Elevate your night-time routine with products that nourish, relax and repair your skin and senses while you sleep.

They don’t call it beauty sleep for nuthin’!

If you want to boost collagen and reduce wrinkles and fine lines while dreaming of Ryan Gosling on a Unicorn, getting those magical 8 hours of shut-eye would perform more miracles than if that Unicorn landed in your lap.

It’s all in the science – academics at a Cleveland University have found that those sleeping less than 5 hours per night have a 30% reduced recovery of the skin barrier, which lessens smoothness and lead to lacklustre, lifeless skin.

When we sleep, our body is hard at work resting and repairing, supporting brain health and regulating metabolism, blood sugar levels, hormone health and immunity.

So what can we do to boost the benefits of our beauty sleep… and more importantly, what products can help?

Sleep Specialist Olivia Arezzolo says that optimal sleep – closer to 8 hours – enables collagen synthesis – responsible for cellular repair, strengthening endothelium (skin) barrier and reducing signs of ageing.

“Be asleep between  10pm and 2am,” she says. Maximising time spent in slow wave sleep (SWS) is the type of sleep enables the production of antibodies, plus the release of ‘natural killer’ cells to protect against bacteria and viruses.”

Olivia also recommends a nice self-massage to improve insomnia, sleep patterns and fatigue. “Combined with topical magnesium, you receive a double hit of relaxation, as the magnesium also reduces poor sleep.”

When we sleep, the skin uses a variety of enzymes to repair DNA, replace old cells, and produce collagen. However, not everyone has the luxury of a good night’s sleep – and with modern stressors and pollution affecting us during the day, our bodies have to work overtime.

Sleep is kind of a skincare cure-all. Here are some night time additions for the best – and most beautiful – sleep of your life.

KORA ORGANICS by Miranda Kerr Noni Glow Sleeping Mask 

Most natural brands are amazing for your skin, but they don’t have silicon and therefore don’t have that luxurious feel you so deeply crave when you put on a mask. However not so with Noni Glow, which feels nice and super plump on the skin, and leaves you even more hydrated than a sheet mask.  I love to slather excess product down my neck and hands. It’s both super light weight and nourishing on the skin, being organic and natural. Certified Organic Silver Ear Mushroom, Coconut Milk, Caviar Lime and Kakadu Plum Extracts make up the abundant formulation to ensure you wake up with super-soft, hydrated and glowing skin. Possibly the best bit? It doesn’t stain your clean white pillows.

Venustus OM Facial Water Mist

Why not take a moment of blissful pause before you retire for the day? I use this beautiful water mist to set my focus for the next day, and I find it really centring and calming. Known as the “spirit leveller”, the OM blend has 17 organic essential oils that smell amazing and are great for your skin to prevent and treat dehydration, dryness, lines, breakouts and irritations. According to Venustus founder Jeannie Bourke says that these organic essential oils focus on the vibrational frequency to slow down the body and nervous system, calm the mind and create a positive reaction. What better little calming ritual can there be??

REN Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Salt Anti-Fatigue Exfoliating Body Scrub

Remember our girl Olivia recommending a magnesium massage earlier? Here is your fix in a delicious tub: indulge in total body relaxation with this lush exfoliating balm, enriched with fresh sea and magnesium salts to polish, smooth and relieve muscle fatigue. In the shower or bath, massage away uneven texture, dryness and muscle fatigue for smooth, supple and rested skin. This exfoliating balm is loaded with a blend of fresh sea and magnesium (epsom) salts that work hard to gently polish away dead skin cells whilst activating micro-circulation and relieving tension. Plus, Atlanic kelp extract and micro-algae oil are known to restore essential minerals and moisture while the anti-fatigue essential oil blend helps to minimise stress. So good, it’s a religion.

Silk Slip Pillow Case 

Ever woken up with a sleep crease? As skin ages, it loses elasticity and sleep creases, which are caused by friction and pressure on facial skin and can become more pronounced and longer-lasting. While the creases usually go away later that day, they can be gradually ‘ironed in’ over the years. SilkSlip pillowcases are the beauty industry’s not-so-little secret, designed to absorb significantly less face cream than cotton pillowcases and keep your skin’s valuable face and hair products where they belong (on your face and hair). SlipSilk propriety fabric also creates 43% less friction on average (they did studies and everything!), which can reduce stretching and tugging on delicate facial skin. Many celebrities, skin experts and MUA are fans, and you will be too.

