With the party season already here, After Hrs explores some beauty uses for your fav tipple.
December heralds the beginning of the soiree season — cocktail events, pre-wedding bashes and of course Christmas and New Year. It's also the time of binging and drinking to one's heart's content, but your favoured drink could also give you a beauty boost. Champagne makes not just for a great bubbly, but also has benefits for the hair and skin. In fact, supermodel Christie Brinkley recently revealed she uses the beverage to add some shine to her locks. Vodka too makes for more than just a great ingredient in a Caprioska. It's said to help tighten and brighten the skin, as well as help with flaky scalp issues. Wine too, has recently become a common ingredient in facials.
Champagne wishes
Dr Apratim Goel, dermatologist and laser surgeon, Cutis Skin Studio says champagne is a drink packed with super antioxidants as well as Vitamin C and E which are free radical scavengers. "It also acts like a toner and unclogs pores on the scalp as it balances pH. Hence, a hair rinse with freshly opened bubbly champagne enhances hair volume prior to blow dry, and adds smoothness and shine. Just be careful if you have light coloured or blonde hair as it enhances the colour and makes hair look more rough," she says. Champagne can also be used as a toner for oily skin. "Cool champagne works like magic on oily skin when used with a cotton wad after face wash. However, since champagne can also dry the skin, avoid using it if you suffer from dehydrated skin. Also, those with acne must avoid this as it can cause a flare up," adds Dr Goel.
Red, red wine
Red wine is rich in antioxidant polyphenols, which help keep skin healthy. It's also said to help with blood circulation, increasing skin elasticity, and adding brightness. Dr K E Mukadam, dermatologist and laser surgeon, Lasercure, says the antioxidants in wine protect your skin and prevent ageing. "That's why some parlours are now providing red wine facials. Apply some red wine on your skin to fight off free radicals that cause wrinkles and fine lines. Red wine can also restore collagen and elastic fibres in the skin. This helps transform dull skin and restore its glow. You can apply wine directly to your skin or you can mix it with some oatmeal and leave it on for a few minutes. This treatment will help remove dead cells and leave you with radiant skin," he says.
A whiff of vodka
When mixed with shampoo, vodka is said to reduce product build up and eliminate extra oil. It also adds shine to the locks. Dr Akanksha Shah, senior cosmetic dermatologist, Enhance Clinic explains, "The shampoos that we use contain surfactants and the hard water that we rinse our hair with tend to have salts; both of these dry our hair. Vodka helps to balance the pH when added to your hair wash regime and hence makes the hair softer and shiny. It can be diluted with your hair conditioner or hair mask and left on for 15-20 minutes and rinsed. Neat vodka can also be mixed with olive oil and coconut oil, applied to the scalp and tresses and washed off after an hour. However, avoid using too much vodka and dilute it well," she says. It can also help unclog pores and tone skin. "Vodka can be diluted very well with water and honey and used as a toner or a mist. However, it is not recommended to use often as it can have negative effects."
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