Wouldn’t it be nice if you woke up and your skin and hair looked so good that half of your beauty routine could be nixed? Get ready to hit snooze a few more times with these overnight tricks from beauty consultant Mickey Williams. Waking up just got a whole lot easier.
MORE: Get 5 Minute Curls in the Morning
5 Things to Do Before Bed
Before You Hit the Sheets
The single most crucial thing to do before going to sleep? Wash your face! “Over the years it’s come to my attention that more people than you think do not wash their face at night,” says Williams. “This is the most important thing you can do for your skin. If you can’t use a mild cleanser to strip your skin of pollution and makeup, try a pre-moistened cleansing cloth (like POND’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes Evening Soothe“>. Follow this with a nighttime moisturizing cream. It helps if you put both on your nightstand so it’s right there before you go to bed.”
Bye, Bye Blemishes
“If you have a big day ahead of you, the last thing you want to wake up to is a blemish,” says Williams. She recommends a system like Tria Clarifying Blue Light to stimulate oxygen under the skin and clear the affected area fast. For a cheaper solution, try a heavy-hitting acne system like Proactiv. “When you wake up, make sure to use an exfoliating face wash to get rid of any skin feathering or dry spots.”
Tick Back Years
Even the way you sleep could affect your skin, Williams advises. “Try to sleep on your back as much as you can, and make sure the products you’re using are supposed to stay on your skin for extended hours.” For a boost of antioxidants for your face, Williams recommends Youth Corridor Antioxidant Boost with Melatonin.
Though you might think it’s best to dry out oily skin overnight, the opposite is true. “You need some oil to keep your skin healthy,” says Williams. Opt for a mask like Neova Illuminating Mask with Silica to revive skin and absorb excess oil as you snooze.
Hello, Healthy Hair
These days there are loads of overnight treatments for your hair (find our favorites here: Best New Hair Products“>. Williams says that no matter which formula you prefer, make sure you’re using the right amount for your hair type. “If you have coarse, thick hair you’ll need to apply the product from roots to the ends, as opposed with thin hair where you may only need to treat your roots.”
Whether you treat your hair at night or not, there’s one beauty practice everyone should do for healthier hair come morning. “Get a silk or satin pillow case to use as your beauty pillow,” says Williams. “Cotton cases absorb moisture from your skin and hair while you sleep but satin ones have a smoother surface, leaving you with shiny strands when you wake up.”
MORE: Perfect Sleeping Routine for Second Day Curls
Beat Blowfish Face
Do you wake up bloated and puffy in the morning? If so, try these additional tips from Williams:
Watch what you eat: “If I ever wake up swollen around my eyes and nose in the morning, it’s usually due to what I ate the night before.” If this happens to you, cut out salt, dairy, and alcohol before bed and try sleeping propped up with a few pillows to elevate your face and keep swelling down.
Be mindful of your breathing: If you snore so much you actually wake yourself up (or the person sleeping next to you”>, try Breathe Right Nasal Strips for your skin and a good night’s sleep. They keep the nasal passage open as you sleep which also keeps swelling significantly down.
