Neglecting to take care of your skin before going to bed can often be the reason for feeling disappointed by the way your face looks in the morning. The body uses the time spent sleeping for a large amount of its self-healing functions, therefore by making sure you get a good rest, you allow your body more time to regenerate and recuperate, which is why after a good night’s sleep your skin feels refreshed. Skin cells are among the most rapidly renewing cells in the body and in the absence of environmental elements such as the harsh sun, it is easier for your skin to heal and repair — this helps towards keeping your skin looking healthy, smooth and youthful. One should venture to have a minimum of six hours sleep daily for healthy skin. Any less and you may find yourself looking slightly dull and worn out because skipping out on an adequate rest period means that your cells will suffer (and the results will be most definitely be visible). The quality of sleep is an important factor when it comes to benefiting your skin; and another is your pre-bedtime skincare routine. What you do to your skin before sleeping plays an extremely important role in how your skin looks in the morning.
Here are a few tips you can follow, before going to bed, to keep your skin looking fresh and glowing:
Removal of toxins: Try not to leave makeup overnight, no matter how tired you are. Women tend to carry a layer of makeup on their faces throughout the day and all the dirt as well as the deposited toxins must be washed-off in the evening without fail. Your skin at bed time must be fresh so that your pores can breathe. Falling asleep with so many toxins on your face will clog your pores and could lead to break-outs. If you’re too tired to wash and cleanse at night, at the very least you should splash some warm water on your face and use a cotton ball toner to wipe away the day’s debris. Then slather with serum or some night-time cream.
CTM (cleanse, tone, moisturise): Use a mild cleansing lotion to remove the day’s makeup, bacteria dirt and grime. Pay special attention to your eyes, if you use eye makeup, and follow by applying an alcohol-free toner to remove any residual dirt. This will enable better hydration. Next, moisturise your skin. If you are above 30, used a night-time specific anti-aging cream/serum on your face, neck and décolletage that will aid in nourishing and repairing the skin. If you are below 30, use a good night-time moisturiser depending on your skin type.
Eyes: If you wish to use an eye cream, there is no time better than bed time, it works wonders on giving you a fresh dewy look and it is a miracle worker if you are prone to waking up with puffy eyes. Apply a light eye cream to the skin under your eye and remember to be delicate, the skin under your eyes is very sensitive and needs special care.
lips: Dry or chapped lips can by hydrated by applying a light lip balm before you go to bed. During the day lip balm is wiped off and doesn’t last very long. But at night your skin gets to soak up all the moisture it can leaving your lips utterly kissable.
Be gentle: Don’t pull and rub your skin. It undergoes enough stress during the day, so don’t further damage it by pulling and rubbing it with force. Be gentle and use slow circular movements — this increases the blood flow which aids in regeneration.
Don’t ignore: Your neck, décolletage, hands and feet are equally important, don’t ignore them. In fact, your hands and neck often show the first signs of ageing. look for anti-ageing ingredients like vitamin A and C in your beauty products. Moisturising these areas during the nights will help them look softer the next day.
Keep it moist: When confronted with pimples, many make the mistake of overdrying their skin. When your skin is stripped of its essential oils, it increases sebum production to make up for the loss. This is what clogs your pores, causing pimples. A gentle cleanser, toner and moisturiser can help prevent this additional damage.
Try a low carb meal: A low carb-diet or just a salad and juice as your dinner can make a big difference in the way you look in the morning.
(The author is director, Shanaya Spa, Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi)