It's that time of year again: the time when most of us overindulge in food, alcohol and sugar. And while you might be feeling bloated, tired and hungover, your skin is also feeling the effects of this sorry state of affairs. You've got dark circles under your eyes from lack of sleep, dullness on your face from dehydration and stress — not to mention dry patches that make you want to hide under a blanket for days on end. But don't despair! Here are some tips for how to recover from this particularly festive season.

Give yourself time to recover

If your skin is feeling a little worse for wear after all the indulgence of Christmas, it's time to take a break. Whether you're dealing with redness, or dryness or just want to let it all calm down, there are some simple steps you can take.

Let your skin breathe. It’s over-the-top, but it can be so easy to fall into the habit of trying to “fix” everything at once. But if you have a lot of blemishes and sun damage (and who doesn't?), this isn't a good idea. Instead, give yourself time to recover from the stress of Christmas and New Year's. It will take some time for your skin to bounce back from these continual assaults on its health and appearance.

You shouldn't compare yourself with other people who don't seem to suffer from these issues as much as you do; everyone is different and we all deal with our problems in our ways. The best thing is just to practice patience when it comes to treating your complexion after Christmas. And remember: sometimes less is more!

Drink up

Your skin is made mostly of water, so it’s important to keep it well hydrated. The ideal amount of water you should drink each day depends on your body weight and activity level. If you’re not drinking enough water, or if you're drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, your skin will show signs of dehydration. Your lips will feel dry and chapped; dark circles may appear under your eyes, and your face may become pale or blotchy in colouration, especially if it's exposed to the sun without proper protection.

Drinking plenty of H2O helps boost circulation throughout the body so that nutrients are delivered efficiently to cells where they can be used most effectively for growth and repair processes. It also helps prevent constipation by keeping things moving through our digestive tract on schedule! Plus, being well hydrated keeps blood sugar levels stable which keeps energy levels up too...a win-win situation all around!

Go back to the basics

Your skin is a reflection of the health of your body. If you want to see an improvement in your complexion, it’s important to cleanse, tone and moisturise regularly. This may seem like an obvious thing to do but many people skip this step when they are running around.

Cleansing is the first step of any good skincare routine. Use a gentle face wash to remove dirt, oil and makeup.

Tone your skin next by using an astringent lotion to balance its pH level. For example, if you have oily skin then use an astringent lotion designed for oily skin; if you have dry or sensitive skin then choose one designed for that type of complexion instead.

Finally, apply a rich moisturiser on top of any other treatments such as serums or eye creams that you want to use on your face during the day (or night). You should also apply sunscreen before leaving the house during daylight hours because it helps protect against sun damage which can lead to wrinkles later down in life!

Take a break from sugar and alcohol.

To see the best results, you should stop eating sugar and drinking alcohol. Sugar is a source of empty calories that can cause inflammation, while alcohol can lead to dehydration, and breakouts and make your skin look older. It can also cause your skin to lose its elasticity.

Keep your skin hydrated.

Skin needs to be hydrated and moisturised. This can help to keep your skin looking younger, and prevent it from becoming dry and flaky.

You should also be careful about how much moisturiser you put on. Too much will make it look greasy, which could clog pores or cause breakouts. The following areas need special attention:

• Neck and chest area
• Hands (especially palms) and feet (especially toes)
• Elbows

Your skin is an important part of your body that deserves your attention. If you want to make sure it’s healthy, give yourself time to recover after Christmas and follow these tips. You may even find that your skin looks better than ever before and you’ll be ready to take on the New Year with a fresh face!