How To Hide Your Hangover At The Office (And Look Flawless)

Holidays are coming, and so are the party invites. And when the festive merriment is in full-swing we all know it’s not always easy to say no to ‘just one more’. Even if it is a school night.

Hello weekday hangover - you Grinch.

Waking up to puffy eyes, blotchy skin, and wanting to reach for a litre of Evian, stat, are sure-fire signs you had one too many mulled wines last night. We’ve all been there. But you can get through this and fake it until you make it to home time.

Before you think of just giving up and crawling under the desk in the foetal position, remember: feeling sweaty and having a pounding head (OH the headache) might make you feel deathly, but they’re just part of your body working its hardest to detox and replace the key nutrients it has lost.

Just because you’re not feeling so hot, you needn’t right off the work day. We’ve got you (and your hangover) covered.

Here’s 10 steps to looking flawless and generally surviving a hangover in the office.

Yes it sounds like a cliche, but eating breakfast will make you feel instantly more human, especially one rich in all those nutrients you’ve lost from drinking. You’ll need some energy to even get to your desk remember and eggs and smashed avocado on toast are just the trick. Eggs are a great source of the amino acid, cysteine, that helps to clear out excess chemicals (in particular the one that causes a sore head caused when your body tries to breakdown alcohol). As for the avocados, they’re more than just Instagram fodder - they’re rich in glutathione, which is used up fast while drinking alcohol, and results in a build-up of toxins during alcohol breakdown, so replenishing its stores is important. They’re also packed full of potassium which is easily depleted after boozing. Plus wholemeal toast: much-needed energy.

One coffee might be the fast fix of energy you need to get you into the office, but stop after that as the caffeine will only dehydrate your further. Green tea is a good alternative as it helps the natural detoxification process.

Puffy eyes are one of the biggest tell-tale signs of a late night and a killer hangover. And as well as a helping your body detox, green tea bags will help your eye bags too. While you’re waiting for you cuppa to cool, dampen two bags for your eyes with warm water. Then lie with them over your eyes for a few minutes - the caffeine in the tea will de-puff your under eye area, and the antioxidants in the tea leaves will help reduce swelling and also tighten the skin. See: not as mad as it sounded.

Now you’re feeling more human, it’s time to turn attention to the tell tale hangover signs you’re wearing on your face. Your skin is as parched as your body after a big night out, so be sure to use a rich moisturiser - ideally one that plumps skin - to dehydrate it before you apply your makeup. A serum will also help combat the specific signs of tiredness your skin is showing like redness and dullness.

Bloodshot eyes are another classic sign of a late night, so soothe them fast with some eye drops. To avoid too much tearing, apply close to the corner of your eyes then roll your peepers from side to side to coat. You’ll feel instantly brighter, but stash them in your bag for later - just in case.

Now you can see clearly, it’s time to work on looking super fresh. Whatever you do don’t go overboard - your colleagues will see those three extra pumps of foundation from a mile off. So it’s all about highlighting and boosting your glow rather than covering up. Mix an illuminator in with a BB cream to get glowing, or use a strobe cream to highlight the high points of your skin after you’ve applied your foundation - the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, brow bones.

Even in chilly temperatures, bronzer is your friend on a hangover. You’ll probably look pale and a little drained while your body is doing its thing - trying to detox and get back to normal - so you’ll want to add a little faux glow to look more sunny than you feel. Dust over cheekbones and your forehead for a speedy fix. But again: don’t overdo it. Your colleagues will see your fresh-from-St-Tropez look as a sure-fire sign last night was more epic than intended.

If your head is still pounding a few hours after breakfast and you plan on taking painkillers, then Aspirin is your best option. It’s anti-inflammatory so will help curb any puffiness and redness that might be showing on your face as well as curbing your headache.

Drinking lots of water to rehydrate is the easiest way to ward of the most signs of a hangover throughout the day. If you’re craving a sugary drink try to opt for a natural alternative, ie. coconut water. As well as fixing your depleting sugar levels, it’s a great source of electrolytes, which need to be replaced when you're dehydrated.

One application probably won't be enough. It's no secret your body likes to shed some of those nasty toxins through sweating, so be prepared and stay fresh with a few top ups of deodorant throughout the day!

Shop your hangover beauty kit in the gallery below...