How To Prep Your Skin Before Bed
Posted by Ellie Swain on Dec 23rd 2021
Beauty sleep is essential, but what you do before you hit the hay makes a significant difference in your complexion, too.
It seems that all the beauty gurus and influencers have plenty of recommendations from their night-time skincare routine. But often, these routines are packed full of steps, making it seem like prepping your skin before bed must be majorly time-consuming or complicated.
But believe it or not, your night-time beauty routine doesn’t have to be that difficult.
To make it simple for everyone, here are our 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 starts buzzing.
Double Cleanse
One wash of the face before bedtime simply doesn’t suffice anymore, especially if you wear makeup during the day.
By double cleansing your skin, you ensure that all your makeup and any lingering impurities and debris from the day washes away before you cuddle up in bed.
You may opt for an oil-based cleanser to dissolve makeup and purities well. Then, your second wash should involve a more traditional cleanser that removes any remaining oil and makeup without stripping the complexion of its natural moisture.
An excellent option for the second cleanse is the Murad Essential C Cleanser. Packed with vitamins, the energizing formula washes away impurities without over-drying the skin.
Vitamin A conditions the skin, vitamin C defends against skin damage, and vitamin E treats dryness and nourishes the complexion. Allantoin and panthenol also help soften and moisturize the skin.
Remove Dead Skin
Is your skin looking rather dull and lackluster? The chances are dead skin cells are responsible.
Our skin cells shed naturally every 28 days, but sometimes they linger, collecting on your skin and causing an uneven texture. Yuck.
Slough away these unwanted dead skin cells by exfoliating your skin with an alpha-hydroxy acid-based cleanser at least twice a week. The acids in these types of cleansers penetrate deep into your skin’s layers, breaking the bonds between dead skin cells and loosening them.
If you’re double cleansing, you can use one of these cleansers in your second step twice a week.
Prone to breakouts? Reach for a cleanser containing salicylic acid, which reduces acne by targeting excess oil.
Moisturize
Hydrators plump the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and delivering a smoother appearance. Plus, they soothe and comfort your skin after exfoliation.
Before bedtime, always apply a moisturizer to 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 skin as you snooze. The revitalizing formula contains tamarind seed extract for softer, hydrated skin. Encapsulated, motion-activated French Lavender Essential Wood encourages a deeper, more restful sleep so you can clock those beauty sleep hours in.
Other skin-loving ingredients in the cream include Persian silk tree extract to reduce signs of skin fatigue and restore vitality and wu-zhu-yu extract to brighten and radiate the complexion.
Use a Satin Pillowcase
Unlike cotton options, satin pillowcases don’t retain moisture. Invest in a satin pillowcase, and all the night-time products you’ve so carefully chosen to use on your skin, along with your skin’s natural 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 or side, your pillows and sheets can leave some annoying indentations on your cheeks when you rise in the morning.
Even worse, applying pressure on your face every night can contribute to wrinkles. For example, if you always sleep on the left side of your face, this side may develop more wrinkles than the other.
If you can, try sleeping on your back to avoid creases on your face. Bonus – sleeping on your back also props your head up, preventing fluids from pooling under your eyes and leading to the development of unwanted bags.
For extra help fighting under-eye puffiness, apply a caffeine-laced eye cream around your eyes before crawling into bed.
Get Enough Sleep
One of the most important tips on this list is getting enough sleep so your skin can repair and rejuvenate. The concept of beauty sleep is real – while you’re asleep, your skin is working hard to heal itself and recover.
During your deepest sleep, your body creates growth hormones that help repair sun damage and wear and tear from the day’s activities. Always put the time aside for plenty of rest and try to avoid binge-watching that latest Netflix series into the night.