I’ll level with you: After a weeklong vacation followed by my birthday weekend, my skin was looking destroyed. I was day drinking, boat drinking, and sipping late night mojitos on the beach. Not only was I dehydrated, but also sunburnt and tired from travel. I’m talking creasing, flaking, dark circles and hyperpigmentation. But today my skin looks rejuvenated and healthy thanks to this one hack. 

We all know that alcohol dehydrates you. It’s basically your liver’s worst nightmare, but did you know that there’s another organ it can wreak havoc on too? Your skin is the largest organ in your body and it’s affected by literally everything you eat and drink. Alcohol actually accelerates the aging of your skin by reducing the production of collagen and elastin. I’m not going to be a buzz kill and tell you to stop partying— I’m here to let you in on a little secret that practically reversed the damage it caused. First and foremost, like any other organ, your skin needs water to replenish itself. Some electrolyte packets and good old H2O go a long way. I was also strict about keeping up my skin care routine no matter how late I got back to the room. But when no amount of moisturizer and liquid IV can save you, this one trick will.

Ever heard of celebrities rubbing beef tallow on their face? Sounds gross, right? Actually, it works. But I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to put fat on your face if you don’t want to. The main reason why this product went viral a few months ago was because of its high concentration of collagen, the protein responsible for your skin’s elasticity and firmness. While alcohol sucks your skin dry, replenishing that collagen can fight back against signs of aging. My secret? Overnight face masks. These are my top picks for collagen masks that actually saved my skin.