Bad hair days are one thing, but add a bad face day to the mix and you’ve probably got an almighty hangover on your hands.

Tis the season to be merry, and you don’t have to be especially badly behaved for the party season to take its toll on your skin. The odd late night here, one too many cocktails there, and your complexion can end up looking like it’s been through the festive ringer.

Thankfully, beauty saviours are available to provide some emergency relief the morning-after-the-night-before. When party hangovers strike, follow these tricks to camouflage the evidence.

And if all else fails just put on your brightest lipstick and tough it out... you probably won’t be the only one feeling the worst for wear.

EYE ELIXIR
Fight the signs of fatigue - dark circles and eye bags - by taking action before your head hits the pillow.

“When you finally crawl into bed, prop yourself up with an extra pillow to avoid puffy eyes in the morning –- sleeping slightly elevated helps to drain excess fluid out of the face,” advises Jill Zander, founder of the Jill Zander Skin Rejuvenation Clinic.

If one too many tipples means you forget the pillow plumping, invest in a de-puffing eye cream for a morning miracle.

“Look for one that deals with dark under-eye circles,” Zander suggests. “For bloodshot eyes, prepare two camomile teabags wet and refrigerated, or have a trusty chilled teaspoon on standby. When you wake up, hit the snooze button for five minutes and let these quick-fixes de-puff your telltale party baggage.”

For those not familiar with the refrigerated teabag or spoon methods, simply lie back and pop the bags onto closed eyelids, or hold the rounded side of the spoon gently over the area, and let them work their magic.

COMPLEXION CURE
The less sleep we get, the less time our skin cells have to repair and regenerate. The more alcohol you drink, the more likely your skin will be zapped of hydration. The result? Dull, dry and lacklustre skin meltdown.If you’ve woken up to a painkiller breakfast and dull reflection, cheat a brighter looking face with a morning scrub.

“Gentle exfoliation can really perk up a post-party complexion, leaving it looking plump and fresh,” says Caroline Frazer, Simple skincare expert.

“Next, slather on moisturiser while skin is still damp, as this helps lock in much-needed moisture.”

Keep a water misting spray in your handbag to pep up dehydrated skin throughout the day, which will act like an energy drink for your face and instantly refresh when hangover slumps kick in.

REDNESS RELIEF
Leave the rosy cheeks to Santa and the red nose to Rudolph this festive season.

“Alcohol makes skin look red or flushed, and regular consumption can permanently enlarge small peripheral veins, causing thread veins,” explains Tamra Compton, global education director at Pur Minerals.

“A colour correcting primer can help instantly brighten the skin’s appearance, while offsetting the look of redness from breakouts, sensitivity or irritation.”

Smokers and party hoppers beware, as you may be especially prone to redness - if you frequently go from inside to outside during the night, temperature extremes can cause skin vessels to contract causing red flare-ups.

MORNING AFTER GLOW
No need to hide under your Santa hat when the party season peak gets too much. Jill Zander has these reviving cheats:

* Supercharge your body when you wake up with a cold-hot-cold shower. Keep a pair of exfoliating mitts in the shower at the ready to get your circulation going, exfoliate away dullness, and make you feel more awake.

* Help bring your skin back to life by massaging your face using your fingertips. Apply moisturiser in firm circular motions to help stimulate blood flow and give your skin a rosy glow.

* Apply a radiance booster over your regular moisturiser to work wonders on hungover skin and make you look fresher.

* Avoid piling on make-up and don't apply eyeliner or mascara to lower eyelashes as this will draw attention downward instead of up.

* Your post-party best friend will be a good under-eye concealer, especially one with light reflective particles to help scatter light and minimise the appearance of dark circles.