3 Common Sleep Habits That Could Be Impacting Your Skin

1. No Skincare Before Bed

Skincare before bed is a must -and for good reason! Throughout the day, our skin absorbs everything, whether that be environmental pollutants, harmful free radicals, the sun and even the makeup we wear! These nasties gather on our skin and seep into our pores. This can cause a number of long-term and short-term problems. Dryness, irritation, breakouts and infections are all common side effects of not taking care of our skin before bed.  So, even if it’s a simple skincare routine, such as cleanse, tone, and moisturise, it’s important to clean your skin before bed. 

Another top tip from our Skincare Experts is to try using cold water. It doesn’t matter whether you suffer from dry, or oily skin, warm water can suck the moisture out and leave you with an irritated complexion. Whereas cold water is actually suitable for all skin types. Not only that, but it can also tighten the skin by stimulating your blood flow and improving your overall circulation - the more you know!

For a quick cleansing moment, we recommend the Obagi® Facial Twin Kit Gentle Cleanser and Toner. When it gets to the end of the night after a long week, and you just want to collapse into bed, this duo of products will quickly but effectively reset the skin. This powerful cleanser and toner are perfect for those looking for a more healthy and rejuvenated complexion. To use, simply apply the Obagi Nu-Derm® Gentle Cleanser to your wet skin, massage in and rinse off. Then, pat the skin dry and apply the Obagi Nu-Derm® Toner to the entire face either with your hands or a reusable cotton pad.

2. Sleeping On Your Stomach Or Side?

Are you a restless sleeper? We all know it too well - wrangling our bodies in various angles and positions to try and achieve maximum comfort. But, what if we told you that sleeping in certain ways, such as on your stomach or side, could be impacting your skin? 

For example, sleeping on your stomach can not only cause back pain (whether that be now, or in the future), but it can also lead to premature skin ageing. This is due to our faces being placed directly onto our pillows, which may cause a certain amount of friction on our skin. If you sleep on your stomach often, you could be noticing more intense forehead lines and general fine lines. Also, if you have acne-prone skin, then sleeping this way, with your face down on your pillow, can also cause breakouts. 

Sleeping on your side can have a similar effect. When you put all your weight on one side of your body, it can actually have a flattening effect on your cheekbones, which in turn, can trigger wrinkles on one side of your face. The friction and pressure are not good for our general skin health, and over time, we may start to see the difference in the two sides of our face. If you follow a nightly skincare routine and often put the product on before bed, then sleeping on your side could ruin all your hard work. Falling asleep in this position could prevent you from achieving your desired skin goals, as your skincare product could be spread onto the pillow, meaning that your skin doesn’t effectively absorb as much as it may need to. 

So, how do you fix this problem? Sleeping in a certain position can be a difficult thing to do - you can’t always control what you do in your sleep. However, there are some external things you can do to prevent your skin from taking the brunt of it. Why not swap out your normal pillow for a silk one? Silk is cooler on the face, and doesn’t hold as much bacteria as other fabrics. If you keep turning over in the night, removing the culprit for bad skin (the dreaded cushion covers!),  could be your best bet!

As well as a silk pillow, you could also invest in a good anti-wrinkles serum - the Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Serum being a perfect example. This extremely potent and powerful concentrate provides skin with a more youthful and clearer complexion whilst also helping to reduce inflammation, and promoting your skin’s natural defences - ideal for all our side and stomach sleepers!

3. Not Enough Beauty Sleep

Getting your recommended 7-8 hours of sleep is also vital for your skin's health. As well as the potential for looking not rested the next day, not getting enough shut-eye can worsen certain skin conditions. For example, if you already suffer from dark circles, and a dull complexion, then not getting your beauty sleep can enhance these issues.

The reality is, not many of us actually manage to get enough sleep.  Many things can keep us tossing and turning throughout the night, so if your skin needs an extra boost in the morning, we’ve got you covered. The 111SKIN Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask Box offers a long-lasting boost of luminosity to the under eyes, which means you can increase your skin's radiance from the comfort of your own home.