1.You’re a stomach or side sleeper
Unfortunately it seems that drifting off on your stomach or side can have some serious consequences on your appearance. Evidence shows that sleeping this way leads to wrinkles because of the friction you create between your skin and your pillow! Side and stomach sleepers often see deeper wrinkles or creases on the side of their face that they naturally turn to each night, as well as vertical creases down their cheeks and chin.
Experts agree that your best bet is to sleep on your back. This position keeps everything off your face, including dirt and oil from the pillow and grease from your hair, and prevents any friction to the skin that can stretch collagen fibres and lead to wrinkles.
If you’re lucky enough to sleep naturally on your back, be sure to keep your head elevated. Sleeping in a flat position allows fluid to gather around the eyes, giving them a puffy appearance the next day.
2. You regularly forget to remove your makeup before bed.
The makeup, oil, environmental pollutants, and harmful free radicals you’ve gathered on your skin after a long day of work seeps deeply into your pores causing breakouts and speeding up the ageing process. It can also cause dryness, irritation and infection. Whether you’ve innocently fallen asleep on the couch watching TV or were out partying until late, remember: two minutes in the bathroom could help with damaged skin in the future.
3. You’re not getting enough sleep.
You’re certainly not alone: 40 percent of us report getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep a night.
In addition to looking tired the next day, poor sleep causes your skin to swell and even accentuates a deep reddish-blue colour under your eyes known as dark circles.
Your body needs rest where you’re not moving to go through the natural repair processes of recovery. This process includes making new collagen, improving circulation, and reducing under-eye puffiness.
We should all aim for seven to nine hours. To achieve this have a consistent bedtime routine and sleep in a dark and quiet room. In addition, avoid the distractions of electronics (like your mobile phone) turning off the lights.
4. You rely on a drink of alcohol to help get you ready for sleep.
That glass of vino might be calling your name, especially after a hard day’s work, but resist if you want to sleep soundly and wake up looking refreshed. Unfortunately drinking any alcohol too close to bedtime is one of the major causes of disrupted sleep cycles. If you know you’ll be going out with friends or attending a work function where alcohol will be served, switch to water about three to four hours before you know you’ll be trying to fall asleep. The same goes for caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea, and soda.
5. You’re not washing your sheets and pillowcases often enough.
If we sleep on average around 8 hours a night, that means we spend the other 16 hours collecting oil, grease, dirt, and grime. Pretty nasty, right? When you place your face and body down on the same sheets repeatedly, you’re leaving the day’s residue there to fester and produce even more bacteria. Your skin and hair leave oil and buildup that can cause breakouts, inflammation, and irritation. You should aim to wash your sheets at least once a week to avoid this transfer of bacteria, oils, and other impurities.
If you don’t have the time to do a full load, at least change your pillowcase, which traps the most amount of residue.
6. You don’t wear your hair up while you snooze.
It might feel nice to let your hair down while you rest up, but doing so might mean waking up with breakouts. Your hair’s natural oils – in addition to any product you might be using (even shampoo and conditioner) – can clog your pores and cause irritation. Ideally, you want to wear your hair in a loose ponytail or bun and not up too tight, which can cause damage to your strands.
7. Your room temperature is too high or too cold at night.
The temperature of your bedroom can can make a big difference in your sleep quality. Body temperature has also been linked to the amount of deep sleep an individual gets during the night, with cooler body temperatures leading to deeper sleep. Sleeping in a hot environment has also been shown to increases wakefulness and decreases slow wave sleep. The addition of high humidity can also intensify the effects of heat.
Studies show that cranking your a/c down to about 18°C is optimum for the best nights sleep – bbbbrrrrr I think that is way too cold!
8. You’re not applying skincare products before bed.
If you’re skipping this all-important step in your nighttime routine, you’re missing out on the easiest opportunity to rejuvenate and refresh your appearance. Nighttime formulas are specially formulated to support your body’s natural renewal processes and also contain higher concentrations of anti-ageing and moisturising ingredients that target areas of concern while you sleep. This is also the ideal time to layer on a heavy lip balm – especially during months when we have to use a/c or heating – And don’t forget to apply a cream to your neck as part of your routine.
