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.