Would You Give Up Alcoholic Drinks To Save Your Skin Complexion?

For many of us, there’s nothing more refreshing than pouring ourselves a glass of wine or throwing back a cocktail at the end of a tiresome work week. On weekends, we may relish in multiple mimosas over brunch with our girlfriends, or down a shot with some co-workers on a Friday night. Although polishing off some alcoholic drinks seems innocent enough, it turns out that it may be wreaking havoc on your skin. 

Nowadays, most bars are catering their menu to ‘low-alcohol’ beverages. While some studies have suggested that light drinking brings about benefits, it still doesn’t deter away from ‘healthy’ alcohol consumption. For our purposes, we’re focusing on the how the high sugar content affects your skin complexion.  

Skincare enthusiasts usually discuss dealing with your skin after a hangover, but there’s been a generally untouched area on how all that alcohol and sugar transform your skin’s appearance down the road. Alcohol hinders the production of the hormone vasopressin, uprooting water and making it harder for your body to rehydrate. And we all know relatively well what dehydrated skin looks like — dull and lacklustre, along with the prominent signs of ageing.  

Dehydration aside, alcohol lessens the body’s level of vitamin A. When this powerful antioxidant is stripped away, your skin’s cell renewal and cell turnover drop, limiting the moisture levels absorbed by your skin. Say goodbye to that youthful radiance! Alcoholic drinks also dictate a high sugar content which promptly triggers an over-production of oil in your skin to compensate for the dehydration, leading to acne breakouts and uneven pigmentation. If that wasn’t disturbing enough, salt, of course, contributes profoundly to a puffy face. 

We’re not suggesting withdrawing from alcoholic refreshments altogether. But, as enticing as low-alcohol drinks may appear, the benefits are not as cut and dry. We recommend having snacks ready with your booze as the food will minimise the release of sugar. That way, you can have your cake and eat it too — or alternatively, your alcohol and good complexion.

Photo credit: Unsplash