What happens when we sleep? How can we go to bed feeling fairly radiant (OK, perhaps radiant is the wrong word) and wake up looking older and more haggard? Whilst it would be perfect to get the full 8 hours of restful slumber, sometimes it’s simply not possible. In fact, sometimes it’s more rare than a unicorn sighting.
Our brilliant beauty friends over at Byrdie came up with some simply skin fixers for whilst you sleep, and we could resist sharing them with you. We can’t promise you’re gong to wake up looking like Heidi Klum, or start adding an extra selfie to your Instagram account with the hashtag #iwokeuplikethis, but hey, every little helps…
1.) Invest in an overnight mask
One of the easiest ways to wake up with more radiant, luminous, beautiful skin is to slather on an overnight mask. They're typically heavier than your basic five-minute mask, meaning they pack a serious punch against dry skin—and your skin gets to reap the benefits all night long
2.) Silk pillowcases
No, not just for princesses.
Planting yourself face first into your cotton pillowcase can cause wrinkles. Not to mention, you probably wake up with crease marks on your face—the preview of wrinkles to come. The solution? Switch to a silk pillowcase; while it may seem like a luxury, it won't cause those annoying face creases, and it also won't suck up that fancy overnight mask you just put on (silk is less absorbent than cotton).
3.) Steal an extra pillow
If you sleep on your side or stomach, you likely wake up with puffy dark circles under your eyes. That's because these positions allow fluid to pool up around your eye area. The fix? Sleep on your back, and add an extra pillow to keep your head slightly elevated to prevent puffiness-inducing fluids from accumulating. If your other half complains, then simply tell him how much prettier you’re sure to look in the morning!
4.) Choose a cream with added Vitamin C
Surprisingly, the best time to give your skin a dose of vitamin C is at night. That's because sunlight deactivates the skin-brightening benefits. This antioxidant can help diminish dark spots and boost collagen production.
5.) Invest in a humidifier
As humidity levels tend to drop during the winter, putting you at risk for dry, flaky skin and cracked lips, it's important to restore some of the moisture in the air.
Enter: the humidifier. While you may feel a bit granny-ish setting up a humidifier at night, this steam-blowing machine can have wonderful benefits for your skin, like keeping it plump, hydrated, and supple.
6.) Microdermabrasion
You won’t even have to wait until the next morning to reap the benefits of this skin rejuvenating treatment. Watch the years melt away as crystals gently exfoliate the dead skin from your face. You can find your nearest therapist, here.