If you don’t feel picture-perfect when you first wake up in the morning, you’re not alone. Most people don’t wake up with glowing skin and perfect hair, at least not without some effort the night before! With a few skincare tips and plenty of sleep, you’ll be showing off your natural beauty before you know it!
Clean your face before bed every night. If you wear makeup, you should already know you need to wash your face with a gentle cleanser every night. But even if you don’t, oils and impurities from the air can end up on your face throughout the day. These can block your pores, which leads to breakouts and premature aging. Wet your face, then apply your cleanser and rinse thoroughly with clean water.[1]
- If you are too tired to wash your face, you can use a face wipe to cleanse your skin.
Sleep on your back to prevent wrinkles. If you sleep on your stomach or your side, your pillow will create friction against your face, and gravity pulls your skin downwards. Over time, this can lead to wrinkles on your face. In addition to the benefits for your face, sleeping on your back holds your neck and spine in a more natural alignment.[6]
- Fluid can pool under your eyes, creating dark circles. Use an extra pillow when you sleep to help prevent these bags from forming
Use a humidifier when you sleep. Hydration is important to the health of your skin, even when you’re sleeping. Place a humidifier in your room and turn it on when you go to bed, especially in the winter when the air tends to be dry
Drink about 100 fluid ounces (3.0 L) of water a day. Drinking water helps remove impurities from your body and it’s essential to having healthy-looking skin. If you need help drinking more water, carry a large water bottle around with you to remind you to drink up
Create a peaceful environment in your bedroom. Your bedroom should be cool, dark, and quiet to help you get the best sleep possible. Adjust the temperature to one that’s comfortable for you, and consider using a fan or other white noise to help block out sounds from the outside world.[14]
- If you can, invest in a nice set of sheets so you feel comfortable when you get into the bed. The most luxurious sheets have a thread count of 300-400, but you’ll still get a silky feel as long as your sheets are in the 250-300 thread count range.[15]
- Keep your bedroom tidy so you feel relaxed when you go in there. Pick up any laundry and straighten your nightstand or the top of your dresser before you go to bed.
Wash your sheets once a week. Sweat, dead skin cells, and other impurities can build up in your bedding, leading to sheets that don’t give you that crisp cool feeling when you lay down. Keep your bed cozy and clean by washing your sheets once a week if you can, or every other week at the very least
Stick to a sleep schedule if you can. Whenever possible, try to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day. This will help your body know when it’s time to wind down for the night, and you’ll wake up feeling more rested — which is sure to show on your face
Aim for at least 7 hours of sleep a night.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine for 3-4 hours before bed. Although alcohol is a depressant and caffeine is a stimulant, both can disrupt your sleep cycles. Switch to water a few hours before you know you’ll be laying down so you can get a good night’s sleep and wake up looking refreshed.
Turn off your phone and other electronics before you go to sleep. Phones, TVs, and computers emit a blue light that is similar to sunlight. This light can trick the brain into thinking it’s daytime, keeping you from falling asleep.[19]