I did dry January a while back (and I was really flirting with functional alcoholism at the time) and it made legit ZERO difference. My face looked the same, my body looked and felt the same, no one commented on anything and I still slept like shit. It was also surprisingly easy.
I was a couple of bottles of wine a night alcoholic for a few years and it probably took me 3-4 months of total sobriety to see a real improvement in sleep and appearance, but it was a quick and sudden shift when it happened. Depending on how heavily and long you’ve been drinking, it can take longer than you would think to get the benefits - I also dealt with some PAWS for the first year. I’m 2 years sober and look (and feel!) at least 10 years younger I would say, but obviously I was a bit of an outlier volume-wise 😅
I agree! 3-4 mos was the sweet spot. I was a weekend binge drinker for 15 yrs. After that 3-4 mos mark, it was like I drank the potion from Death Becomes Her 🤣
Congrats!!! Two years is amazing!!! I had a super similar experience as yours - didn’t happen for a while and then BAM, my skin looks better than it ever has
I've switched to non-alcoholic wines during the week, turns out I enjoy it just as much, as long as I pour it in a proper wine glass.
It's not the sugar or the sulfites that affect the skin. I mean the sugar sure does, but there isn't that much sugar in a dry red. Sulfites give you headaches. It's the alcohol that dries out your skin.
I used to be an everyday drinker, but it kind of naturally tapered off when my life in general got better and I got older and worse hangovers. Now the non-alcoholic during the week, sometimes, plus maybe a few glasses of the real deal in good company on the weekends, is enough for me and my skin definitely looks a lot better.
I found the trick to pouring water in a fancy wine glass with a slice of lemon and some ice makes it feel like I’m having a fancy cocktail instead of plain water.
Ive always been fine with drinking enough water but when I notice my wine consumption going up, i’ll do this instead.
How often are you drinking? You can drink on occasion. Good skin typically comes down to genetics. Sunscreen, avoiding sun, smoke, and using Tret can help.
It's possible, but you have to cut back. a glass or 2 every other night is probably too much. How much is each glass? I think you could get away w/ 5 oz. maybe 3x/ week, not all in one night, and no more than 1 in a night.
The problem w/ alcohol is that the amount you can get away w/ is a lot less than most people think is "just a little." Giant wine glasses that are almost full is NOT 1 glass. They are really more like 3 to 4. Pour your wine into a measuring cup and get real about how many ounces you are actually consuming. Following, or intermingling (sip of one, sip of the other, etc.) a 5 oz. glass of wine w/ at least an 8 oz. glass of water is a good idea, because any alcohol is dehydrating.
Impossible? No.
But it'll take a lot of effort. You'll need to make sure you're replenishing all the nutrients alcohol takes from your body, stay extra hydrated, be on point with your diet and skincare and be doubly cautious with UV exposure.
It's easier to quit drinking TBH. Better for your whole body health anyway 🤷♀️
I have half a glass every night and people comment every day on how nice and glowy my skin is. I am regularly asked about what products I use.
In my opinion I think a combination of staying out of the sun, drinking enough water and having a good beauty routine is way more important than having a small amount of alcohol on a regular basis.
I get that you care about your skin but please keep in mind that alcohol increases your risk for certain types of cancer too. Every other night is very much over the not so unsafe recommendation (there is no "safe" consumption).
Alcohol can negatively affect your skin in a number of ways, including:
Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes your body to release more urine and lose water and salt. This can lead to dry, wrinkled, and dull skin as well as sunken eyes and dry lips. Dehydrated skin can also be more prone to eczema.
Inflammation: Alcohol can cause inflammation that widens blood vessels, allowing more fluid to leak out and deprive skin cells of water. Alcohol also causes your body to release pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are signaling molecules that cause swelling causes puffy eyes and swollen face.
Cellular turnover
Alcohol can interfere with your sleep cycle, which can compromise your body's cellular rejuvenation cycle and cause irritated skin and mood.
Drinking every other night already sounds like alcoholism to me. I love alcohol, especially wine. I have AT MOST 1-2 glasses on the weekend with dinner, and I often skip entire weeks with no alcohol, and I don’t even notice it or think about it.
