Beauty sleep gets a bad rap. Even when you manage to hit the sack early, that first look in the mirror can still make you cringe (#nofilter?). But in truth, beauty sleep isn’t a myth and you can attain it! But you need to put in a little work because as far as quality goes…what you put in is what you get out.
So if you are ready to wake up truly refreshed and well-rested, here are 11 tricks that can help you wake up feeling prettier than the night before.
- Actually DO Your Skincare Regimen. Nighttime is when our bodies naturally repair, replenish and rejuvenate, so make a point to optimize this natural process by removing all the oil, bacteria and makeup clogging up your pores. Cleanse, exfoliate, tone and apply anti-aging serum, and you can help keep your skin looking and feeling young.
- Incorporate a Few Key Ingredients. Adding in some extra ingredients can really add a boost to your beauty routine. Ingredients like glycolic acid, retinol, peptides, red marine algae, and Dermaxyl encourage collagen activity, while soothing ingredients like white tea extract, azulene, and chamomile provide anti-inflammatory relief.
- Strategize Your Sleep Position. Sleeping on your back has the greatest benefit. Your face will not touch the pillow, so no creases will be made. Also, sleeping on a propped up, elevated pillow can help reduce under-eye puffiness by allowing fluid to drain from the face.
- DON’T Squish Yourself Into the Pillow. Sleeping with your face in the pillow encourages wrinkles on your skin. To prevent wrinkles, try using a firm pillow, sleep on the side of your face, and strategically position your head so the lower half of your face never touches it. Otherwise ll exacerbate the nasolabial fold wrinkles that come with age.
- Use a Silk Pillow Case. Not only does it feel super luxurious, but silk provides some extra slip, which can help prevent wrinkle formation and hair breakage.
- Use This Trick to Reduce Puffiness.Step 1: Fill your bathroom sink with cold water and add 15 ice cubes. Step 2: Pour 1/3 of a cup of natural witch hazel (preferably alcohol-free) into the water. Step 3: Submerge your face (don’t just splash) 10 times. Cold temperatures shrink capillaries and stimulate drainage while witch hazel has natural anti-inflammatory, puffiness-reducing properties.
- Adjust Your Routine Seasonally. Switching to a lighter moisturizer or a gel moisturizer can aid in minimizing clogged pores during warmer months, while during the winter, you should focus on skin hydration. Adding a few drops of a skin oil over your night moisturizer in winter will not only provide extra hydration, but also create a protective seal over the skin to prevent moisture evaporation from heaters.
- Invest in a Humidifier. Dry air is no friend to you skin, so turn on a humidifier to help prevent moisture loss in your skin.
- Start the Day With a Blast of Sunlight. UV rays are our biological alarm clock. They help us feel energized and alert. So if you struggle with drowsiness in the morning, rather than battle the snooze button for a few extra minutes of low quality sleep, go look out the window. The rising sun can give you the boost you need to start your day. And speaking of that snooze button…
- It’s Time to Kill It. Trying to get in those extra 10-20 minutes of sleep can actually disrupt your internal clock and ultimately destroy your sleep schedule. If you never get up when the alarm first goes off, then turn off that alarm and set it instead for the time you have to get up.
- And finally…Get PLENTY of Sleep. Lack of sleep causes the skin to look pale and tired because the circulation has been impaired. In addition, sleep deprivation can causes stress, which can aggravate all skin conditions, including acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
Apply these tricks to your nightly routine and you might just find that elusive beauty sleep that can help keep your skin feel young and healthy for years to come.