10 Ways to Take Your Beauty Sleep to a Whole New Level
While you’re enjoying your beauty sleep, your skin is doing its thing, recovering and rehydrating from the day before – so why not give it a helping hand? While getting your eight hours is important, what you do before bed and how you sleep matters just as much to your skin’s health.
Here are 10 nighttime habits to adopt for glowing, healthy skin:
1. Wear your hair up
Keep your hair away from your face while you’re sleeping to keep its natural oils from messing with your complexion. Throw your hair into a loose updo to prevent hair breakage.
2. Wash your face
To avoid clogged pores and breakouts, wash your face every night using a gentle cleanser.
3. Exfoliate
To keep your skin looking fresh and youthful, spend a couple of minutes before bed sloughing off dead skin cells with your fave exfoliator. It’s best to do this before bed not just because it’s rejuvenation time, but you’d end up leaving your recently-exfoliated skin sensitive to the sun and other elements.
4. Moisturize
For glowing skin, moisturize with an anti-aging night cream before you hit the hay – and don’t forget your lips! Apply a moisturizing lip balm for a super soft pout to maximize your beauty sleep benefits.
5. Enjoy a snack before bed
In order for your skin to do its thing properly, it’s best if your sleep is as uninterrupted as possible – meaning, steer clear of your stomach giving you ‘tude in the middle of the night by munching on a sleep-friendly snack beforehand.
6. Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase
Silk pillowcases are great for women like me who love a good side-sleep: The fibers not only keep your hair from getting tangled, but they also soften wrinkles and fine lines by causing less friction between your skin and the pillowcase. (Plus, they feel fantastic!)
7. Switch up your pillowcases often
Shoot for changing your pillowcases once or twice a week to prevent bacteria buildup from striking your skin. On days you’re not changing them, simply flip them over.
8. Sleep on your back
When you sleep on your side, the repeated pressure on your face will eventually lead to set-in wrinkles – and if you have a favorite side, your face will end up looking lopsided in the wrinkle department (womp, womp). Try your best to sleep on your back as much as possible to prevent fine lines and wrinkles before they start.
9. Use extra pillows
If you’re like me and your beauty sleep leads to puffy eyes on the morning, stack a few pillows under your neck to sleep with your head slightly elevated. This will encourage fluid to drain away from your face and eyes.
10. Sleep with a humidifier
Hydration is key for amazing looking skin, and a great way to stay hydrated while you sleep is through setting up a humidifier. They’re especially helpful during the winter when your skin tends to dry out.
How do you make sure to get the most from your beauty sleep?
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Image: Porsche Brosseau
