Beauty sleep is essential, but what you dobefore you hit the hay makes a significant difference in your complexion, too.
It seems that all the beauty gurus andinfluencers have plenty of recommendations from their night-time skincareroutine. But often, these routines are packed full of steps, making it seemlike prepping your skin before bed must be majorly time-consuming orcomplicated.
But believe it or not, your night-timebeauty routine doesn’t have to be that difficult.
To make it simple for everyone, here areour quick tips on how to prep your skin before you snooze. Follow our advice,and your skin will be smoother and brighter by the time your alarm startsbuzzing.
Double Cleanse
One wash of the face before bedtime simplydoesn’t suffice anymore, especially if you wear makeup during the day.
By double cleansing your skin, you ensurethat all your makeup and any lingering impurities and debris from the daywashes away before you cuddle up in bed.
You may opt for an oil-based cleanser todissolve makeup and purities well. Then, your second wash should involve a moretraditional cleanser that removes any remaining oil and makeup withoutstripping the complexion of its natural moisture.
An excellent option for the second cleanseis the Murad Essential C Cleanser. Packed with vitamins, the energizing formula washesaway impurities without over-drying the skin.
Vitamin A conditions the skin, vitamin Cdefends against skin damage, and vitamin E treats dryness and nourishes thecomplexion. Allantoin and panthenol also help soften and moisturize the skin.
Remove Dead Skin
Is your skin looking rather dull andlackluster? The chances are dead skin cells are responsible.
Our skin cells shed naturally every 28days, but sometimes they linger, collecting on your skin and causing an uneventexture. Yuck.
Slough away these unwanted dead skin cellsby exfoliating your skin with an alpha-hydroxy acid-based cleanser at leasttwice a week. The acids in these types of cleansers penetrate deep into yourskin’s layers, breaking the bonds between dead skin cells and loosening them.
If you’re double cleansing, you can use oneof these cleansers in your second step twice a week.
Prone to breakouts? Reach for a cleansercontaining salicylic acid, which reduces acne by targeting excess oil.
Moisturize
Hydrators plump the skin, reducing theappearance of fine lines and delivering a smoother appearance. Plus, theysoothe and comfort your skin after exfoliation.
Before bedtime, always apply a moisturizerto your skin, such as a hydrating night cream or oil.
We’re big fans of the DermalogicaSound Sleep Cocoon cream, a treatment gel cream that works wonders on the skinas you snooze. The revitalizing formula contains tamarind seed extract forsofter, hydrated skin. Encapsulated, motion-activated French Lavender EssentialWood encourages a deeper, more restful sleep so you can clock those beautysleep hours in.
Other skin-loving ingredients in the creaminclude Persian silk tree extract to reduce signs of skin fatigue and restorevitality and wu-zhu-yu extract to brighten and radiate the complexion.
Use a Satin Pillowcase
Unlike cotton options, satin pillowcasesdon’t retain moisture. Invest in a satin pillowcase, and all the night-timeproducts you’ve so carefully chosen to use on your skin, along with your skin’snatural moisture, won’t soak into the fabric.
the DefenAge 100% Natural Mulberry Silk Pillowcase brings a luxurious sleep experience with natural mulberry silk, no toxic dyes, and an easy zipper closure.
Sleep On Your Back
If you typically sleep on your stomach orside, your pillows and sheets can leave some annoying indentations on yourcheeks when you rise in the morning.
Even worse, applying pressure on your faceevery night can contribute to wrinkles. For example, if you always sleep on theleft side of your face, this side may develop more wrinkles than the other.
If you can, try sleeping on your back toavoid creases on your face. Bonus – sleeping on your back also props your headup, preventing fluids from pooling under your eyes and leading to thedevelopment of unwanted bags.
For extra help fighting under-eyepuffiness, apply a caffeine-laced eye cream around your eyes before crawlinginto bed.
Get Enough Sleep
One of the most important tips on this listis getting enough sleep so your skin can repair and rejuvenate. The concept ofbeauty sleep is real – while you’re asleep, your skin is working hard to healitself and recover.
During your deepest sleep, your body createsgrowth hormones that help repair sun damage and wear and tear from the day’sactivities. Always put the time aside for plenty of rest and try to avoid binge-watchingthat latest Netflix series into the night.
