Recovering from Holiday Excess: Facial Care Tips for 2024

The end-of-year festivities and other feasts often take a toll on our skin. Facial care specialist Sophie Carbonari shares her tips for repairing the damage and getting off to a good start in 2024.

After the festive period, our bodies suffer from the accumulation of rich meals and short nights that have brightened our year-end. Excess sugar, fat, and alcohol particularly reflect on our faces, which become dull and start showing small "imperfections." As a result of our indulgences, the toxins accumulated in the body impact our skin.

"It all happens at the liver, as this is where detoxification occurs. As the liver endures a heavy load of toxins to eliminate, it delegates this role to the skin," explains French facialist Sophie Carbonari, whose clients include VIPs like Naomi Campbell and Caroline de Maigret. "Sugar passes through perspiration, affecting the skin's pH and often causing pimples. There's also an effect on the complexion, which tends to become gray or slightly yellowish. This is a sign that the liver is tired."

Rather than rushing for clay masks thinking they will solve all our skin problems, the expert advises treating both internally and externally: "It's a balance between the two. A two-in-one beauty routine should be established in the weeks, even days following January 1st," she details. Here's how.

Undergoing a Liver Detox

As the specialist explained, the first (and most important) step is to relieve the liver to help it eliminate toxins. "A black radish cure works very well, even if it's not necessarily pleasant to taste," recommends Sophie Carbonari. "This root facilitates drainage and acts on liver function. A cure with activated charcoal also helps accelerate the body's detoxification process, thus lightening the liver's load."

Opting for a Single Ingredient Serum

The second step is using topical facial care in addition to the detox cure. "We need to support the skin to prevent potential post-party damage. First, by rebalancing its pH, which, when too basic, develops bacteria," explains Sophie Carbonari. The specialist advises using a salicylic acid serum, applying it "only to areas where you feel a pimple coming. Then think about applying SPF protection on top, as it causes some photosensitivity and could lead to pigmentation problems." For those with sensitive skin, she suggests mixing just two drops of salicylic acid serum with another hyaluronic acid serum, "to avoid sensitizing it further and creating redness."

Another star ingredient for getting rid of imperfections and clearing the skin is niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3 known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties). "It can be used for all skin types, except those extremely reactive. It helps prevent bacterial proliferation, thus the appearance of pimples. It improves skin texture and prevents the grayish complexion. And it's also effective in preventing dehydration related to excesses," assures Sophie Carbonari.

Performing a Self Facial Massage

Facial massage, a specialty of Sophie Carbonari, is another excellent way to drain lymph and detoxify the skin. Before starting, "the choice of product to apply beforehand on the face is super important," she warns, recommending to "first apply a serum that will prevent all skin problems like acne or gray complexion," favoring those based on the active ingredients previously advised by the expert. "Then, add a care product based on hyaluronic acid or another very hydrating ingredient. Flood your skin with hydration," she advises. Contrary to popular belief, it's not useful to overuse purifying masks to "cleanse" the skin after a period of excess: they would even create the opposite effect than desired, drying out the skin.

After applying her care product, it's time for the massage. "We're going to stimulate microcirculation and micro-glands," announces Sophie Carbonari. "Start by exerting small pressure movements with your fingers on the lymph nodes at the angle of the neck and jaw. Then do the same on the sinuses at the wing of the nose and above the eyes, focusing on pressure points. Make movements from the inside to the outside of the face, mobilizing the edge of the hand and placing the index finger vertically on the skin. Slide on the angle of the nose to properly drain toxins," she describes. Do the same on the forehead, this time pivoting the hands horizontally.

For beginners, the expert advises repeating each movement three times to start. "You get a quick routine that lasts about two, three minutes," she specifies. And if the task seems too complicated, it's better to entrust your face to a facialist who will know how to use her magic fingers to help us regain a healthy glow after the end-of-year festivities.