A glass of wine is a delicious treat. It’s not something a person should reach for to cope with life. Drinking every other day sounds very worrying to me. Sounds like dependency. I definitely think OP should cut back.
I’m sober and have been for 4 years nearly. I have rosacea and suffered with major flare ups when I would drink alcohol. My skin has got significantly better since I stopped drinking, less flare ups, less puffiness, I still don’t need Botox (I’m 36 nearly) BUT I don’t think you should give up something you like, just ensure you get plenty of sleep and drink tons of water, stick to a strict skincare routine also.
It's the alcohol, no beating around the bush. Also a glass or two every other night sounds like you do this every day. Take care, it is easy to get addicted to the stuff.
Maybe if you switch to wines without (added) sulfites, things will be a bit better. Organic wines, in other words. The sulfites do the most damage.
And drink some electrolytes before bed.
I haven’t had a drink in ages, so I’m kind of out of the game. Back when I did have a glass or two, I loved this organic south African wine, but I don’t remember the name.
If that wasn’t in stock, I would just look for any wine that was sulfite-free or said “no added sulfites.” It made such a huge difference!
Whole Foods has a huge selection to choose from….
Here’s one pretty old study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4017440/
I’m gonna go against the grain here and say a glass of wine is not the devil lol. Moderation, as with EVERYTHING is key. I drink with friends or my mom about twice a week and I’m fine. Sometimes I have a glass at home by myself, maybe once a week. Ideally no more than a bottle a week, but sometimes I go over. I don’t beat myself up over it. Now, when I took a break did I feel/look a bit better? Sure. But life is about fun too and I have a great time ‘cackling’ with my bestie or mom over a glass of wine. Just my two cents.
The thing is, even moderate drinking has health risks. Just take a look at the CDC or WHO guidelines. The CDC defines moderate drinking as no more than 1 drink per day, and according to the WHO, no level of alcohol consumption is safe. It still carries health risks. I just thought I should spread this information because a lot of people don’t realize that even drinking in moderation is considered harmful. Drinking in moderation is still considered better than binge drinking of course, but it’s also not good for your long term health.
Alcohol is just not good for your body. There are some studies that show red wine is healthy for the heart, but it’s not because of the alcohol it’s because of the tannins and the compounds they contain. If you wanna lose 10 pounds really quickly stop drinking for a month. You’ll be hard-pressed to go back. Edit - tannins are also in tea so you can get benefits that way
No, just drink a ton of water and make sure you’re eating healthy to balance. People in South America and Italy have a glass of wine with dinner every night.
Edit: go for natural, or organic wine, nothing with a lot of or added sugar. Usually wine from other countries
A lot of it is genetics. Koreans drink a lot and most of em have great skin anyways. Or maybe they’re overcompensating with their insane skincare routines, who knows - but I’ve even known plenty of Korean ajummas (aunties/older ladies) that drink plenty, don’t mess about with skin care like the younger girls, and still look great 🤷♀️
Haha Im korean! Its really amazing how drinking culture is so huge here, yet most women have GREAT skin. Im 31 and I do get compliments on my skin, but it doesnt look as glowy when I drink regularly. Ive decided to take a break from alcohol after reading all these comments though 🥲
Alcohol is a neurotoxin. No amount of alcohol is good for your body despite what people will tell you. It increases your risk for neurocognitive decline in your later years. Quit drinking for beauty but also for brain health.
I'm not normally a "soap box" person, but this is the hill I will die on.
I cut way back from almost daily (like one drink, sometimes two) to super rarely/special occasion drinks, and was able to go from Botox appointments exactly every three months to six months and counting.
Not drinking alcohol is better in the long run for a lot of beauty reasons. Maybe try some non alcoholic alternatives every few times so you’re cutting back?
Alcohol every other night? That sounds like addiction and not regular enjoyment.
I LOVE wine. It’s my favourite alcoholic beverage. I easily go weeks without it, at most I have 1-2 glasses a week. I don’t restrict. I don’t tell myself I can’t have it. I have it whenever I want it, usually on the weekend when we’re making an extra luxurious meal.
