Lea’s best ways to achieve well-deserved beauty sleep

The fountain of youth is closer than you think.

And the path to it leads you to your bed.

We have all heard of beauty sleep, but did you know there is a wealth of research and science that shows beauty sleep is more than just a saying?

Just as our bodies recover and rejuvenate overnight, our skin repairs itself and recovers from the stresses and damage of the day – while we sleep!

Super-charge your beauty sleep

The key is to ensure you get 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep at night to keep wrinkles, dark circles, and a dry, ashen complexion at bay.

On top of banking enough hours, there are things you can do to give your skin and hair a helping hand so that you can wake up with radiant skin and happier, healthier hair.

Best tips for a glowing, youthful skin

To reap the benefits of beauty sleep, your bedtime routine should pay extra attention to skincare to up your body’s natural repair mode.

Cleanse

Always remove your make-up and use a face cleanser before going to bed to avoid breakouts caused by clogged pores. For oily and combination skin, it’s important to remove any excess oil, too.

Moisturise

Apply a serum with vitamin A or retinol and an anti-ageing night cream suitable for your skin type. Night creams optimise the natural restoration process taking place as you sleep and help you wake up with a glowing complexion. For dry skin, choose a creamier moisturiser to stop your skin from feeling the effects of dehydration.

Use an eye cream to help moisturise the delicate skin under your eyes.

Using an eye mask helps to reduce puffiness and dark circles. Eye masks can also improve your sleep quality, benefitting your skin and overall health.

As a simple hack, elevate your head with an extra pillow to reduce swelling and puffy eyes, too!

Hydrate

Drink up in the day to hydrate your skin and have a glass of water by your bedside for extra gulps of hydration in the night.

Overnight face masks are also an excellent way to give your skin a boost as you snooze!

Sleeping positions

The recommended sleeping position to ward off wrinkles is sleeping on your back. However, if you are a sworn side or stomach sleeper, using silk or satin bed sheets will be kinder to your skin and minimise irritation.

How to protect your hair whilst you sleep

Beauty sleep is not just for your skin – it helps in having healthier, fuller hair!

Poor sleep has an impact on our hormones, affecting our hair’s growth, appearance and can cause hair loss.

beauty sleep advice

Prepare for bed

To protect your locks during sleep, detangle straight hair at bedtime to tackle knots and to distribute your hair’s natural oils from roots to ends.

For curly, natural hair use a wide-tooth comb or finger-brush when your hair is wet. But don’t go to sleep with wet hair; this can cause breakage!

Stimulate blood flow by giving yourself a quick scalp massage at bedtime to keep your scalp healthy and your strands thick.

Best hairstyles for bed

The best hairstyles to protect your hair whilst you sleep are a loose, high-up ponytail and braiding your hair.

Braids are excellent for curly hair as they keep waves in place and protect against breakage, while a ponytail is best for keeping your recent blowout intact.

Give your hair a treat

Overnight hair treatments, serums and deep conditioners hydrate, nourish and fight signs of damage as they absorb into your hair overnight.

Also, consider a protective hair cap or a silk scarf. For natural, curly hair in particular, a satin scarf will prevent frizziness and help keep the curls in place. Also, using a cap will protect your pillowcase if you have applied a hair treatment.

Satin bed sheets aren’t just for the skin; a silk or satin pillowcase is smoother than cotton and helps to prevent damage to your hair as you toss and turn. As a bonus, they add a touch of elegance to your beauty sleep!

For a real sleeping beauty effect, a supportive mattress is vital in improving sleep quality. Find out The Mattress Support that You Need to maximise the benefits of beauty sleep!