The silly season is almost here, which means that we will more than likely be enjoying our fair share of alcoholic beverages. And while we are well aware of the detrimental effect that alcohol can have on our skin, some spirits and drinks are worse than others. Here are the best options, and the worst offenders.
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Red wine
Red wine takes the number-one spot as being the worst drink for your skin. Who would’ve thought, especially since it’s known to be rich in antioxidants? As it’s an unfiltered drink, it’s harder for the liver and kidneys to process. It’s the most likely of all alcoholic drinks to cause rosacea flare-ups, red skin, blotchiness and flushing. Proceed with caution!
White wine
White wine might make for a refreshing summer drink – spritzer, anyone? – but it contains fairly high levels of both salt and sugar. But what does this mean for your skin? It can cause it to become swollen and lead to bloating and, in excess, can dry skin out. It also doesn’t have the antioxidants that red wine does, so there isn’t even a flip side to this sad news.
Related: Alcohol-free party cocktails
Whisky and rum
While straight rum and whisky are generally free from additives, these drinks do contain congeners, which is a substance added to spirits as a result of the fermentation process. This can not only make your hangover symptoms unbearable, it can also make your skin appear dull and tired and, if consumed regularly, can make your skin age more quickly.
Vodka, gin & tequila
Alcohol that is clear in colour has the least amount of additives, making it the best choice for anyone who is concerned about the effects of alcohol on their skin. It moves through the body faster, so it doesn’t stick around long enough to cause any real damage to the epidermis. But drinking any booze too often can make skin drier, lacklustre and susceptible to wrinkles.
Related: Stop alcohol from ruining your diet
Beer
There’s nothing quite like an ice-cold beer on a warm summer’s day. This popular drink contains high levels of salt, which definitely isn’t good for skin. The only positive here is that beer is quite a heavy drink, so people tend to drink less of it than they would cocktails or wine. And the less of it you consume, the less damage it’s able to do to your skin. A silver lining!
Cocktails
Sugar consumption is one of the leading causes of inflammation in the body and, unfortunately, cocktails are loaded with it. Not only can they give you a regular hangover, they can also give you a sugar hangover, which can make skin dull and sallow, and eyes bloodshot. The worst culprit is the margarita, which contains both sugar and salt, which can make skin become puffy.
PHOTO: iStock/petrenkod
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