The Facial Pick-Me-Up

"I feel like death warmed over but - DAMN - I look good."

Thanksgiving break seems like a long and luxurious break from the crazy college world, but with all the people you have to see, shopping you have to do and family you have to spend time with, Thanksgiving turns into one exhausting escape. And, considering it has been months (or maybe even years) since you have last seen home people, looking your best is of utmost importance.

By Lauren

Which becomes especially hard after spending Wednesday evening sipping some cocktails. And by “sipping” I mean “chugging by the bar so you didn’t have to deal with running into your ex with his new GF…who was in eighth grade when you guys were seniors…”

We all know what looks back at us in the mirror after a night of drinking: black under eyes, blotchy skin, unsightly blemishes, hand stamps rubbed off on a cheek. Needless to say, it ain’t pretty, nor is it appropriate for the grand Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends.

I have a weak spot for binge drinking on Wednesday nights, so I have become quite talented at the morning-after-face-picker-upper. (Because no one – especially my English prof – needs to know that I spent the previous evening enjoying dollar beers and a battle to the top of the leader board of Erotic Photo Hunt.) If you’re looking a little down in the dumps but can’t let grandma see you like that, pair these must-have beauty items with a couple Advil and a giant Dunkin Donuts coffee. Your family will never know just how much you enjoyed the biggest bar night of the year:

Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion in SPF 30: One of the worst effects of alcohol (besides liver damage and the propensity to do really stupid things) is the dehydration. And I am not talking about to your body; I mean to your skin. Combating the hangover, then, requires more than just a few glasses of water; you need a really good moisturizer. I have tried ‘em all (even the expensive ones), but this Eucerin product – available in drug stores! – is by far my favorite. It works fast, is not greasy at all and will protect your skin from the sun all day long as you join your little cousins for a hop in the leaves.

smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener: I blame my mother for this lovely trait, but when I wake up after a night of drinking I look like someone punched me in the eyes. Yes, both of them. In fact, before I discovered this life-changing product, people would often ask me if I got into a bar fight the night before. (That only happened once, damn it!) But this stuff has completely eliminated that problem. Just dab a few dots of this stuff under your eyes and your tired eyes are instantly brightened. Using this is like getting an extra 5 hours of sleep!

benefit High Beam: In addition to the lovely hue of black under my eyes, my hungover skin also tends to take on some shades of waxy gray. Not attractive. While walking through a department store after a night o’ partying, I was accosted by the Benefit makeup lady. Noticing that I was clearly in need of some help, she introduced me to High Beam – only the best beauty invention of all time. Just a few dots of this stuff to your cheekbones adds a dewy shimmer to your skin and instant brightness to an unhappy face. Total face refreshment.

Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Eyeshadow: If all else fails, there’s one easy trick that will make all your hangover problems go away. Well, at least the ones with your face; there is no makeup that can stop the dry heaving. Just dab a little shimmer in the corners of each eye. That’s it. This little trick will instantly brighten your eyes, making you look more awake, alert and, erm alive. Midnight Cowboy by Urban Decay is my favorite; it has the perfect amount of shimmer to open up your eye, but it has enough of a gold tint that it can also be run over the rest of the eyelid for a shimmery holiday look perfect for a family dinner.

So, this Thanksgiving when you’re dining with your family and everyone can’t stop talking about how radiant and beautiful you look (even though you can’t stop those tequila shots from haunting you), you can add me and the geniuses who came up with these facial fresheners to your “thankful for” list.

You’re welcome.