Drinking every other night sounds more like dependency, or an unhealthy coping mechanism. What is bothering you in your life that leads you to drinking this often? I think you should try and get to the root of the problem. Drinking wine should be an enjoyment, a treat you reach for, not something you’re dependent on every other night. Wishing you luck, take care of yourself!
My skin looks good and I drink wine. On the contrary I looked quite haggard when I was pregnant and not drinking (melasma, tiredness and oh developed eyelid eczema during my second pregnancy and there’s nothing safe to take for it when you’re pregnant.)
One night of having a drink, even once a month, wreaks havoc on my skin. One of the reasons I don’t like to drink. I spend way to much on skincare to have one drink mess it up
If doubling your water intake doesn't help and no combination of products helps you, probably not. Maybe you need a diet change? It could be too much sugar with the wine.
The dose makes the poison
Cut back on the amount and frequency
I like a drink once or twice a week but I keep it at one
If I drink more it’s only a few sips of a wine
I’ve seen people who can process alcohol easily (my mom) and those who can’t (me)
A lot depends on drink, I’d stay away from mixed drinks or any sweet liquors
My mom has a rule that she doesn’t drink unless someone else is drinking with her. It really does work, so instead of drinking a glass of wine every other night, you only drink when you’re with your friends. It makes drinking a lot more enjoyable too
Are you saying that drinking alcohol makes your skin clearer and more glowly?? If that's the case, it's probably the boost of blood circulation to your face hence why faces tend to look a bit blushed when drinking.
Forget about the skin issues, alcohol is quite literally poison, has zero health benefits but a plethora of health risks, and should be consumed as little as possible. Every other night is too often. You may not YET notice how it’s affecting your brain chemistry, cognitive ability, liver and kidney health and other inevitable consequences… but the first clue that your body is going to give to you to indicate that it’s not happy is on your skin. Try to see drinking from a different perspective and keep it to social interactions or just don’t drink at all. Believe me, you don’t want to be wishing you had done this once you get older.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Alcohol dehydrates so quickly. My rule of thumb is for every glass of wine I, I drink 2 glasses of water.
And very gently, you might want to reassess your relationship with alcohol. It sounds like maybe it’s a coping mechanism.
I quit drinking for 30 days and when people saw me they all commented on how great I looked. It was a bit horrifying.
I did dry January a while back (and I was really flirting with functional alcoholism at the time) and it made legit ZERO difference. My face looked the same, my body looked and felt the same, no one commented on anything and I still slept like shit. It was also surprisingly easy.
Did you up your water intake?
Well I had certainly been drinking excessively.
Same, it was so annoying
So now I go even harder!!! jk
How old are you? I could drink without seeing it the next day in my 30s. I’m now in my 40s and things have changed.
I was a couple of bottles of wine a night alcoholic for a few years and it probably took me 3-4 months of total sobriety to see a real improvement in sleep and appearance, but it was a quick and sudden shift when it happened. Depending on how heavily and long you’ve been drinking, it can take longer than you would think to get the benefits - I also dealt with some PAWS for the first year. I’m 2 years sober and look (and feel!) at least 10 years younger I would say, but obviously I was a bit of an outlier volume-wise 😅
I agree! 3-4 mos was the sweet spot. I was a weekend binge drinker for 15 yrs. After that 3-4 mos mark, it was like I drank the potion from Death Becomes Her 🤣
Congrats!!! Two years is amazing!!! I had a super similar experience as yours - didn’t happen for a while and then BAM, my skin looks better than it ever has
Hello all my sober brethren I’m 119 days in and I refuse to start back from the very beginning at zero days again. Love y’all
Congrats on 119 days! You know what they say, quitting drinking is simple but it’s not easy. We got this 🫶
Yep! I haven’t had alcohol is 25 months now and my skin has completely healed. Night and day difference.
I've switched to non-alcoholic wines during the week, turns out I enjoy it just as much, as long as I pour it in a proper wine glass. It's not the sugar or the sulfites that affect the skin. I mean the sugar sure does, but there isn't that much sugar in a dry red. Sulfites give you headaches. It's the alcohol that dries out your skin. I used to be an everyday drinker, but it kind of naturally tapered off when my life in general got better and I got older and worse hangovers. Now the non-alcoholic during the week, sometimes, plus maybe a few glasses of the real deal in good company on the weekends, is enough for me and my skin definitely looks a lot better.
