From puffy eyes to pesky spots, these five quick hacks will instantly provide a healthier-looking, hydrated complexion on Christmas Day
The lead up to Christmas Day can often leave our skin feeling a little worse for wear, thanks to the late nights, festive fizz and cold winter weather.
The good news? If you want glowing skin today, you don’t need a complicated routine or hours in the bathroom. With a few clever, quick-fire hacks, it’s easy to revive tired skin and feel party-ready in no time.
From instant depuffing under-eye bags and calming last-minute breakouts to boosting glow and helping makeup sit better, these simple tricks are designed to work fast and create instant results.
Whether you’re hosting, heading our or posing for family photos, consider this your foolproof guide to looking refreshed, radiant and well-rested on Christmas Day (even if you’re running on minimal sleep).
Fearne Cotton uses this £35 metallic eyeliner that works on mature skin to add festive sparkle
‘I swapped my £400 North Face puffer coat for one half the price and it’s even warmer’
De-puffing undereyes
If you had one too many on Christmas Eve or stayed up late to do some last minute wrapping, one of the most effective ways to instantly de-puff undereyes is with some cooling masks. Pop a pair under your eyes while making your morning coffee (or Bucks Fizz), and watch the puffiness reduce.
A favourite option loved by celebrities, including Victoria’s Secret angel Candice Swanepoel, are the 111Skin Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask. Infused with seaweed extract, peptides, and vitamin E, the masks are designed to soothe puffiness, brighten dark circles, and leave the under-eye area looking refreshed and lifted.
The cooling hydrogel texture also gives a cryotherapy-like finish, helping the skin feel firmer, smoother, and de-puffed in just a few minutes.
For a more affordable option, try the BeautyPro Retinol Under Eye Patches. Formulated with powerful yet gentle retinol, these under eye patches are designed to target fine lines, dark circles and puffiness, making them the perfect pick-me-up for tired eyes after early mornings and long days.
Shop our best buys: 111Skin Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask, £85 for 8 or £50 for 4 at 111Skin; BeautyPro Retinol Under Eye Patches, £19 for 4 at Debenhams; and Charlotte Tilbury Immediate Revival Under Eye Patches, £58 for 60 at Charlotte Tilbury.
Hydration is key
If your skin looks tired or dull, dehydration is usually the culprit, especially if you’ve been out the night before. To sort this out on Christmas morning, start with a rich moisturiser and layer on a hyaluronic acid serum to help draw moisture into the skin and instantly plump fine lines.
We’d suggest AESTURA’s Atobarrier 365 Cream. Trusted by millions in Korea and with one selling every 20 seconds, the moisturising formula promises up to 120 hours of hydration for the skin. Team this with a serum like L’Oréal Paris’ 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Revitalift Filler Serum that immediately boosts skin plumpness, and you’ve got a winning combo.
Don’t forget about the basics either – drinking water throughout the morning really does make a difference. Well-hydrated skin looks fresher, smoother and creates the perfect base for makeup.
Shop our best buys: AESTURA’s Atobarrier 365 Cream, £26 at Sephora and L’Oréal Paris’ 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Revitalift Filler Serum, £31.99 at LookFantastic
Banish those pimples
Of course, completely banishing a pimple in minutes isn’t exactly possible, but there are a few ways to help minimise their appearance, reduce redness and speed up their disappearance (and we’re not talking about using outdated methods like toothpaste and needles).
The first and most obvious is sticking on a pimple patch. Championed by Gen-Z and often used as a fashion statement, pimple patches have become pretty trendy. Safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin, they’re vegan, cruelty-free, and dermatologist-tested, so they actually help your breakouts rather than just concealing them
However, if you don’t want to wear a star-shaped sticker on your face (and rightfully so!), Mighty Patch and The Inkey List offer some fantastic, invisible designs that are barely noticeable.
Another option is using a targeted spot treatment, such as Acnecide’s Face Gel Spot Treatment Benzoyl Peroxide. This handy treatment contains benzoyl peroxide, which effectively kills up to 95% of bacteria causing spots and claims to start working immediately after application. Simply pop this on your spots in the morning, and watch them start to vanish by Christmas lunch.
Shop our best buys: Starface Hydro-Star Pink 32 CT, £8.99 at SpaceNK; Hero Mighty Patch Mixed Hydrocolloid Pimple & Acne Patches, £11.99 at Superdrug; The INKEY List Hydrocolloid Invisible Pimple Patches, £9 at SpaceNK; and Acnecide Face Gel Spot Treatment Benzoyl Peroxide, £8.99 at Superdrug.
Brighten your complexion
For a quick skin reset, a brightening mask is a Christmas morning lifesaver. The Beauty Pie Oxygen Instant Facial Refuelling Mask is out top pick. It’s designed to revive dull skin fast, helping to boost radiance and even out tone in minutes. Use it while getting ready or opening presents and wait for the noticeable glow that provides the perfect base for your Christmas Day glam.
Shop our best buys: Beauty Pie Oxygen Instant Facial Refuelling Mask, £35;
Instant glow hack
When time is tight, or you don’t have a bank of skincare essentials to fall back on, glow-boosting products are your best bet at achieving a brighter complexion in no time.
First up, sweep a liquid highlighter across cheekbones. My personal favourite is the Gucci Beauty Illuminateur de Beauté Liquid Highlighter for a weightless, natural finish on the skin.
Or mix a few bronzing drops, such as the First Aid Beauty Bronze And Glow Drops With Niacinamide into your moisturisers for that healthy, sunkissed look.
Lastly, if you’re not a fan of make-up or glow boosters, simply finish off your morning skin routine with a hydrating facial oil to the high points of the face. These simple tricks add warmth and a lit-from-within finish for Christmas, with no heavy makeup required.
Shop our best buys: Gucci Beauty Illuminateur de Beauté Liquid Highlighter, £38 at Cult Beauty; First Aid Beauty Bronze And Glow Drops With Niacinamide, £26 at LookFantastic; and BYOMA Hydrating Recovery Oil, £14 at Space NK.