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray 

The stresses of the day will melt away with a few spritzes of this aromatic spray on your pillow and around your room. Formulated with 100% natural essential oils of lavender, vetiver and wild chamomile to relieve tension, settle nerves and calm the body and mind, you are literally setting the scene for the best sleep of your life. This aromatic concoction has an almost sedative effect, encouraging you to drift off into your deepest sleep yet – without animal products, phthalates, sulphates, synthetic colours and fragrance, parabens, GMOs, mineral oils, petrolatum, propylene glycol. You’ll probably end up carrying this in your handbag for a tension reliever during the day too… Just don’t use while driving. 😉

Murad Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel

Designed to mimic the gentle yet effective exfoliation processes that youthful skin naturally possesses, this is a unique skin exfoliator that works in two phases: firstly, to exfoliate with a novel blend of AHA, BHA & THX, and secondly, to nourish the skin with adaptogenic, supportive holy basil and lipids. Pop it underneath your skin care at night and leave it on for some powerful formula magic. It’s a bit tingly at first, which of course means it’s working. The effect is great for discolouration and general brightening, and I focus on applying the product all the way down to my neck and chest, then put my serum and moisturiser over the top. Viola – you’re dissolving dead skin while you sleep and wake up looking more luminous and bright. Make sure to use an SPF the next day (and every day!). This overnight peel is great for pre-summer brightening to get an even colour before the sun comes out.

KNESKO Nano Gold Repair Collagen Eye Mask

Treat yourself to this indulgent collagen and colloidal gold-infused eye mask, designed to reduce puffiness, firm, lift and hydrate the eye area. I love that it’s infused with the healing energy of Reiki to send good vibes into your life via. According to KNESKO founder (and Reiki healer) Lejla Cas, gold has long believed to be a symbol of spirituality and purity and will help to ease tension and anxiety and rebalance your mind and energy. Not only does the gold infusion cleanse your mind, it offers firming and lifting properties as well as antibacterial properties to target fine lines and dullness around the eye area. Marine collagen and hyaluronic acid work to de-puff and deeply hydrate the delicate eye are. Pop it on before you sleep to wake up sans puffy eyes. These guys are 100% biodegradable, lifting this product’s Midas touch to new heights.

Bastide Huile D’Aix Orange Blossom Bath Oil

We are obsessed with the fragrance profile in Bastide products… after all, who doesn’t want to take an olfactory stroll through Provence. In the signature Fleur d’Oranger cult favourite scent for over two decades, this bath oil turns a warm bath into an immersive scent and skin experience. The water becomes milky and extremely soothing and softening for the skin. The natural formula contains sweet almond extract, rich in anti-oxidants and vitamin E, and Provence honey lavender, a naturally soothing skin hydrator, perfect for sensitive skin. Made with 97.2% products of natural origins, the oil leaves your skin supple and soft for a perfect evening bath.

Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon 

For optimised night-time skin recovery, look no further than this cult-like, restorative night gel-cream. Tamarind Seed Extract literally creates a nourishing cocoon of comfort, while motion-activated French Lavender Essential Oil (with Sandalwood and Patchouli) work all night to promote deep, restful sleep for healthier-looking skin by morning. What this means is that these soothing essential oils are released upon application as you massage product into the skin, calming the mind as effortlessly as the complexion. Other key ingredients include Persian Silk Tree Extract which reduces signs of skin fatigue and restores vitality and the exotic Wu-Zhu-Yu Extract which showcases visibly radiant skin by morning.

The Beauty Chef SLEEP Inner Beauty Powder 

What about giving your skin a boost of nutrients from the inside out while you sleep? Your wish is granted with this bio-fermented herbal blend with calming lemon balm and passionflower for a restful sleep from my fave skin nutrition brand. This SLEEP Powder uses herbs which are traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to reduce sleeplessness and relieve symptoms of mild anxiety, as well as turmeric, traditionally used in Western herbal medicine as a digestive tonic and to relieve inflammation. Sour cherry is also naturally rich in sleep-promoting nutrients, while Pawpaw leaf and turmeric root have been bio-fermented with The Beauty Chef’s exclusive blend, which creates a natural broad-spectrum probiotic, for the optimal dose and absorption. Good for you and delicious! Sweet dreams…

CREDITS

Words: Alina Berdi | Concept & Make Up | Max May | Photographer: xxxx | Model: xxx