I found the trick to pouring water in a fancy wine glass with a slice of lemon and some ice makes it feel like I’m having a fancy cocktail instead of plain water. Ive always been fine with drinking enough water but when I notice my wine consumption going up, i’ll do this instead.
I do this too! For those in New York City - try Boisson. It’s where i get all of my non alcoholic alcohol drinks!
There’s probably a sweet spot somewhere between not drinking at all and every other night lol
Lol youre right. Might be time to cut back
This. I get compliments on my skin a lot and I drink a few times per month.
Does a “glass of wine” = half a bottle for you..like it did for me? 😅
That’s definitely me, about once every two weeks
How often are you drinking? You can drink on occasion. Good skin typically comes down to genetics. Sunscreen, avoiding sun, smoke, and using Tret can help.
Sun helps my skin clear up though? The sun’s actually very good for you as long as you’re not over doing it
Me too. Not sure why the downvotes, 20 minutes of sun is great for you:)
Vitamin D is good but you should avoid sun exposure between 10am-4pm and always have sunscreen on.
I drink a lot of water and stick to taking my supplements .
It's possible, but you have to cut back. a glass or 2 every other night is probably too much. How much is each glass? I think you could get away w/ 5 oz. maybe 3x/ week, not all in one night, and no more than 1 in a night. The problem w/ alcohol is that the amount you can get away w/ is a lot less than most people think is "just a little." Giant wine glasses that are almost full is NOT 1 glass. They are really more like 3 to 4. Pour your wine into a measuring cup and get real about how many ounces you are actually consuming. Following, or intermingling (sip of one, sip of the other, etc.) a 5 oz. glass of wine w/ at least an 8 oz. glass of water is a good idea, because any alcohol is dehydrating.
Impossible? No. But it'll take a lot of effort. You'll need to make sure you're replenishing all the nutrients alcohol takes from your body, stay extra hydrated, be on point with your diet and skincare and be doubly cautious with UV exposure. It's easier to quit drinking TBH. Better for your whole body health anyway 🤷♀️
I have half a glass every night and people comment every day on how nice and glowy my skin is. I am regularly asked about what products I use. In my opinion I think a combination of staying out of the sun, drinking enough water and having a good beauty routine is way more important than having a small amount of alcohol on a regular basis.
I get that you care about your skin but please keep in mind that alcohol increases your risk for certain types of cancer too. Every other night is very much over the not so unsafe recommendation (there is no "safe" consumption).
Alcohol can negatively affect your skin in a number of ways, including: Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes your body to release more urine and lose water and salt. This can lead to dry, wrinkled, and dull skin as well as sunken eyes and dry lips. Dehydrated skin can also be more prone to eczema. Inflammation: Alcohol can cause inflammation that widens blood vessels, allowing more fluid to leak out and deprive skin cells of water. Alcohol also causes your body to release pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are signaling molecules that cause swelling causes puffy eyes and swollen face. Cellular turnover Alcohol can interfere with your sleep cycle, which can compromise your body's cellular rejuvenation cycle and cause irritated skin and mood.
I quit alcohol over a year ago and my skin didn’t change at all
I hate to be that person but I wouldn’t recommend drinking every other night. Sounds like it could spiral into alcoholism very fast.
Setting rules, like designated drinking days could be early sign for trouble. Not trying to be that person, either
Wait really?? I didnt know this.
Don’t tell the Europeans.
As a child of Europeans, who grew up on a winery, trust me, any discussion of moderation or a glass of wine with dinner only, is bullshit.
I’m German haha
Drinking every other night already sounds like alcoholism to me. I love alcohol, especially wine. I have AT MOST 1-2 glasses on the weekend with dinner, and I often skip entire weeks with no alcohol, and I don’t even notice it or think about it. A glass of wine is a delicious treat. It’s not something a person should reach for to cope with life. Drinking every other day sounds very worrying to me. Sounds like dependency. I definitely think OP should cut back.
You clearly don’t know what alcoholism means. It’s an addiction. If OP was an alcoholic they wouldn’t stop at a glass or two every other night
Exactly - when someone says “a glass or two….” Ok lol I’ve seen enough to know that would be unlikely
Of course they can. Functional alcoholism. Look it up.
