Dear Little Me: What We Wish We’d Known About Real Beauty Sleep

As avid readers of fairy books in our younger years, Sleeping Beauty always seemed to wake up with radiant skin and luscious locks. With the catch being, she had to wait until a prince came along to wake her up.

Which seemed to take, like forever.

Fortunately, in today’s world, these features aren’t just reserved for princesses – and we can rely on ourselves to make them a reality.

Twisted tales of the past.

Growing up, many of our superiors would hawk on about the importance of “getting our beauty sleep,” which seemed like some ‘magic trick’ to convince us to turn off the telly, or a mystical kind of sleep that only be achieved through “eating our carrots”. How could they?

But unbeknown to our littler selves, this infamous ‘beauty sleep’ simply means achieving enough proper shut-eye to reap the benefits of a healthier mind and body.

The number of hours of sleep, as well as the quality is essential to the health of the entire body. Something, we wish we’d realised earlier.

To save you waiting any longer, here are the seven important lessons we have shared with our younger selves about the importance of real beauty sleep.

Wash away your woes   

How many times were you reminded to wash your hands.. your teeth… but what about your face? No matter how sleepy you are, going to bed with lingering dirt or makeup on is a recipe for morning regret (panda eyes, clogged pores, product residue on your pillow... we’ve all been there).

Do yourself a favour by keeping some facial wipes close by for a fast, effective cleanse. While convenience cloths are not something we’d recommend relying on, on late or lazy nights - they can be skin saviours.

Future-Proof Your Face

Just like sleep can rid yourself of unwanted wrinkles - it can also contribute to line formation. These 'sleep wrinkles' are believed to be a result of the skin being pushed and pulled against the pillow, damaging precious collagen over time. Prevent pillow face by sleeping on your back or trying a skin-saving silk alternative to your traditional cotton case.

Ditch the distractions

We might have outgrown the Nintendo, but many of us are still guilty of a sneaky late-night mobile scroll. Try and avoid screens as their luminosity can strain your eyes and stimulate the hormones that keep you awake. Helpful.

Although tempting, your notifications and messages will be waiting for you in the morning – and your body will thank you for it. If your mind is racing with tomorrow's to-do list, try ridding them from your thoughts by writing them down. Jotting them on paper to tackle the following day. Old school – perhaps? But works a charm.

Be wary of your beverages

“Drink more water” – who else’s little self knows this phrase far too well? Sculling litres of water prior to bed could likely add to a disturbed night’s sleep (hello late-night toilet runs) - but eating your water has a different effect.

Foods with a naturally higher water-content release hydration slowly – so consider trading in the processed snacks for these. Be sure to also avoid alcohol or sugary, caffeinated drinks too close to bedtime which could unsettle your sleep and leave your skin thirsty. Maybe mom was right about the veggies after all?

Slip on a silk eye mask

While the major beauty upside of using an eye mask is to block out the light and encourage deeper snoozing, they can also encourage your skin to stay crease-free by acting as a barrier from your pillow from being pushed into your face. Skin-loving silk versions can also soothe skin, lock in moisture and prevent visible dehydration.

Sync up your skincare

The deeper layers of your skin go to work at night to repair damage from the environmental stressors they deal with all day long. This is why choosing the right product can help support the healing process to achieve vital, vibrant-looking skin and optimise recovery.

Not only that, when you sleep better, you get more mileage from your skincare products. Watch this space for some BeautySleep skin-loving gems dropping soon! #StayTuned

Rethink your beauty sleep ritual

Prioritising your beauty sleep routine is a must in our books. To set the mood for sleep, some of our favourite additions include a nice candle, some sleepy meditative tunes and some deep belly breathing.

Paired with the lessons above, these additions can help zen you out - bringing you one snooze closer to more consistent, beautifying zzz’s. Hallelujah.

It’s never too late to become a (Sleeping) Beauty Queen

From healthier skin to a happier mood, you’re never too old to feel the full beauty benefits of a good night's sleep.

Pay attention to what your body needs and your skin will love you for it. But we understand that eight hours simply isn’t always possible – so if you’re in need of some extra support, we’re always here to give you a hand (no princes required).