1. WASH YOUR FACE. I know it sounds easy, but we’ve all been to that dark place at 4:30 a.m. after a night of drinking when you just want to pass out in your warm comfy bed. Here is something I have learned the hard way – routine is everything, and you will never have nice skin if you don’t take your makeup off at the end of the day. A gentle, no-frills soap that rinses clean is your best bet. My favorite, as simple as it seems, is the Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar, fragrance free. I know it sounds ridiculous, but this bar actually makes me want to wash my face because it feels so clean after.

2. Exfoliate, but not too much. There are tons of medical exfoliation treatments out there like chemical peels and microdermabrasion that could damage skin in the long run and make it more difficult to regenerate cells. But it is good to remove dead skin, so an exfoliation treatment twice a week will leave skin feeling soft without overworking it. I swear by the Skin by Monica Olsen Refine Deep Penetrating Clay Cleanse and GRAM Skincare Daily Scrub.

3. Use an alcohol-free toner to balance and hydrate skin. Alcohol dehydrates our skin and bodies, so why should we rub it all over our faces? Ditch your old toner and get something soothing and non-irritating like the Borghese Effetto Immediato Spa Soothing Tonic for Sensitive Skin. Gently massage it into your skin twice a day with a cotton pad to hydrate your skin. You can also spritz it on your face throughout the day as a cool, calming refresher.

4. Moisturize your skin and protect it from the sun. The sun is our skin’s worst enemy, so it is absolutely crucial to slather on a moisturizer with SPF before you step out of your house. It’s best to use SPF 25 or higher, so Murad Essential-C Day Moisturizer SPF 30 is a good bet.

5. Take off your eye makeup before washing your face. Leaving mascara on your lashes only to flake of into your precious and delicate eyes can cause serious irritation and even infection. Again, alcohol is the enemy, so choose wisely. Sephora Collection Eye Makeup Removing Pads are hassle-free and moisturize lashes in the process.

6. Purifying masks feel great and work wonders on stressed skin. Masks can be tricky because if used too much, they can stress the skin out, making it too dry. But learning to detect when your skin needs a detoxifying treatment can move mountains. By eliminating dead skin cells and drawing out impurities, our skin has the energy to generate new cells and create a flawlessly fresh face. REN Multi Mineral Detoxifying Facial Mask keeps skin toned and decongested.

7. Eye treatments are beneficial to people of all ages. Just because you’re young and spry doesn’t mean you should neglect the most delicate skin on your face. There are hundreds of eye treatments out there to remedy everything from dark circles to wrinkles. Elizabeth Grant makes a dynamic eye treatment duo call The Socializer. Bright Lights helps to erase last night’s party: one swoop of the pen is cooling, soothing and hydrating, helping to get rid of puffiness and dark circles. Apply Late Nights before bed to look refreshed and awake in the morning, even if you’re running on four hours of sleep.

8. A good moisturizer will get you through the night. We are supposed to start the day with a tall glass of water because sleeping dehydrates the body.  Boscia Oil-Free Nightly Hydration provides weightless, 8-hour hydration for the skin while combating excess oil. Especially if you are prone to breakouts, this is an excellent cream. For ultra-dry skin, Boscia Restorative Night Moisture Cream is a great product.

Soft, flawless skin takes work, dedication and a few really great products. But once you get going with a routine, it is hard to break after seeing the results. What are your favorite skincare brands and products?

Since “many ordinary Russians regard beer as a soft drink,” consumption of the brew has tripled in the past 15 years. The Russian government estimates that the average Russian consumes 32 pints of pure alcohol a year, which is more than double the recommended maximum of the World Health Organization.

Awesome.

But now, with the population dwindling and President Dmitry Medvedev claiming the country’s drinking is a “national disaster,” Russia is now classifying beer as an alcoholic beverage.

I often thought, much like the Irish, that “alcoholism” was never seen as a problem for the Russians so much as a source of national pride. What disheartening news to wake up drunk to. Next thing you know they’ll start classifying Naomi Campbell as a national disaster just like the rest of the world. The times they are a-changin’.

Link Love: The Daily Telegraph

Photo: English Russia (I literally Googled “drunk Russian” and this came up. Awesome x 2)

Lindsay offered the following Tweet: “The reports i was at teddys are inaccurate…I was just at roosevelt to meet Samantha and say happy birthday to a friend. i take my sobriety seriously. please dont believe this accusations. i know the rules and i wouldnt risk probation. xoxo L”

Holy Santa Claus! Could Lindsay be serious about her probation this time?

Link Love: PH

1. Four Loko

What is it? Four Loko, also known as Blackout In A Can, is a caffeinated, alcoholic, malt beverage that has recently been banned in multiple states after it caused a Central Washington University student to have a heart attack.

2. K2

What is it? K2 was a popular and legal synthetic form of marijuana until it was banned in 2010 as more and more K2 users were admitted into hospitals for nasty side effects

3. Darvocet

What is it? Darvocet was a popular painkiller used by 10 million Americans and was banned in 2010 due to increasing reports of deaths that resulted from heart-related side effects.

4. Mephedrone

What is it? This popular party drug also known as “meow meow” was sold throughout the U.K. and Europe over the Internet, posing as bath salts and plant food. It was eventually banned in 2010 when police caught on as “meph” related deaths began to spread.

5. Meridia

What is it? A weight loss drug whose users most likely believed it was a quick fix to get healthy. It was finally banned in 2010 when it was found to exacerbate heart conditions and actually encouraged the heart to have a stroke or a heart attack.

LINK LOVE: BuzzFeed

What: BRULEE Lingerie & Loungewear Holiday Shopping Event Hosted by Fresh Union Sq.

When: Thursday, December 9th, 6-8pm

Where: Fresh Union Square, 872 Broadway (corner of Broadway and 18th St)

Accepted Payment Methods: cash & credit – Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX

The goods: BRULEE Fall 2010 Collection up to 60% off at $20.00 – 100.00 (down from $36.00 – $220.00).  Items at the event include:

• Noir Babydoll: was $150.00, now $35.00
• Boudoir Camisole: was $104.00, now $40.00
• Boudoir Slip: was $168.00, now $50.00
• Boudoir Teddy: was $140.00, now $60.00

Web: www.brulee.net
Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BruleeLingerie
Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Brulee/453842090706?ref=ts

In lieu of Albert Hammond Jr’s entrance into rehab, model girlfriend Agyness Deyn has given up drinking alcohol. Deyn was spotted ordering water instead of consuming the plethora of alcoholic beverages at an event this week. Talk about a support system!

Thanks Sassybella!