Beauty SOS; Liz Hands on beauty for the morning-after-the-night before.

JUST like budgets, diets and alcohol limits, beauty regimes tend to go out of the window during the party season. Seasonal drinking, dancing and cavorting make for fun times during December but it's our face and body that suffer on those dreaded mornings-after-the-night-before.

Luxurious beautifying mornings are replaced by a hungover scramble for any quick-fix that will leave us looking vaguely human again.

Luckily the beauty world is more than equipped to help us hide night owl habits in a flash. Time to stock up on Alka-Seltzer and an armful of SOS after-party products.

WAKE-UP CALL

The alarm has gone off and crawling to work in your duvet is just not an option. Hit the shower for a reviving wake-up call. Avoid turning the temperature gauge into the red - a lot of moisture evaporates from your skin during a hot shower, making you even more dehydrated.

"Invigorating citrus oils can be very effective at supporting post-party recovery," says Geraldine Howard, founder of Aromatherapy Associates.

"Pink grapefruit and rosemary are particularly good at stimulating the circulation and helping with the removal of toxins."

TRY: Molton Brown Enlivening Toko-Yuzu Bath & Shower Gel, pounds 16 (www.moltonbrown.co.uk); Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil, pounds 30 (www.aromatherapyassociates.com); The Organic Pharmacy Party Girl pack, pounds 63.62 (www.theorganicpharmacy.com).

EYE BAG ALERT

If sleep has become a rare commodity during the party season, your under-eyes might resemble your Christmas shopping bags. But lack of sleep isn't the only cause of dark circles.

"In Chinese medicine dark circles and bags under the eyes are an indication that there is stress on the kidneys, which makes sense after lots of parties and late nights," explains Sally Penford of the International Dermal Institute.

"Look for light diffusing products. These will act like a multitude of tiny microscopic mirrors that deflect the light away from the eye and help disguise dark circles."

TRY: Anatomicals I Will Survive Kit, pounds 10 (www.asos.com); MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, pounds 19.09 (www.maccosmetics.co.uk); Champneys All-In-One Complete Eye Care, pounds 7 (www.champneys.com); Jemma Kidd I-Perfector Prep & Brighten Duo, pounds 18 (www.spacenk.co.uk).

FACE S.O.S

Avoid magnifying mirrors at all costs after a wild night on the tiles - you don't want to see red eyes, blotchy skin and puffy cheeks staring back at you. Ensure your face is make-up free, then begin your fresh-faced disguise.

"Achieving a public-friendly facade is the way to look at it," says David Horne, education director at the Jemma Kidd Make Up School.

"Concealer is going to be your best friend, whether you're backstage at a party or waking up on the hotel floor. You can mix it with your eye cream to make it more hydrating if the skin's dry, put it straight on from the product to get more coverage or even use it as a foundation if you mix it with some moisturiser."

TRY: Soap & Glory Off Your Face cleansing wipes, pounds 3.99 (Boots); Collin Minute Lifting Mask, pounds 30.00 (01767 682288); Dermologica MultiVitamin Power Recovery Masque, pounds 26.80 (0800 591818); The Body Shop Flawless Skin Protection Concealer, pounds 10; YSL Touche Eclat, pounds 23 (01444 255700).

HAIR REPAIR

Woken up with locks like Amy Winehouse after an all-nighter? There's only so far you can go using the 'I'm working the bed-head hair trend' excuse every day at the office.

If your boss is giving you funny looks it's time to put some effort into your crowning glory - minus pricey salon blow dries. "Apply serum through the lengths to add definition and a glossing effect to tired or dull hair," hairdresser Mark Hill recommends.

"A shine serum will not only smooth down unruly morning after hair and reflect shine from the sleek finish, but also nourish deep into the shaft and cuticle."

TRY: Tangle Teezer brush, pounds 9.77 (www.tangleteezer.co.uk); Mark Hill De Frizz Shine Serum, pounds 5.99 (Boots); Toni & Guy Model. Me Erin Quick Fix Dry Shampoo, pounds 5.37 (Boots).

PIN PICK-UP

Agyness Deyn may be supermodel of the moment but the party girl is regularly snapped with her long limbs covered in bruises. If you're prone to bumps and knocks, you may wake up after a night out looking like some rare breed of purple leopard.

Dr Chris Steele, GP from This Morning says: "There isn't anything you can do to prevent bruises, but it is possible to minimise the longevity and appearance of them by using arnica, which has anti-inflammatory properties that help speed up the healing process."

TRY: Nelsons Arnicare Arnica Cooling Gel, pounds 4.65 (www.arnicare.co.uk); Boots Alternatives Bruise Relief, pounds 4.16; Kiwi Smiling Feet Heel Liners, pounds 3.29 (Tesco nationwide).

CAPTION(S):

GET BACK ON TRACK Molton Brown Enlivening Toko-Yuzu Bath & Shower Gel, pounds 16 (www.moltonbrown.co.uk).; WHEN THE PARTY'S OVER Have fun, but don't overdo it when it comes to parties.; DON'T PANIC There's a range of products to help you disguise a hangover.; HEALING POWERS Nelsons Arnicare Arnica Cooling Gel, pounds 4.65 (www.arnicare.co.uk).; CLEAN UP Soap & Glory Off Your Face cleansing wipes, pounds 3.99 (Boots).; BAD HAIR DAY? Mark Hill De Frizz Shine Serum, pounds 5.99 (Boots).; FACE UP TO IT Dermologica MultiVitamin Power Recovery Masque, pounds 26.80 (0800 591818).; COVER- UP The Body Shop Flawless Skin Prote cting Foundation, pounds 14, and Concealer, pounds 10.