Make your bedtime skincare routine work for you with these 7 easy anti-aging hacks that will amplify your beauty sleep.
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As we age, our skin naturally loses elasticity and moisture, which can lead to visible signs of aging. However, getting quality sleep and taking care of your skin during the night has a significant impact on reducing the visible signs of aging. In fact, sleep is often referred to as the “fountain of youth” because it allows for the body to regenerate and rejuvenate itself from the stresses of the day.
With a few simple changes to your nighttime routine, you can take advantage of the anti-aging benefits of sleep and wake up with radiant, youthful-looking skin. Below is a list of powerful sleep methods that will make your bedtime skin routine work for you.
Amplify your beauty sleep with these 7 anti-aging methods you can do in your sleep.
- Vampire Sleeping
- Change Your Pillowcase
- Cold Showers
- Layering Your Products Correctly
- Anti-Wrinkle Facial Patches
- Gua Sha
- Humidifier
Vampire Sleeping
Train yourself to sleep on your back like a vampire.
Benefits:
- Reduces development of acne
- Reduces development of wrinkles
- Promotes posture
- Alleviates Neck and Back Pain
Sleeping on your back carries many benefits, especially for your skin and posture. This undead position allows the body a neutral spine, suppressing the immeasurable amounts of twists and turns from side-sleeping that may be causing upper and lower back pain. Supine sleeping also offers ample neck support, elevated, of course, by your choice of pillow or mattress.
Vampire sleeping, as many call it, helps reduce the risk of developing acne and wrinkles, as your face is not pressed against a pillow for hours at a time. Keeping your face upturned minimizes contact from the sebum and oils on your pillow, meaning less room for acne or irritation to form. Laying your face on a pillow overnight can also lead to fine lines and wrinkles forming as a result of the pressure against the wrinkled fabric.
Aside from external effects, side-sleeping also allows for fluids to pool into the areas of contact, resulting in puffiness throughout the day. Switching to supine sleeping has been shown to help with facial puffiness. This method can also help alleviate symptoms of acid reflux and snoring by keeping your head elevated and airways open. Sleeping on your back can even improve circulation, as there is no pressure on the blood vessels in your limbs or face.
The best way to train your body to sleep upright is to implement the rolled up towel method. Roll a dry hand towel to fit under your neck as you sleep. Tie rubber bands at the end to keep the towel rolled and secure. This will make it difficult to roll onto your side. If your head just won’t stay still with the towel or if your towel falls apart overnight, even with rubber bands at the ends, then you might want to reconsider your pillowcase.
Changing Your Pillowcase
Keep it fresh.
Benefits:
- Less Hair Damage and Frizz
- More Moisture Maintained
- Fewer Facial Wrinkles and Creases
If vampire sleeping seems too extreme, upgrading the quality of your pillowcase is a much more doable method to combat aging while you dream. Silk and copper pillowcases have recently grown in popularity due to their natural moisture-retaining properties. Both options help reduce frizz and hair breakage due to their friction-reducing smooth surface and are also less likely to wrinkle, reducing the likelihood of developing facial wrinkles.
Silk is a natural protein fiber that is hypoallergenic and gentle on sensitive skin. These pillowcases are naturally smoother than traditional fabrics, such as cotton or polyester blends, which reduces the friction of any tossing and turning that occurs while you sleep. Additionally, silk pillowcases are less absorbent, meaning that they help to retain natural oils and moisture in the skin and hair, preventing dryness and promoting hydration.
Copper-infused fabrics, on the other hand, naturally have antibacterial properties that can help reduce the growth of harmful bacteria on the skin. Copper is a powerful mineral and a great conductor of electricity, which produces holistic benefits such as improving circulation and reducing inflammation. When used in pillowcases, copper can help to prevent acne, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promote skin cell renewal. Some studies have even suggested that copper-infused pillowcases may help to improve sleep quality, as copper has been shown to have a calming effect on the body.
Overall, sleeping on copper pillowcases helps with those with acne-prone or aging skin, and those looking to improve their sleep quality, whereas silk pillowcases can lead to healthier, smoother skin and hair, and a more comfortable and luxurious sleeping experience. Both are fantastic vessels for effortless overnight anti-aging techniques.
Cold Showers
The Cheapest and Quickest Anti-Aging Hack
Benefits:
- Helps to Reduce Inflammation
- Makes You Calm but Alert
- Improves Skin Circulation
- Boosts Immune System
- Improves Sleep Quality
While it may be uncomfortable for most, cold showers have been shown to uncover numerous health benefits, especially before bedtime. This is because cold exposure stimulates the Vagus nerve, the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system. It connects the brain to the gut and other vital organs, and is responsible for transporting ‘feel-good’ endorphins and other neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine to the brain, thus improving sleep quality and reducing the likelihood of waking up during the night.
