Do the term "beauty sleep" justice by following these skin and hair tips.
You might think you're off the clock when it
comes to your beauty routine while you sleep, but your slumber hours
play an important role in how you look. "Beauty sleep is essential for
repairing the skin," says Dr. Debra Jaliman, a New York City
dermatologist and author of Skin Rules. If you want your skin and hair to look younger and healthier during the day, it's time to adopt these nighttime habits.
1. Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase.
These fibers will keep you from waking up with a bird's nest on top of
your head, and their texture softens wrinkles and fine lines because it
causes less friction between your skin and the pillowcase. "Silk is
easier on hair — it helps avoid tangles and breakage," says Jesleen
Ahluwalia, M.D., a physician from
Spring Street Dermatology in New York City. "It's also better for the skin because the material glides easily and prevents creasing and wrinkles."
2. Sleep on your back.
Speaking of wrinkles, sleeping on your back can help nip them in the bud
before they even start to form. "Repeated pressure on the skin, causing
creasing, can eventually lead to set-in lines," says Ahluwalia. "A
person who sleeps on one side may even have more set-in wrinkles on that
particular side compared to the other." If you tend to have puffy eyes
in the morning, try sleeping with an extra pillow. "When you lie flat,
fluid can gather around your eyes," Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., a
dermatologist in Washington, D.C.,
3. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
For a fresh, dewy look in the morning, make sure to use an anti-aging night cream
that contains hyaluronic acid. It attracts water into the skin, which
helps smooth wrinkles, Francesca Fusco, M.D., a New York City
dermatologist.
Dr. Jaliman recommends always applying lip balm before sleep,
moisturizing your eyelashes with a lash conditioner, and never skipping
your nightly beauty cream or serum. These products work better during the "repair cycle of the skin," which is at night, she says.
4. Change your pillowcases often.
"Wash your pillowcases frequently, so you're not resting your lovely
skin on top of bacteria nests for eight hours a night," advises Chicago
makeup artist
Alle Connell.
Dr. Ahluwalia says you should not only change your pillowcases twice a
week, but flip your pillows over on days you're not changing them.
5. Sleep with a humidifier on.
You probably already know that drinking tons of water is good for your
skin — but since you can't do that in your sleep (you'd have to be really talented), try using a humidifier to keep yourself hydrated at night. This is especially helpful during the winter, when your skin tends to be much drier.
6. Stay away from super-salty foods and booze around bedtime.
"When you consume a lot of alcohol, your body becomes dehydrated," says
Dr. Fusco. "To compensate, it starts collecting natural fluids around
the eyes, among other places." A similar thing happens with salt,
leading to that dreaded puffy-eye look. If you indulged in some chips
and a glass of Chardonnay anyway, try the above extra-pillow trick to
help drain fluids.
7. Wear your hair up — but not in a super-tight bun.It's
a good idea to keep your hair out of your face while you're sleeping to
keep its natural oils from wreaking havoc on your complexion. But avoid
pulling it into a really tight bun or ponytail because that can cause
hair breakage, especially around the hairline. Connell suggests wrapping
it up in a scarf (silk would be ideal), while Dr. Ahluwalia says that
high, loose ponytail is a great way to
keep your most recent blowout intact.
8. Go to bed with a clean face.
"So many people
sleep with their makeup on and wonder why they wake up
with funky eye gunk in the morning," Emily Kate Warren, a New York City
makeup artist, "That's why." Aside from funky eye gunk, not taking off your makeup
before sleep causes pore-clogging, which can lead to breakouts.
That's The Buzz!
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