If you’re a magical hangover unicorn, you wake up in the mornings after a night out looking youthful and glowing. The rest of us wake up with mascara running down our face, foundation smeared on our pillow, and with no option but to send out ironic “I woke up like this” selfies.
On days like these where you find yourself Googling “Can I die from a hangover?” you can’t be expected to bother with your full-fledged makeup routine. These life-changing hacks can makeover your hangover, at least enough that you can be seen in public.
How to beat a hangover with these 10 beauty hacks:
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1. Remove Makeup.
Okay, this one isn’t really a hack. But a full-blown shower will make your life easier. However, if you have neither the time nor the stamina to make it through ten minutes in a hot, steamy, tiny space, we understand. Feel free to fake it instead. Remove all traces of last night’s makeup with a makeup wipe, and spot-wash armpits and other trouble areas with a wet wipe.
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2. Clean Your Face.
Skip your normal face wash and opt for old-fashioned oatmeal instead. Grab a handful and run some hot water over it, and then rub it onto your face. The hot water breaks down the oats and they’ll work into a lather. Not only is oatmeal incredibly moisturizing, but has anti-inflammatory properties as well. It will leave your skin soft, dewy and bright.
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3. Spoon Yourself.
Keep a few metal spoons in your fridge at all times. You’ll thank yourself when you have five-pound bags underneath your eyes and a meeting looming at 9:30 in the morning. Place them underneath your eyes for a few minutes. The cold spoons will cause the blood vessels to restrict and therefore shrink your hangover bags.
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4. Take Aspirin.
When it comes to painkillers, Aspirin is the one you want. It’ll lessen that incapacitating pounding in your head and sensitivity to light. As an anti-inflammatory, it also reduces the puffiness of your face and throughout your body. Not to mention, the bumps and bruises on your body from dance moves gone wrong, and mismanaged high-heeled maneuvers ,will hurt a little less.
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5. Hydrate
All the makeup in the world won’t fix the damage that alcohol does to your body. In college it was common knowledge that chugging Gatorade in the morning was the only way to remedy beer-drinking competitions and Thirsty Thursdays. Trade out the sports drinks for the grown-up alternative: coconut water. Both are packed full of electrolytes that will replenish your body after the dehydrating effects of drinking, but the coconut water skips the obscenely bright food coloring and excessive sugar. The more you can drink, the better you’ll feel and the better you’ll look.
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6. Shampoo Your Hair.
Dry shampoo, that is. (Unless you went above and beyond during Tip #1 and actually showered, and if that’s the case, you probably don’t need this list). Reach for a bottle of dry shampoo, spray short bursts into your roots and allow it to soak in. After at least a few minutes, brush it out and rub in any residue with your hands until there’s no white tint in your hair. Finger-brush the rest of your hair and embrace the second-day-hair glory (although if it’s not very glorious, opt for a simple and sleek bun).
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7. Use Tinted Moisturizer.
You have complete permission to skip your normal foundation and powder routine. In fact, your skin will thank you. Using tinted moisturizer instead will help in a few ways. Limiting the product on your face to only moisturizer will allow your skin to rehydrate and repair throughout the day while giving it a chance to breathe. It also works just as well as your foundation to mask any dullness and even out the skin tone.
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8. Use Blush.
Pick a bright, rosy pink and brush it onto the apples of your cheeks. This little pop of color will instantly wake you up and make you look more alive. Rosy cheeks are a sign of health and vitality, so having them will hide the fact that you murdered your liver last night.
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9. Pop Your Peepers.
Two coats of mascara on both your top and bottom lashes will instantly make your eyes look bigger and therefore make you look more awake. Picking a black shade will also make the white of your eyes appear whiter and brighter. To take it a step further, line your bottom water line with nude eyeliner.
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10. In Case of Emergency
Let’s be honest – sometimes your nights can take you on a weird adventure and sometimes they take you to a weird apartment. Pack a Minimergency Kit in your wristlet whenever you go out on the town. They’re packed with 17 of the essentials including deodorant towelettes, breath freshener and lip balm. They’ve got everything you need to turn your Walk of Shame into a Stride of Pride.