Cold water has also been shown to help reduce inflammation and boost circulation, which can help reduce stress and promote relaxation. Additionally, cold showers are also shown to tighten pores, reduce oil production, and promote circulation to the scalp, all agents for improving skin and hair health. Overall, taking a cold shower before bed may provide several potential benefits for both physical and mental health, leading to a more restful and rejuvenating night’s sleep.
Layering Your Products Correctly
Put your products to work!
Rule of Thumb: Lightest to Heaviest product:
It’s no secret that the skin repairs itself overnight, and is at its prime for receiving the benefits from your anti-aging skin care products. The correct sequence ensures your skin will reap the full benefits from each formula, as only a small amount of key ingredients can actually penetrate the skin.
As a general rule of thumb, the proper order is lightest to heaviest:
Day:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Essence
- Serum
- Eye cream
- Spot treatment (if applicable)
- Moisturizer
Night:
- Cleanser (twice to remove makeup)
- Toner
- Essence
- Eye cream
- Treatment product (serum, leave-on exfoliating treatments, etc.)
- Night cream.
Remember, a couple of times a week you’re going to want to incorporate an exfoliant and mask into your routine. This would normally take place after the cleansing process but can vary depending on the specific directions of your preferred product. Make sure you pause a bit in between steps to ensure each product penetrates effectively before the next layer.
Anti-Wrinkle Patches
Retrain your facial muscles to relax and lay flat
Benefits:
- Helps Boost Collagen
- Release Tension
- Relax Facial Muscles
- Improve skin elasticity and firmness
By holding the skin in place, anti-wrinkle patches help to prevent further creasing and folding of the skin that can lead to the formation of wrinkles over time. Similar to the rolled-towel method above, anti-wrinkle face patches are designed to keep your face still and release muscle tension while you sleep. These patches are available in sectional cutouts for targeted areas such as the forehead or smile lines around the eyes and mouth.
As mentioned in the first method, pressing your face against a pillow for hours at a time can occur in sleep lines and fine wrinkles. Using an anti-wrinkle patch helps to prevent these sleep lines, as your muscles will be kept still.
This noninvasive wrinkle treatment has been shown to retain moisture, therefore boosting collagen production and maintaining elasticity. This is ideal for anyone who is aiming to maintain a youthful and radiant complexion.
Shop Anti-Wrinkle Face Patches
Gua Sha
A Swiss-Army Knife for Skincare
Benefits:
- improve sleep
- Promote blood circulation
- improve the blood supply of the brain
- Improve fine lines and wrinkles.
- Promotes lymphatic drainage
- Relieves tension from muscles
Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool to increase blood flow to the skin, thus helping release tension in the muscles, stimulating the lymphatic system, and detoxifying.
The benefits of gua sha are numerous and worth exploring for those seeking a natural, non-invasive way to improve their overall health and wellness. Adding this relaxing step to your nightly routine does wonders for promoting circulation, giving the appearance of “sculpting” your face.
Additionally, proponents of gua sha claim that it can improve skin tone and texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even help with conditions like acne and rosacea. This practice has been used for centuries to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system.
This is a great addition for those who suffer from seasonal allergies or catch colds easily. Plus, they are an affordable and soothing gadget to keep on your vanity.
Check Out this 2-Piece Gua Sha Set
Humidifier
Hydrate the Air Around You
Benefits:
- Keeps Skin & Hair Moist
- Boosts Immune System
- Helps Your Home
As we sleep, the air in our bedroom can become dry, which can cause dehydration of the skin, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. However, a humidifier can add moisture to the air, which can help to keep the skin hydrated, plump, and feeling fresh. Additionally, dry air is known to irritate the skin, leading to inflammation, redness, and dullness.
The same dry air can also cause irritation and inflammation in the nasal passage, throat, and lungs, making it easier for viruses and bacteria to enter and cause potential sickness.
Using a humidifier at night can help to promote healthy, youthful-looking skin and reduce the visible signs of aging. It is also a comfortable room addition to help to boost your immune system and reduce your risk of getting sick, thus promoting longevity.
Shop this Highly-rated Humidifier
Thank you for taking the time to read about the benefits of these anti-aging sleeping methods. By incorporating these techniques into your nightly routine, you can wake up feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the day ahead. Beauty sleep not only improves your physical appearance but also promotes better health and well-being.
Remember, getting a good night’s sleep is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, so don’t underestimate the power of a consistent sleep routine. Whether it’s sleeping like Count Dracula, practicing gua sha techniques, or layering skincare routine, there are many ways to prioritize beauty sleep in your life.
Give yourself the gift of beauty sleep, and experience all the incredible benefits it has to offer. Sweet dreams!
-Envision La Vida
Getting old is one of the biggest fears. It’s good to know that there is some means to soften the blow. Thank you for posting!
Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