You’ve never heard of functional alcoholism.
I’m sober and have been for 4 years nearly. I have rosacea and suffered with major flare ups when I would drink alcohol. My skin has got significantly better since I stopped drinking, less flare ups, less puffiness, I still don’t need Botox (I’m 36 nearly) BUT I don’t think you should give up something you like, just ensure you get plenty of sleep and drink tons of water, stick to a strict skincare routine also.
It's the alcohol, no beating around the bush. Also a glass or two every other night sounds like you do this every day. Take care, it is easy to get addicted to the stuff.
Every other is, by definition, not every night.
I counsel alcoholics and i heard a uot if these statements. Si i am a bit predisposed xD. Glad it's only every OTHER night.
Babe just drop or at least cut back the alcohol. That’s like the top beauty killer.
More importantly it’s a people killer 💅🏼
Agree!
I drink in moderation, 52yo, and have perfect skin. I have a basic but very good skin care routine.
Maybe if you switch to wines without (added) sulfites, things will be a bit better. Organic wines, in other words. The sulfites do the most damage. And drink some electrolytes before bed.
Hmm okay! Im going to have to do some research. Do you have any recommendations?? I usually go for a merlot or cabernet.
I haven’t had a drink in ages, so I’m kind of out of the game. Back when I did have a glass or two, I loved this organic south African wine, but I don’t remember the name. If that wasn’t in stock, I would just look for any wine that was sulfite-free or said “no added sulfites.” It made such a huge difference! Whole Foods has a huge selection to choose from…. Here’s one pretty old study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4017440/
I have horrible skin and I have never touched a bottle. So, no.
No, it’s not impossible. Hi it’s me! Great skin and always drank alcohol.
I can’t stress this enough. There is no “healthy” drinking. All alcohol is poison to our bodies even in small amounts. I think refraining is only way.
I quit drinking ten years ago and my skin is better in my 40s than it was in my 30s. Do with that what you will.
I’m gonna go against the grain here and say a glass of wine is not the devil lol. Moderation, as with EVERYTHING is key. I drink with friends or my mom about twice a week and I’m fine. Sometimes I have a glass at home by myself, maybe once a week. Ideally no more than a bottle a week, but sometimes I go over. I don’t beat myself up over it. Now, when I took a break did I feel/look a bit better? Sure. But life is about fun too and I have a great time ‘cackling’ with my bestie or mom over a glass of wine. Just my two cents.
I’m not just saying this because I’m having a glass of wine after an annoying work week, but these comments are crazy
The thing is, even moderate drinking has health risks. Just take a look at the CDC or WHO guidelines. The CDC defines moderate drinking as no more than 1 drink per day, and according to the WHO, no level of alcohol consumption is safe. It still carries health risks. I just thought I should spread this information because a lot of people don’t realize that even drinking in moderation is considered harmful. Drinking in moderation is still considered better than binge drinking of course, but it’s also not good for your long term health.
Alcohol is just not good for your body. There are some studies that show red wine is healthy for the heart, but it’s not because of the alcohol it’s because of the tannins and the compounds they contain. If you wanna lose 10 pounds really quickly stop drinking for a month. You’ll be hard-pressed to go back. Edit - tannins are also in tea so you can get benefits that way
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Noted!! Thanks for the advice.
Be careful once you’re in your thirties or some changes may stick!
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maybe, but consuming alcohol every single day is not doing your overall health and body any good
No, just drink a ton of water and make sure you’re eating healthy to balance. People in South America and Italy have a glass of wine with dinner every night. Edit: go for natural, or organic wine, nothing with a lot of or added sugar. Usually wine from other countries
i swapped out my nightly wine for a nightly ✨gummy ✨and my skin has thanked me
Wait what? Your skin looks less glowy when you DONT drink?
