Beauty sleep is the stuff dreams are made of. The idea of waking up glowing with flowing locks with no more effort than counting a few sheep before you drift off is pretty appealing. But unfortunately, for most of my life, the idea of beauty sleep seemed too good to be true, and anyone who has woken up with pillow creases on their face and bedhead probably feel the same as I do.
Over the years, I’ve found the trick to actual beauty sleep — aside from the obvious advice to get shut eye to avoid dark circles — is in a good skin and hair routine. I’ve found some really effective products that actually work better when you’re sleeping. Who’s ready to hit the hay?
Skin Savers
Just like how your body needs a little R&R at night, so does your skin. Between 11pm and 4am, cell production can double, and if you’re in a deep sleep, you could see cell turnover increase by three times between the hours of 2am and 4pm. This means products that are designed to speed up skin healing — think exfoliating and brightening – work even better at night than they do in the day, (not to mention many of the stronger skincare products designed to fight acne, discoloration, and uneven texture can be too harsh to use during the day when your skin is exposed to sunscreen).
This duo works while you sleep to refine skin texture and tone, while moisturizing to help you gain a legit I-woke-up-like-this glow. The serum resurfaces skin by gently dissolving dead skin cells, and boosts skin’s natural collagen production thanks to its main ingredient: glycolic acid. The facial oil not only hydrates, but also will give your skin a needed boost of antioxidants.
Afraid of retinol? You have good reason. Retinol is known for being super effective, but also for being harsh and drying on skin — which is why it’s so brilliant that Sunday Riley combined retinol with a super-moisturizing and soothing facial oil.
This stick formula could not be easier to use, especially while traveling. One swipe of this solid formula over skin will help lift and loosen dead skin cells and purge pores of impurities to improve clarity, tone, and texture. But wait, there’s more — the addition of antioxidant-rich Jeju Blossom Extract protects against environmental damage.
Source: @kristenp1
Glow Get It
Wind, indoor heaters, air conditioners, traveling, pollution — the list of what can make your skin dry goes on. Sure, your skin produces sebum in order to fight dryness, but even less is produced at night — meaning you’re at the highest risk of drying out your skin while you sleep. At night, you don’t have a protective layer of natural oils on your skin, and as a result you lose water from the skin. This is where super-moisturizing creams, oils, and masks come to the rescue.
If you’re looking for some help in the anti-aging department, then this luxurious mask is for you. Grown Alchemist’s sleep range is designed to take advantage of the body’s circadian rhythm. Gotta love science-backed skincare.
If you’re not ready for one of those 12-step Korean skincare routines, then try this multitasking night treatment that feeds skin with super fruits, gently resurfaces with fruit enzymes, and hydrates with a blend of exotic butters and hyaluronic acid.
Source: Mane Interest
Hair Repair
Unlike your skin, hair doesn’t heal itself on it’s own. In fact, it can’t heal at all, since there are no live cells in your hair. But, you can take some steps while sleeping to help mask some of the symptoms of damage. In fact you can wake up with smoother, cleaner-looking hair with minimal effort.
This overnight hair treatment is designed to nourish your hair's texture and to soften its appearance through moisture and smoothing dimethicone. The formula also strengthens hair to help you avoid breakage.
This overnight repairing formula helps restore your hair's smoothness, softness, and shine while you sleep. Don’t worry, it won’t leave any residue on your pillow thanks to it’s weightless, non-sticky formula.
