Dear Belle,
My parents throw several holiday parties in the week after Christmas, and I’m always expected to help play hostess. By New Year’s Day, my skin looks like I haven’t slept for a month! Any miracle-worker products that I can try?
Sincerely, My Dermis Thanks You in Advance
Having just completed finals week, I understand your concern. Pale, sallow, crepey skin is no one’s friend. And the older you get, the worse the after-effects of late nights and too much wine get. (Here that, 20-somethings? Enjoy it while you can.)
I like Belif’s Anti-Hangover Gel for skin soothing. It calms stressed out skin. If moisture is your issue, TonyMoly’s Magic Food Sleeping Pack rehydrates like a dream. It’s the best $9 beauty product ever made.
Other options for post-holiday relief include: the oh-so popular Dr. Jart sheet masks (love ’em) and Vichy’s Aquaria Thermal Serum (which you can sometimes find at Target, for all you brick-and-mortar shoppers).
Other than that, water is your very best friend. I always keep a big bottle in my fridge for post-party chugging. And it never hurts to have a few Gatorades or bottles of Pedialyte on hand to fight dehydration.
Belle,
I’m looking for a holiday-red nail polish but everything I find is too dark or too orange. Do you have a favorite? This shouldn’t be this hard.
Love your blog! Lu
I don’t think you can ever go wrong with OPI Red. It’s simple, classic and perfectly red. For something more luxe, Dolce & Gabbana makes an intense red that’s the same color as Santa’s suit.
Hi Belle,
Any tips for healing cuts or scrapes? My son got me on the face with his sharp baby nails and I need the mark gone ASAP. It’s making me super self-conscious and I’m sick of explaining how I got it.
Melissa
Um, ouch. Healing cuts is an inside-out issue. Make sure you’re hydrating and taking a vitamin, both speed healing.
As for what to put on it, I like TriDerma’s Intense Healing Cream. It’s made with organic, virgin Aloe. Another option might be Mederma PM Intense Healing Overnight Cream. Both should speed up the process, but if it doesn’t help, a dermatologist can prescribe something with a high-test.
Belle,
I feel bad about my neck. Nora Ephron was right, at 40, I can’t believe how much older it looks than my face. What do I need to be rubbing on it, what do I need to be buying, tell me, tell me now. Whatever it costs.
Please help. MK
You know I can’t resist an Ephron shout out. ‘I Feel Bad About My Neck’ was the funniest. And yes, since we all slather creams and serums on our faces, our necks suffer premature aging. Young ladies, don’t neglect the neck! As for we post-30 ones, there are a few products that may help.
On the oh-my-God-it-costs-what end of the scale, La Prairie Anti-Aging Neck Cream is allegedly the best. I’ve heard it’s what Anna Wintour uses.
For something a bit more reasonable, a few magazines endorse StriVectin’s Tightening Neck Serum. I like the roller for application purposes. They also make a neck cream.
In the under-$50 category, Redbook recommends Olay Night Resurfacing Elixir.
Coconut water is better for party skin than Gatorade. Both have those critical electrolytes but Gatorade has Sucralose (splenda) and high frucose corn syrup.
I wanted a fun holiday color for my nails and found one from the Sally Hansen Extreme wear line. I my opinion it’s the perfect shade of red, totally opaque and has subtle red glitter in it. I can’t recall the name but it’s the only one like it.
I have a hard time finding red-orange nail polishes… Lu, if you’re reading this, I want to know which ones you’re running across!
They’re either too orange (and are actually orange and not red) or they’re blue-toned reds. Argh.
Re: neck cream. I love Clarins’ neck cream: https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/clarins-extra-firming-advanced-neck-cream/3556033
Red nail polish – OPI’s An Affair In Red Square is a gorgeous true red with shimmer. It is the perfect holiday red.
I used An Affair In Red Square at my last mani-pedi (just before a holiday party), and I *love* it! You’re right on the money–a perfect red with just the right amount of shimmer. 🙂
Ughh-the neck is the WORST. I spent all my life working to keep my facial skin nice and at 49 it shows-I have minimal wrinkling. However I neglected to do the same with the neck and now that shows 🙁 I never thought I would do plastic surgery but now seriously considering it. I also have a wee jowl starting. So young ladies reading this do yourself a favor and take this advice. I underestimated this issue and am now paying the price. It is worse for the self esteem than acne unfortunately. And you don’t really have all the time in the world to worry about this because let me tell you it goes SO fast.
Thanks for this! I’m 31 and I just noticed that my neck is starting to need help. It’s just several overall big creases…where I bend my neck I guess? There’s not extra skin there or anything though so it seems weird to have a dress. Ahh! Will these creams help with that or do I need something different?
I am 35 and I have had this issue for a long time, since my 20s. I don’t have any wrinkles on my face or neck, just the big creases. In my case some of it may have been genetic but I think poor posture also played a part as I have a tendency to bend my neck when reading or working. If you work at a desk, raising your computer or writing materials to eye level will help you not bend your neck as much. I also now use plain oil (jojoba, rosehip or avocado) on my neck and decolletage everyday and that has helped a bit… at least I haven’t developed any new creases.
Thanks, that’s really helpful! I think it may be posture. Where do you get the oil from?
I’m wearing Zoya’s Hannah on my nails this week and it’s the perfect holiday red. On the cooler side, but not dark at all. More orange reds tend to bring out the redness around my nails and this one doesn’t do that but it also doesn’t look like a matronly red (which is how more blue toned reds look on me). Bonus points they often run deals and they’re 5-free, so I like to tell myself it’s better for me.
perricone cold plasma D for the neck .. – and use all your other normal face treatments on it too if they aren’t harsh.