Your skin repairs itself at night, so it’s important to take advantage of those precious eight hours and ensure you wake up radiant. Follow these beauty tips to make the most of your nighttime skincare regimen.
Off with Your Makeup
Always, always, always cleanse. We know it’s tempting to fall into bed with a face full of makeup, but this habit will leave you blemished and blotchy. Cosmetics clog pores and cause sebum (naturally-produced oil) build up, which in turn leads to acne, redness, and irritation. Even if you never wear makeup, you’re still not safe—standard dirt and grime from the day have similar pore-clogging effects. Those few minutes at your sink are well worth it—a good routine makes a big difference over time.
Case Changer
Sorry to burst your dreamy bubble but that soft, plushy pillow is a breeding ground for bacteria, so as you’re drifting off, creepy micro-critters are closing in. Think about it: Every night all of the oil, product, and grime on your hair and face gets deposited straight onto your pillowcase. An easy way to stay fresh-faced? Change it at least once a week. Sure, you’ll add to your laundry bill, but the results are priceless.
Marvelous Moisturizer
It’s important to customize your skincare routine to your unique skin type, but all mugs must have moisturizer. Even if your face is oily, it’s important that your cells stay hydrated—try something lightweight and noncomedogenic. Pay attention to how your skin reacts to different products and choose something that looks and feels great. At nighttime, pores open and your skin becomes more permeable to products, making them do double duty, so it’s important to exploit these valuable beauty-rich hours.
Prop it Up
When it comes to fostering fabulous skin, it’s best to stay away from salty foods and alcohol, but let’s get real—after everything you do every day, don’t you deserve a drink? Luckily, all is not lost after a happy hour-turned-evening of heavy margarita and tortilla chip consumption. There is a tried and true technique to help save your skin: Sleep with your head elevated to help drain fluids and keep your face from looking puffy in the morning. Using two pillows should do the trick and no one will know what you were up to last night.
Take Your Time
Don’t slather on your bedtime products right before bed—all that costly cream will simply rub off on your pillow. Make sure you allow ample time between application and crawling between the sheets to allow your skin to absorb the products and let them start working. When planning your routine, allot for at least twenty minutes.
Get Misty
Sleeping in a room with a working humidifier is a wonderful way to keep your skin well hydrated, particularly throughout the winter. Raising the humidity levels will keep your face flush with moisture.
Sound Sleep
Beauty rest isn’t a myth. The most important thing you can do for a fresh face is to get plenty of restful sleep. As you slumber, your body is working hard to undo the damage of the day and plump up your skin cells to make you look bright and young. When operating on too little sleep, stress hormone levels spike leading to inflammation and irritation. We know, we know! It’s not easy for moms to get ample rest, but sneak in all the zzz’s you can—you face will thank you.
