Everyone wants to look good first thing in the morning, but the truth is no one wakes up just looking their best. Now though, with these simple tips from Harpers Bazaar, you can at least get a head start on your day and help protect your skin and hair while you sleep.
1. Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase.
The 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.
2. Sleep on your back.
Sleeping on your back can help nip wrinkles in the bud before they even start to form. Repeated pressure on the skin, causing creasing, can eventually lead to set-in lines. 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.
3. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
For a fresh 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. Other good tips are to always apply lip balm before sleep, and never skipping your nightly beauty cream or serum. These products work better at night to repair the cycle of the skin.
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. For best results you should not only change your pillowcases twice a week, but flip your pillows over on days you’re not changing them.
5. Stay away from salty foods and booze around bedtime.
When you consume a lot of alcohol, your body becomes dehydrated. 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.
6. 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 because that can cause hair breakage, especially around the hair line. For best results try a high ponytail.
7. 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. Aside from funky eye gunk, not taking off your makeup before sleep causes pore-clogging, which can lead to breakouts.
(Images and source – Harpers Bazaar)
