We’ve all heard about “beauty sleep,” but unfortunately, we don’t always wake up like that (despite what Beyoncé says). With our crazy schedules, we’re usually lucky to get a full six hours. So it’s time to give our definition of “beauty sleep” a little boost. Fortunately, there are tons of products out there that are overnight miracle workers, so you’ll still wake up looking refreshed and ready for the day—even if your body’s time to repair itself is cut short. Here are five things you can do right now to help you wake up tomorrow even prettier than you already are.
1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
No matter your skin type, applying moisturizer is essential for helping your skin repair itself while you sleep. Your body will create more oil overnight if you don’t give it enough moisture before bed. Stock up on lotions, body butters and face creams, and don’t forget the parts of your body that aren’t as obvious, like your hands, feet, lips and under your eyes. Try a body butter from The Body Shop, ($21 at the Body Shop) that will really absorb into the skin, not just moisturize the top layer. Plus, it comes in tons of different yummy scents.
2. Try an Overnight Treatment
For your face
If you browse the aisles of any Sephora or ULTA, you’ll find tons of products marketed as overnight miracle products. Overnight treatments are great, because the skin does most of its repair work during this time anyway. These treatments just give your body a little help. They all target tons of different issues, like breakouts, dry skin, dark circles and split ends. So, if you want to wake up with glowing skin, try this overnight mask from Clinique ($33 at Sephora). But don’t let the thought of leaving a mask on overnight freak you out! Most overnight masks like this are lightweight and absorb into the skin, so you won’t even feel it while you’re sleeping. You simply apply it before you go to bed, and you’ll wake up looking like you had a facial overnight.
For your hair
Try a treatment that’s designed to work as you sleep. Slathering on a traditional hair mask before bed can get messy, and the thick formulas could cause breakouts when they transfer to your pillow… and then to your face. A treatment like Living Proof’s Night Cap Overnight Perfector ($28 at Sephora) is great, because it absorbs into your hair so you can still sleep comfortably. All you have to do is apply it before you go to bed and either rinse it out or style as normal in the morning.
3. Protect Your Hair
It’s time to banish bed head for good. If you take the proper steps before bed, you’ll wake up with hair that’s practically ready to walk out the door in the morning. When you go to bed with wet hair, try braiding it in a loose French braid (or simple pigtail braids). This will keep your hair smooth while you sleep, and you’ll wake up with frizz-free waves. If you prefer to style your hair at night, preserve your blowout by tying your hair up in a loose bun before you sleep. Ditch your old hair elastics for a hair tie that’s a lot less damaging, like these ribbon hair ties ($9 at Sephora). These won’t leave annoying dents in your hair and will cause less breakage over time.
4. Change Your Pillowcase
If you’re suffering from stubborn breakouts or even split ends, your pillowcase could be the culprit. Sleeping on the same pillow every night collects oil and bad bacteria that could clog your pores. Try to change out your pillowcase at least once a week, or every other night for even better results. If you really want to make an investment in your beauty sleep, try a satin pillowcase. Traditional cotton pillows create a lot of friction with your hair while you toss and turn in your sleep. This friction leads to frizz and even breakage, but the smoother silk fabric can help prevent that.
5. Get Your Tan On
Want to wake up looking like you just got back from a tropical vacation? Try putting on a self-tanner (along with your moisturizer, of course) that develops overnight. All you have to do is apply a product like St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse ($44 at Sephora), go to sleep, then rinse off any excess product in the morning. Warning: make sure you let your tan dry before hopping into bed, to avoid the product rubbing off on your bedding. You want your skin to wake up glowing, not your sheets.
And that’s it! Whether you choose to do just one of these, or really commit to the full routine, we promise you’ll wake up feeling a little more confident, and ready to take on the day.