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4 ways to rehab after a gluttonous weekend at the cottage

Published: August 28, 2018 Updated: June 21, 2022
The experts at Pacific Dermaesthetics in Vancouver suggest products containing glycerin (it draws water into the epidermis), cucumber extract, and aloe vera for parched, over-sunned skin. Avoid anything with petroleum—this can trap heat in your skin— or ingredients that end in “-caine” (lidocaine, benzocaine). They can irritate your skin. Of course, the best plan is to avoid getting burnt in the first place. Photo by Shutterstock/ Suzanne Tucker
A Skin Fix

You can only scarf so many handfuls of cheese popcorn before your gut reb- els. Hit up the local farmers’ market— it’s cottage country, those things are all over the place— and bring on those nutrient-dense, water and fibre rich fruits and veggies. Good options: scrambled eggs with sautéed veggies for breakfast and Greek-style quinoa salad with celery, tomatoes, and cucumbers for lunch. Photo by Shutterstock/ Kosobu
Eating Nutrients

When you feel blech, “sometimes doing the last thing you want to do is the answer,” says Janet Perry, a cottager and a Calgary-based nutritionist. “In this case, exercise.” Also incredibly helpful? Sleep. The lake is somewhere you might actually get the elusive eight hours: “I know I sleep like a baby at the cottage from all that beautiful fresh air.” Heck, why not stay another night? Photo by Shutterstock/ Cindy Hughes
Activity

Alcohol—especially combined with the sun—dehydrates the ever-loving hell out of you. Something like coconut water can help to replenish any electrolytes you’ve lost, but “plain old water will do the trick,” says Perry. Don’t chug caffeine—this will dehydrate you further, says Perry, who admits that in her twenties, Diet Coke was the go-to after a party weekend with the girls. “We could have saved ourselves a lot of trouble if we’d just drank water.” Photo by Shutterstock/ MariaNikiforova
Hydration

Planning a girls’ weekend at the cottage? A boys’ weekend? Any weekend involving any drinking-age adults? Here’s what you’ll need by Day 3, to counteract the effects of your favourite frenemies: excess booze, junk food, sun, and sloth.

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