Beauty sleep done right

Look radiant, before and after your nap

We are all well aware of how essential it is to clock in at least eight hours of beauty sleep at night to wake up fresh and rejuvenated the next morning. While this is indeed true, just sleeping alone isn’t enough to keep your skin healthy and happy. Following are some easy, pre-bedtime skincare practices you can employ. All you have to do is spend a little more time pampering yourself before hitting the sack!

Second time is the charm



For many of us, removing our makeup off after a long day at work is quite a hassle. And even if we do manage to cleanse our faces at night, there is almost always a stubborn smudge of eye liner left there till you spot it the next morning. This is because most makeup products that boast of longevity contain a chemical called polymer that doesn’t dissolve with soap and water — or water-based makeup removers — easily. Hence, in order to eliminate all impurities from your skin, try the ‘double cleansing’ technique recommended by dermatologists world over. This involves two main steps:

1.  First use an oil-based cleanser to remove your makeup from the top skin layers.

2.  Apply a gentle, non-soap cleanser and wash out any leftover residue.

Blow some steam



Consider the hectic lifestyles most of us lead these days, going for facial treatments every four to six weeks has become quite a problem. Still, it is very important to cleanse within the pores on your face every now and then as it helps loosen any oils, dirt, sweat and bacteria that might be stuck in between. To get the salon cleansing effect, step into a steamy shower for about a minute or two before you wash your face. Be careful not to put your skin directly in contact with the water lest it burns. Just expose your skin to the steam long enough for your pores to open up. Or perhaps, give yourself a mini-facial by soaking a hand towel and stick it into a microwave for 20 seconds. Gently, pat the towel on your face and you’re good to go.

Sleep on your back



If you usually sleep on your back, you’re one of the few lucky ones. According to research, falling asleep on your stomach or side, applies pressure on the face which ultimately, leads to wrinkles.  Not to mention pillows and sheets can sometimes leave indentation marks on your skin. Sleeping on your back, on the other hand, not only saves your face from fine lines, it also props your head up just enough to keep fluids from pooling under your eyes and creating unsightly bags.

SOURCE: COSMOPOLITAN.COM

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, October 11^th, 2015.