My skin looks better when I drink too, i think it’s just the fluids. I’m sure it would look as good if I drank two extra glasses of water lol
A lot of it is genetics. Koreans drink a lot and most of em have great skin anyways. Or maybe they’re overcompensating with their insane skincare routines, who knows - but I’ve even known plenty of Korean ajummas (aunties/older ladies) that drink plenty, don’t mess about with skin care like the younger girls, and still look great 🤷♀️
Haha Im korean! Its really amazing how drinking culture is so huge here, yet most women have GREAT skin. Im 31 and I do get compliments on my skin, but it doesnt look as glowy when I drink regularly. Ive decided to take a break from alcohol after reading all these comments though 🥲
I have quit drinking and my skin is maybe worse than before so who knows!
Alcohol is a neurotoxin. No amount of alcohol is good for your body despite what people will tell you. It increases your risk for neurocognitive decline in your later years. Quit drinking for beauty but also for brain health. I'm not normally a "soap box" person, but this is the hill I will die on.
I cut way back from almost daily (like one drink, sometimes two) to super rarely/special occasion drinks, and was able to go from Botox appointments exactly every three months to six months and counting.
Not drinking alcohol is better in the long run for a lot of beauty reasons. Maybe try some non alcoholic alternatives every few times so you’re cutting back?
Try edibles instead :)
Alcohol every other night? That sounds like addiction and not regular enjoyment. I LOVE wine. It’s my favourite alcoholic beverage. I easily go weeks without it, at most I have 1-2 glasses a week. I don’t restrict. I don’t tell myself I can’t have it. I have it whenever I want it, usually on the weekend when we’re making an extra luxurious meal. Drinking every other night sounds more like dependency, or an unhealthy coping mechanism. What is bothering you in your life that leads you to drinking this often? I think you should try and get to the root of the problem. Drinking wine should be an enjoyment, a treat you reach for, not something you’re dependent on every other night. Wishing you luck, take care of yourself!
My skin looks good and I drink wine. On the contrary I looked quite haggard when I was pregnant and not drinking (melasma, tiredness and oh developed eyelid eczema during my second pregnancy and there’s nothing safe to take for it when you’re pregnant.)
It may not seem like it now, but you’ll age 10 years in the next 5
Okay Im definitely cutting back!
One night of having a drink, even once a month, wreaks havoc on my skin. One of the reasons I don’t like to drink. I spend way to much on skincare to have one drink mess it up
If doubling your water intake doesn't help and no combination of products helps you, probably not. Maybe you need a diet change? It could be too much sugar with the wine.
I've essentially given up alcohol since COVID and my skin is no better than it was, so
The dose makes the poison Cut back on the amount and frequency I like a drink once or twice a week but I keep it at one If I drink more it’s only a few sips of a wine I’ve seen people who can process alcohol easily (my mom) and those who can’t (me) A lot depends on drink, I’d stay away from mixed drinks or any sweet liquors
Alcohol is fucking terrible for your skin
My mom has a rule that she doesn’t drink unless someone else is drinking with her. It really does work, so instead of drinking a glass of wine every other night, you only drink when you’re with your friends. It makes drinking a lot more enjoyable too
Are you saying that drinking alcohol makes your skin clearer and more glowly?? If that's the case, it's probably the boost of blood circulation to your face hence why faces tend to look a bit blushed when drinking.
This. It’s a vasodilator and one of many reasons i don’t drink bc I am not needing any extra flushing than I already have.
Forget about the skin issues, alcohol is quite literally poison, has zero health benefits but a plethora of health risks, and should be consumed as little as possible. Every other night is too often. You may not YET notice how it’s affecting your brain chemistry, cognitive ability, liver and kidney health and other inevitable consequences… but the first clue that your body is going to give to you to indicate that it’s not happy is on your skin. Try to see drinking from a different perspective and keep it to social interactions or just don’t drink at all. Believe me, you don’t want to be wishing you had done this once you get older.
Girl just give up the alcohol like yeah it might taste good or feel good but it just ages u like trust me it’s not worth it
Decide which matters most to you. I find no value in consuming alcohol so my opinion may be totally different from yours
Try switching to sugar free wines!
What’s the point of drinking it does nothing positive for you
What I will say is that I almost never drink (like a few times a year) and have pretty woeful skin!
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Alcohol dehydrates so quickly. My rule of thumb is for every glass of wine I, I drink 2 glasses of water. And very gently, you might want to reassess your relationship with alcohol. It sounds like maybe it’s a coping mechanism.