores, pimples and sometimes, a skin allergy! So don’t be lazy about your cleansing routine. If you have a history of allergy or eczema, use non-comedogenic or hypoallergenic makeup to avoid skin problems.

Lancome Spot Controle Blemish Corrector Gel has a purifying agent and salicylic acid to eliminate spots.

Za True White Essence Mask is a hydrating mask that’s infused with Super Highly Stable Vitamin C.

Clearasil IceWash cleans and cools face with salicylic acid and menthol.

M.A.C Cleanse Off Oil “melts and lifts” makeup.

Anna Sui Oil Cleanser exfoliates and protects skin with prune extract and olive oil.

Estee Lauder Stress Relief Eye Mask hydrates and reduces puffiness in 10 minutes.

Temporary eyebags are brought on by a lack of sleep and sometimes a collection of fluid and overactive muscle. A cold compress or eye gel could relieve the problem but it won’t get rid of permanent eyebags.

Lancome Blanc Expret Anti-Dark Circles Eye Treatment has whitening ingredients that combat dark circles.

Za Deep Cleansing Oil dissolves mascara without stripping skin of its moisture.

Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash de-puffs eyes with white tea, rose, olive leaf and waterlily extracts.

Too much booze and you’ll wake up with skin as parched as the Sahara desert.

Alcohol acts as a diuretic. That means that a glass of wine or beer will make you pee more often than usual. My advice: Take 2mg of Vitamin B₆ a day as it will help you stay hydrated, and drink at least 12 glasses of distilled water.

Sisley Express Flower Gel is a hydrating gel mask.

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack boosts hydration overnight.

Vichy Thermal Fix 2 hydrates even the most dehydrated skin.

Whitist Moisture Cream moisturizes with Acorus Calamus Root extract.