Appearance. Does alcohol affect the way we look?

The secret to eternal youth is ever-promised by countless beauty products and millions of pounds are invested every year by people chasing just that. Beauty marketers reel in those desperate to delay the ageing process with miracle guarantees from getting rid of wrinkles to fixing under eye bags. Not only that, we can now book in for botox as easily as we can a hair appointment, which is also becoming increasingly popular. If only such effort could be devoted to using the non-miracle solution for boosting our appearance.

Healthy inside and out

Most people understand that getting your five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and not drinking too much are the real secrets to looking and feeling great. But, with most of us not having the time to lead the healthy lifestyle we would like and over 90% of the population regularly enjoying a drink - it's understandable that we seek miracle solutions.

Jessica, a 38 year old mum is familiar with this feeling; "I try to be as healthy as possible by putting good food on the table and doing activities with my daughter but I also like my wine. Recently, I haven't been sleeping very well and my doctor has suggested cutting back on my alcohol intake. But, it's my guilty pleasure and I can't see me stopping anytime soon".

Alcohol is calorific – a 175ml glass of white wine actually has the same number of calories as a packet of crisps and a pint of cider contains the same as a slice of cake.

The effects of alcohol

When we are asleep our bodies and our skin get to work, repairing the damage of the day - hence the phrase beauty sleep. Drinking alcohol however interrupts a good night's sleep and that combined with a bad hangover, usually means not looking your best the next day. What's more, alcohol is calorific - a 175ml glass of white wine actually has the same number of calories as a packet of crisps and a pint of cider contains the same as a slice of cake. Over-indulging can therefore also mean piling on the pounds.

Jessica continues: "I've noticed a big difference in my skin and hair in recent years and it's far worse after a night out. It's also harder to shift the excess weight these days too. I'm a lot heavier than I was five years ago and I obsess about the bags under my eyes, which look terrible when I'm hungover. This means I'm always spending money on diet fads or lotions and potions to try and fix things. You can even buy make-up which promises to 'hide the signs' of a night out – if only!"