As the festive season comes to a close, you might be looking in the mirror and thinking your skin looks a bit worse for wear. I mean, it can’t just be me, right?

While we might know about the issues eating a box of Celebrations for dinner might cause (hello, breakouts), the reason your skin feels groggy and lacklustre might not be down to your heavy chocolate intake. Instead, it could be the mulled wine over Christmas and champers during New Year celebrations that are actually taking a toll. Dermatologist and brand founder Dr Sam Bunting, explains why doing Dry January might not just benefit your body (and bank account).

You know that feeling when you wake up after a big night out and your skin feels like sandpaper? There’s a reason for that. “Alcohol is a diuretic, so it steals moisture, leaving your skin looking dull, flaky and less plump,” she says.

It’s not only good news for those with dry skin, but if you’re prone to redness or have inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea, quitting the booze can help minimise flare-ups, especially if your go-to is a cocktail. “Sugary mixers drunk with alcohol can drive inflammation, which can worsen conditions like acne, rosacea and eczema,” says Bunting. These mixers over a long period can even speed up the ageing process, she explains, as it can deprive the skin of hydration and impact your skin barrier’s health.

Doing Dry Jan? It has some serious skin benefits, according to this dermatologist