“That’s it,” you think, “I’m never drinking again.” Head’s pounding, body’s aching and the only way your skin could possibly turn a deeper shade of red is by checking the pictures you’ve been tagged in on Instagram. Whether you were downing it, overdoing it in the sun or simply up all night, a big weekend can destroy you and then require what feels like a week to recover. (Don’t we miss our early twenties?) Post-long weekend, hooking oneself up to a vitamin drip and sleeping for a few days may seem like the solution, but generally isn’t an option (work, responsibilities, life). That’s why we called the experts in skin, hair, body and wellness to help us cut down the healing process to seven simple steps.

So, you’ve been bounding around all weekend, free-spirited and spritely. The trouble is, you forgot your SPF; no judgement, it happens, but now you look like Dr Alex George a week into Love Island (if you don’t get that reference, good for you). Essentially, you’ve been burnt.

“Sunburn is basically a radiation burn to the skin from the UV rays of the sun, and is one of the primary causes of skin damage, ageing and pigmentation,” says skincare specialist, Dr David Jack. “You can generally treat it via a cooling, soothing or antiseptic cream. Ingredients such as vitamin C, retinol and acids should all be avoided in favour of vitamin E and other calming ingredients.”

Look out for natural healers including aloe vera, chamomile or green tea as well as most botanical oils (particularly sweet almond and sea buckthorn). Several synthetic ingredients also have very strong barrier-restoration properties, look for niacinamide, panthenol and allantoin.

Is there anything worse than walking into work with flushed skin and blood-shot eyes, alerting your colleagues to your debauchery before you’ve even opened your mouth? Good news, with the right products and a touch of concealer (don’t knock it!), you can look as fresh as a daisy. “Alcohol has a number of effects on the skin in the short term, including dehydration and outbreaks,” says Dr Jack. “In the long term the effects include reduced collagen levels, increased redness and dilated capillaries.” To combat any clogged pores, opt for a classic clay or charcoal mask and anything with salicylic acid. The BHA (beta hydroxy acid) will help soften any excess sebum and the mask will draw the impurities out. To sooth redness and regulate sebum production, facial oils can also be wonderfully reviving while tricking the skin into not producing any more oil. Gently pat it in after a good serum and you’ll look as if you’ve been at the Viva Mayr all weekend instead. If you are dealing with dilated capillaries, an IPL (intense pulse light) treatment is your new best friend. Dr Jack offers a Lumecca™ IPL Therapy at his clinic on Harley Street, which will zap away any visible veins or pigmentation for a crystal-clear complexion from £250.

“Along with your skin, UVA and UVB rays can damage your hair – both strand and scalp,” says hairstylist Mr Jordan Garrett. “Hair protein, called keratin, degrades with sun exposure just like collagen in the skin, leaving it much weaker. This can manifest in discolouration, dry strands and even thinning.” So, make sure you wear a hat and go for a nourishing mask to replenish any damaged minerals after you’ve had your fun.

If you’ve had a weekend of sand and sea, a good wash is also essential. “Chlorine needs to be washed off as soon as you step out the pool because it can strip the hair of natural oils, while saltwater draws out moisture and creates a dry, crusty residue in your scalp,” says Mr Garrett. “A really great shampoo with hydration properties would be ideal, followed by a leave-in cream.” Treat your crown just like your face, with a faithful routine to keep it in good nick.

If you’ve been knocking back mojitos all weekend, your gut has probably taken as much of a beating as your skin. Luckily, we live in the era of Goop, where you can pop a pill (natural, of course) for any ailment. “With longer-term alcohol use, it’s important to take a good probiotic supplement to maintain the integrity of the gut microbiome,” says Dr Jack. “This is not only important for the skin but for other organ systems, too.”

Alcohol can also leave you dehydrated and mineral deficient. (Starting to think alcohol might not be very good for you…) “Alcohol is a diuretic, so replacing lost electrolytes is fairly vital,” says Mr Mike Tanner, Bodyism’s head of learning and development. “Bodyism’s Body Brilliance supplement is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients formulated to sooth and aid your gut.” It’s hardly new information, but you’ll feel a hell of a lot better if you substitute that post-drinking fast-food binge with a few supplements and a shake. They help to rehydrate, nourish and reset the body. Bottoms up!

The idea of having to exercise while hungover is enough to prevent an indulgent weekend altogether. The reality of having to exercise hungover, however, can be really beneficial – provided you drink your body weight in water beforehand.

“Alcohol can reduce muscle protein synthesis, which isn’t good for muscle growth,” says Mr Tanner. “It can lower performance and endurance, impair recovery, and cause weakness, pain and cramps. The trick is to rehydrate sufficiently and engage in lower intensity exercise that gets you moving through your full range of motion. Sweating can really accelerate the detoxing process.”

But don’t just hit it and quit it with a gym session – visit the spa. “Massages can be great,” continues Mr Tanner. “It helps toxins get pushed out of the muscles and into the bloodstream where they can move on to our detoxifying organs more quickly. A sauna, infrared chamber and steam would increase the body temperature and therefore force out sweat, so assuming you keep hydrating, this would help.”

So, we’ve soothed the sunburn, calmed the complexion, nourished the gut and sweated it out. It’s time to cleanse.

“A bath is a really great way to calm inflammation in the body,” says Dr Sepp Fegerl, medical director of wellness haven Viva Mayr. “Ensure it is not too hot and add a small cup of bicarbonate soda and Epsom salts into the water. This is cheap and simple yet pulls acidity and provides magnesium, one of the body’s most necessary minerals.” Baths can be a really meditative experience, so try for a little mindfulness or simply set goals for the days ahead. Many of these physical practises are often just as much about the emotional, mental and even spiritual benefits, too. Amp up the positive vibes by adding a bath oil and inhaling the healing aromatherapy.

“Follow your bath with some dry brushing [like it sounds, run a dry, bristly brush over your sorry self], which is an excellent way to expel even more toxins,” continues Dr Fergel. “The process is ideal for increasing the blood circulation and with it the oxygenation in tissue and the lymphatic drainage.”

Time for some actual sleep. But if you want to wake up rested, refreshed and ready to tackle work you’ve got to be aware of your sleep environment. Switch off your devices (the presence of blue light can prevent deep sleep) and, before you jump into bed, apply on an overnight face mask as your skin does all its hard, regenerating work in the wee hours.

This is also a perfect time to familiarise yourself with the sleep accessories brand Slip. The label offers silk pillowcases and eye masks, which are so soft you almost sigh into them. When you wake (sans sunlight ruining your kip thanks to the eye mask), you get none of that frizzy hair or irritated skin that can come from coarser fabrics. Total bliss.