Unlike the fairytale princess, you may not be condemned to 100 years of sleep, but you can use your nightly shut-eye to reinvigorate your skin.
Face
Before you worry that you need another cream in your daily routine and skip this section, have a read. We’re all prepared to moisturise after cleansing at night, so why not give your skin a moisturiser that will keep working once REM has kicked in. Night creams contain different ingredients to the moisturiser you use during the day and often target the deeper levels of the epidermis. A night cream formula doesn’t have to focus on protecting your face from the sun, wind and pollution of daytime life, so it can work harder on replenishing your skin. After your nightly cleanse, massage your night cream in generous circles on your face and down to your neck and décolletage.
We love: Clarins Multi-Active Night Youth Recovery Cream, $89, 50ml, (02) 9663 4277; Avon Anew Ultimate Night Gold Emulsion, $59.99, 50ml, 1800 646 000. Lancôme Génifique Repair Youth Activating Night Cream, $155, 50ml, (02) 9931 8888. Shu Uemura Phyto-Black Lift Renewing Firming Night Cream, $180, 50ml, (02) 9931 8888. Clinique Youth Surge Night Age Decelerating Night Moisturizer, $100, 50ml, www.clinique.com.au.
Eyes
The delicate eye area is the first area of your face to show signs of ageing. Boost your eyes’ defence mechanism by applying eye cream just before you shut them down for the night. The best way to apply eye cream is to put small dots of it under your eye, just where you feel the socket, and then gently dab the cream around the eye area until it has been absorbed into the skin. Your ring finger is ideal for this delicate application because it won’t use too much pressure. You can also take the cream up to under the eyebrow.
We love: Nivea Visage Expert Lift Eye Cream, $27.99, 15ml, 1800 103 023. Trilogy Eye Contour Cream, $44, 20ml, www.trilogyproducts.com. M.A.C Moisturelush Eye Cream, $58, 15ml, 1800 613 828.
Body
It might be the largest organ in the body, but we can sometimes forget to give our skin the love and attention it needs. During winter, when the heating is turned up, the wind is howling and the tights are on, the skin on your body is far more likely to dry out. Take a stand against dry skin by lathering a thick moisturiser all over before bed and let it sink you’re your skin during the night.
We love: Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion, $10, 750ml, (02) 8303 6464.
Hair Let’s face it, we’re often in a rush when we wash our hair. First thing in the morning, we have to get to work or get the kids off to school and, last thing at night, we just want to hop into bed, so the chances of using a hair mask on a regular basis are remote. If your hair is in need of some TLC, but you can’t find the time to care for it, make use of the hours you’re asleep and apply a night elixir to strengthen and repair your tresses.
We love: Kérastase Oléo-Relax Nuit, $55, 200ml, 1300 365 552. L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Restoring Night Elixir, $11.45, 50ml, 1300 659 259.
Nails
Believe it or not, your nails and nail beds can be one of the first spots on your body to show signs of stress and fatigue. Peeling nails, cracked fingers and ridges on the nails can all be your body’s way of telling you you’re not getting enough sleep or you’re working too hard. Help your nails out by applying a cuticle cream just before you go to sleep and follow it up with a luscious hand cream.
We love: Orly Cuticle Oil+, $19.95, 30ml, www.orlybeauty.com.au. L’Occitane Lavender Hand Lotion, $32.95, 250ml, (02) 8912 3000.
Worried about chest wrinkles? You know, the ones that appear after a good nights sleep on your side? Try Decollette Pads from Skin Vigor8. The silicone pads prevent and repair chest wrinkles. $55 for one pad, www.skinvigor8.com.au
Your say: Do you make use of your nightly sleep time? Which products are your favourites? Share your routine with us below.
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