Features

Sleeping Beauty

16 April 2009

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There's an art to beauty sleep, you know. No one wants to head out of hibernation looking like they should have stayed put, but you can wake up to better skin and glossier hair - simply follow GLAMOUR.com's guide to getting a good night's (beauty) sleep and wake up with the 'wow' factor

Rex Features
By Jessica David
There’s an art to beauty sleep, you know. No one wants to head out of hibernation looking like they should have stayed put, but you can wake up to better skin and glossier hair – simply follow GLAMOUR.com’s guide to getting a good night’s (beauty) sleep and wake up with the ‘wow’ factor.
Rex Features
Beauty sleep; it’s not just a clever name. When we doze, we get more than rest - a special secretion of growth hormones help repair and rebuild skin tissues, and the body repairs any damage from skin-nasties like stress or ultra-violet rays. Grabbing a quick snooze during your commute just won’t cut it; when we skip sleep, it shows on the outside as dark circles, puffy peepers and skin flare-ups. A proper shut-eye session is the most important beauty tip of all; you should be getting 8 hours a night to give new meaning to the phrase ‘rise and shine’, but there are also a few beauty boosting, twilight treats you can use to give nature a helping hand.
Evidence suggests skin cells regenerate faster at night, and the peak detoxifying times for the skin and body are between 12am and 12pm, so be sure to invest in a good night cream to help optimise the benefits of beauty sleep; strengthening the skin and combating free radicals. Our favourite here at GLAMOUR.com is Elemis’ savvy Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream (£90, www.timetospa.co.uk). It replenishes oxygen lost during the day, and is packed with powerful actives to guarantee a gorgeous night’s sleep. Sure, it comes with a hefty price tag, but it lasts and lasts, and your skin will thank you for it!
Most skin types can benefit from a nightly dose of retinol; the Vitamin A spin-off helps speed up skin cell turnover and is particularly good for anyone who suffers from over-congested pores, banishing jaded morning complexions and even fighting the appearance of fine lines and ageing. Smooth on a drop of Philosophy’s Help Me (£38, www.hqhair.com) at bedtime to incorporate retinol into your regime, or try Philosophy’s new When Hope Is Not Enough Capsules (pictured, £40, www.hqhair.com) under your usual moisturiser to let the Hylauric acids and peptides help you wake up to intensely hydrated, plumper, smoother you.

If you’re one of the many peeps who suffer from puffy peepers, then it might be worth popping a beautifying eye mask on overnight. GLAMOUR.com loves the Talika Eye Therapy Mask (£35, www.beautique.com). Worn overnight, it delivers a dose of antioxidants and ceramides to the delicate eye area, warding off dehydration and banishing any telltale signs of a late (or heavy) night, like bags and dark circles. Genius!
Of course, if sleeping in an eye mask just isn’t your bag (no pun intended), you can still enjoy a beautiful morning with the oh-so cool Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer from Anatomicals (£3, www.hqhair.com). Chill in the fridge and pop on for 10 minutes when you wake – your eyes will feel and look fresh as daisies.
Feet deserve beauty sleep too, so kiss goodnight to winter-weary feet and invest in a pair of skin softening sleep socks. Our pick of the bunch comes from Bliss - The Tenderfoot is a two-step treatment of socks and salve which makes history of hardened heels and lasts through 50 uses – that should have those tootsies up to scratch come summer (£48, www.blisslondon.co.uk).
If your feet are being given the twilight treatment, then why not give those paws a spot of pampering too? Treat mitts to a slathering of this moisture-rich mask from Soap & Glory (£4.40, www.boots.com), then slip them into the brand’s oh-so cute overnight Cotton Gloves (£5, www.boots.com). You’ll wake up to hands that just beg to be held.

Beauty junkies in the know understand that a silk pillow is one of the best beauty investments you can make. Unlike cotton silk doesn't absorb moisture, so you can be confident any face creams and overnight hair treatments you apply will remain in intact whilst you sleep. Silk pillows will also prevent hair from snagging and snapping, thus keeping it silky smooth and healthy - it’s even been suggested that they can assist in the fight against ageing! What more reason do you need? We love this Anti Ageing Pillow Case from Holistic Silk (£41, www.holisticsilk.com) – not only does it help prevent unwelcome lines and wrinkles, but it will also look right at home in any fashionista’s boudoir.
It's not just our skin that can benefit from beauty sleep - our locks need some overnight loving too. The John Frieda Frizz Ease Overnight Repair Crème Serum (£15, www.boots.com) gives a targeted, deep-down moisture-boost, eliminating the need for those messy, traditional treatments that require hot towels, Clingfilm and time! Simply smooth over locks before bed and see and feel the difference when you wake.
Treat your soul to an overnight beauty boost as well, with the oh-so easy to use Body Boutique Patch Factor (£19.99 for 10, www.bodyboutique.info). Simply slap on to the soles of your feet and drift off in the knowledge that the unique blend of ingredients is drawing out toxins, relieving aches and pains, and improving circulation. Come morning, when the patches are black, you’ll know they’ve done something right!
Of course, in order to nail beauty sleep, you have to guarantee yourself a good night’s kip by creating an environment that encourages Zzzzs. Our favourite way to wind down is with a Jo Malone Candle in the sensual new Dark Amber & Ginger Lily scent (£37.50, www.jomalone.co.uk) – this relaxing blend creates a decadently calming, warming boudoir and we defy anyone not to nod off after lighting the wick.
So there you have it - the art of the beauty sleep shared. Here's to a gorgeous night's sleep!