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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think booze wrecks your face

150 replies

Everythingnotsaved · 04/08/2020 18:42

I normally have a booze break of 6 months every year- during that time I regain my skin and my jawline which at 47 is no mean feat.

I’m on summer hols at the moment & have been drinking for 2 weeks and I look bloated, fat, jowley and awful. I feel so crap about myself & look 10 years older.

Aibu to think as you get older, even small amounts of booze have a huge effect?

OP posts:
Original poster
Everythingnotsaved · 04/08/2020 19:20

I think I am one of those people that only has to look at booze and I put on puffy weight. After 6 months off I look like a different glowing younger version of myself so I guess the answer is clear 😬

OP posts:
Illdealwithitinaminute · 04/08/2020 19:24

I have a friend who drank most evenings, socially, with her husband. Her skin looked coarse and not that great but I didn't think anything of it, she's a lovely person and I just assumed that's how she was. She lost weight and gave up drinking, and the difference in her skin tone is unbelievable, she looks 45 now, and her skin is so smooth and lovely. It really was a big change.

I don't drink anyway, so I can't perform this magic trick on myself and stun everyone, unfortunately!

DDIJ · 04/08/2020 19:25

This reply has been withdrawn

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Coldemort · 04/08/2020 19:27

I'm not convinced. I drink far too much but I dont think it shows on my face, but then I'm 39 and pretty much only drink red wine. Does what you drink make a difference?
I also have a friend who'd early 30's and drinks like a fish who's a beautiful size 6....
Maybe time will tell....
(Personally I think sun ages you more. I can always pick out the sun worshippers. Luckily throughout my 20s I was too poor for a garden or holidays!)

BillieEilish · 04/08/2020 19:30

I think it's both booze and quality of food.

I drink a lot (far too much) but eat a very, very healthy diet (live in Med) fish, enormous amounts of veg and few carbs.

like a PP I am disappointed when I take a significant time off the booze... I really don't look that different.

In fact sometimes the puff helps the lines Grin

If I eat ready meals/junk/sugar/don't eat etc I look terrible. Really awful.

CLCB07 · 04/08/2020 19:30

Booze really messes up my sleep patterns. I feel crap the next day if I drink too much, my face looks flushed.

Flowers009 · 04/08/2020 19:33

The next day you need to drink gallons of water

BobFleming · 04/08/2020 19:36

I always do at least 2 months a year off booze.

It makes no difference to my skin whatsoever. Maybe I don't drink enough to notice the difference.

Craftycorvid · 04/08/2020 19:36

I stopped drinking a couple of years ago and it took some time but eventually my face lost it’s bloated look and I even lost some weight. For me at least, I’d reached the age of no longer being able to get away with it. And now I’m sensitive to caffeine too - I see a future involving mung beans and herb tea at this rate Shock

ChangeOfNameNeeded07 · 04/08/2020 19:37

Absolutely. You can always see who has drinking problem from their face. Especially, women.

Thefab3 · 04/08/2020 19:39

I love running but more a few 5k a week type of person..
I have to say that in the running club I went to the marathon enthusiasts could also have been mistaken for heavy drinker/smokers....Obviously they are way healthier but honestly a lot of them just didn’t look it.

Thefab3 · 04/08/2020 19:41

I’m 35 and anymore than one drink and I can’t sleep properly. After years of sleep deprivation with dcs (also very , very aging) it’s just too precious to mess up.

Mintychoc1 · 04/08/2020 19:42

OP if you look and feel better when you’re not drinking, and you’re trying to “get through” August while drinking, why not just stop?

Thefab3 · 04/08/2020 19:43

Definitely agree with quality of food, loads of fresh fruit and veg makes a huge difference. Also taking cod liver oil always seems to improve my skin.

AntiAuntieAnty · 04/08/2020 19:44

@Thefab3

Definitely agree with quality of food, loads of fresh fruit and veg makes a huge difference. Also taking cod liver oil always seems to improve my skin.
I'm sure I saw a bit on This Morning (so it must be true Wink), which said exactly this^^. If you want to look fresh, eat fresh sort of thing.
scoobydoo1971 · 04/08/2020 19:45

Due to a medical condition I had to give up alcohol about 6 weeks ago. I was drinking about 24-28 units per week mostly to relax and as pain relief. I stopped to start opiate patches for neuropathy (condition related, not a side-effect of alcohol...although it can be for some). Anyway, since then I have saved about £80 per month in alcohol, lost about 12lbs in weight, sleep better and my skin is much better...hydrated and glowing. I feel younger than my true age (49). I know this is a big change because people have commented (who are not aware of my treatment). Alcohol has a way of slowly creeping up on you like a bad habit.

FlyingPandas · 04/08/2020 19:49

I probably drink too much (I love my wine) but like other posters I notice very very little difference if I go a month or two with no booze. I’m late 40s. I do dryanuary and sober October every year and there’s no discernible improvement with how I feel, look or sleep!

I’m sure genetics and also what alcohol you drink plays a part. I have clear skin and no grey hair for example, which is purely genetic (grandparents still had brown hair in their 90s) but makes me look younger. I also only drink white or rose wine, no hard stuff like spirits or cocktails, or bloaty stuff like beer / cider / lager either, no idea if that makes a difference.

Maybe I would see a difference if I stopped drinking wine full stop. But periods of abstinence have no visible effect. I’ll carry on with the months off though because I’m sure it does my liver good even if I can’t see it!

DarkDarkNight · 04/08/2020 19:49

You are right, you can definitely tell a heavy drinker from their complexion. I find sugar shows in my face. Too much junk food and my face looks puffy and bloated.

Abraid2 · 04/08/2020 19:52

@BeforetheFlood

I so want to believe that giving up drinking would be the silver anti-ageing bullet because of all the money I could save, but whenever I've tried it I honestly can't see the difference. (Perhaps haven't persevered for long enough though)

Also, don't French women tend to drink more than British women and still look infuriatingly marvellous?

French women drink moderately. They make a glass last a meal.
MadamBatty · 04/08/2020 19:54

i’m 51, i gave up alcohol in January. Previously I’d drink max 10 units a week.

Friends ask me what have I had ‘done’. It’s not just the alcohol it’s the quality of sleep & sugar.

rosiejaune · 04/08/2020 19:54

Yes, and imagine what it's doing to the inside...

Hopeisnotastrategy · 04/08/2020 19:56

Sorry, but not my experience. We are all different, and heaven knows I have plenty of other physical/ appearance/ medical issues I have to deal with but people often think I am seriously younger then I am.

Life is a lottery in so many ways. Best make the best of whatever you've got and get on with it. 💐

Nosuchluck · 04/08/2020 20:00

I’m not sure , I have 2 groups of friends, one group drink quite a bit, the other are completely tea total. I think the tea total group complexion and amount of wrinkles are worse than the other group. My friends are aged 50-54.

randomer · 04/08/2020 20:04

I have a friend who drinks a huge amount and looks brilliant.

RandallLOVESBeth · 04/08/2020 20:05

I was quite a heavy ‘social drinker’ for years and it was only at about 40 that it started to show in my face. I can clearly see it in photos now - a puffiness and my eyes were a bit piggy.

I haven’t drank in 4 months now - quit for good early in lockdown and no plans to ever start again. It’s knocked years off me! It took about 6 weeks for the effects to start to be noticeable. I’ve lost 8 kilos as well, which helps. But I definitely notice I look much better in the mornings. Getting my jawline back, too 😆