Swollen Face Solutions｜Same-Day Rescue & Next-Morning Reset Tips

The season when year-end parties, Christmas gatherings, New Year’s celebrations, trips, and homecomings increase—the biggest problem is “the face the next morning.”

It’s precisely on days captured in photos that your jawline looks blurred or your eyes appear heavy.

But puffiness isn’t solely determined by your “constitution.”

How you spend the day and how you care for your face the next morning can make a big difference in how you look. Here, we’ll share some easy-to-follow tips that really work.

1. Main Causes of a Puffy Face After Drinking

Salty foods contain high levels of salt, causing the body to retain water. Alcohol leads to temporary dehydration, followed by the body trying to compensate by retaining fluids. Poor sleep quality reduces circulation, making it easier for fluid to accumulate in the face.

2. Same-Day Rescue｜“Drinkable” Swelling Countermeasures

1) Take a Sip of Water Before Your First Drink

Starting to drink on an empty stomach or while dehydrated makes you more prone to bloating and fatigue.
First, take a few sips of water. That alone can make a difference the next morning.

2) The golden ratio for drinking: “1 part alcohol : 1 part water”

It’s okay if you can’t follow it perfectly.
Just being mindful of it will reduce the fluctuation in your swelling.

3) Order “Protein + Potassium” as Your Ally

• Protein: Sashimi, grilled fish, tofu, chicken, eggs
• Potassium (helps balance excess salt): Edamame, seaweed, mushrooms, vegetables, fruit (within what you can eat)

It’s not that ramen for dessert is inherently bad.
It just tends to deliver the “bill for water retention” the next morning.

4) After getting home, choose “warm and relax” over a “hot bath”

Long soaks in hot water often lead to dryness, redness, and fatigue.
We recommend a lukewarm, shorter bath + warming your neck and shoulders.

5) Don’t massage your face. Instead, “open your collarbones”

On days when your face is puffy, rubbing it too hard can cause redness from friction and make it more prone to dullness the next day. If you must do it, focus on the “exit points, not the face.”

• Gently stroke the area above your collarbone
• Slowly rotate your neck
• Move your shoulder blades (stretch your back)

3. Next Morning Reset | “Reset to Photo” 5-Minute Routine

1) Upon waking, drink one glass of warm water or room-temperature water

On days when you feel bloated, your body is less efficient at managing fluids.
Start by gently rebalancing.

2) Don’t Over-Clean During Cleansing

Stripping away sebum during morning cleansing leads to dryness → dull appearance → a tired-looking face.
Use lukewarm water primarily, opting for low-irritation products if needed.

3) Gentle Hot-Cold Switch

• Apply a steamed towel for 10-20 seconds
• Followed by a cold towel for a few seconds

Avoid excessive cooling or ice. Those with sensitive skin can skip the ice and go straight from warm to room temperature.

4) For “Eye Area → Facial Contour”: Focus on “Creating Flow” Rather Than Lifting

The direction of movement should be gentle, not just upward, but toward the
area in front of the ear → neck → collarbone.

※ Pain or redness is a sign you’re overdoing it.

5) Restore with “Luster” in Your Makeup

On days when puffiness makes contours less defined, adding light is more elegant than tightening.

• Apply highlighter lightly on the highest point of your cheekbones
• Apply blush slightly higher up, avoiding spreading it horizontally
• Apply shading along the jawline lightly (heavy shading can make you look tired)

4. For Days When You Want to Transform a Puffy Face Back to Your Professional Self

On days with unavoidable commitments, self-care alone might not be enough.
At our clinic, we can discuss approaches tailored to your skin condition and goals for the day, such as the following.

• Moist Drainage:
  Improves circulation from the face to the neck and décolleté while simultaneously hydrating. This treatment is ideal for days when puffiness and dullness appear together.
• Electroporation:
  An option to build a “glow foundation” on days when dryness makes skin appear rough. Ideal for those seeking refinement without increased friction.
• Beauty IV Drips (Fatigue Recovery, Whitening, Glutathione, etc.):
  For those feeling “exhausted and unable to recover” during the year-end party season. Provides a boost when skin condition is slow to improve.

It’s rarely just “puffiness” alone; it usually comes as a set of puffiness + dryness + dullness.
Choosing only what you need that day is the most natural and fastest approach.