Zachary David Palmer

Post-Pride Recovery Guide
By Zachary Palmer

Whether you’re relaxing out on the Island or had to schlep through that week-long hangover in the city, here’s a Pride Flag spectrum’s worth of solutions and serums to get you back to radiating for the rest of the summer.



Do your face a long-overdue, positive nighttime favor for once with Bare Escentual's RareMinerals Skin Revival Treatment. Composed of 72 organic macro and micro minerals in a rare, 100% pure organic mineral soil concentrate, the powder delivers firmer, smoother, brighter and healthier skin by morning. Continue the radiance during the day with bareVitamins Skin Rev-er Upper, an invisible multi-vitamin complex designed to be applied under moisterizer that re-energizes and rejuvenates your complexion and smooths out the skin's surface. ($60 and $21 at Sephora; sephora.com)

Despite being popular at hipster costume parties, the zombie look is not a good one. The first cosmetic application based on a surgical discovery, the Talika Eye Therapy Patch contains a patented polymer gel with collagen structure-increasing ceramides-which is another way to say its botanical extracts and essential oils are clinically proven to reduce wrinkles and dark, saggy skin in just one use. And since it's a patch rather than a cream, it's free of preservatives, fragrances and texture-enhancing chemicals-unlike last weekend's party marathon. ($58 with case, $50 refills available at Bigelow; skinstore.com)

Boasting natural flavors, zero sugar, sodium or caffeine (except for the Energize blend), only a few calories and loads of antioxidants, airforce Nutrisoda looks like a soda and works like a spa. Best of all, its eight flavors (Immune, Calm, Focus, Flex, Energize, Radiant, Slender and Renew) mix well with booze for your favorite hair o' the dog treatment. ($3 at the corner deli; nutrisoda.com). Pair it with Russia's SV Silk Vodka and relive last week's Dr. Zhivago-esque go-go dancing. At the 2006 International Review of Spirits tasting competition, the vodka was described as “finishing with a long, sweet cream and mineral fade. Excellent balance, smoothness and length.” Sounds oddly similar to those post-Pride war and whore stories. (svvodka.com)

Pride got you tired? (If not, you weren't trying!) Since a midday nap at your desk is no good, say hello to Yelo. Perfect for a power nap either before or after a power lunch (or before a Hellsea bar crawl), this hyper-modern center features spa-like YeloCabs and YeloChairs to regain sapped energy in 20- and 40-minute intervals. Licensed reflexology therapists optional. ($12–$24; 315 W 57th St, 212-245-8235, yelonyc.com)

A week of raised fists, Jack and Cokes, coke and jacks, and boys named Jack, too, Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer restores even the most partied-out palms. Eucalyptus and vitamins A and E heal cracked hands while moisturizers and conditioners take on calluses, ugly cuticles and damage to elbows, feet and, um, knees. ($14 available at Sephora; getjackblack.com)

After a week of debauchery under the sun, not even a darkened club is going to help hide that sun damage. To fight those sun-caused wrinkles while regenerating skin, Orlane Paris' Anti-Wrinkle Sun Serum neutralizes free radicals and imbues a stimulating firmness not seen since that Pride-night tryst. Whether your day ends at dawn or dusk, it's perfect either before or after exposure. ($135 at Saks Fifth Avenue; orlaneparis.com)

After spending too much time on your feet-or on your back- Mensgroom Sore No More muscle cool down lotion helps sooth the kinks that pulled you out of joint. After a workout (whatever that may mean to you), simply massage the quick-drying gel onto your sore areas and let the menthol, aloe and mannetake mushroom extracts do their work. ($24; mens-groom.com)

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