There IS truth in beauty sleep
For most, achieving the recommended eight hours sleep a night is verging on impossible. But the quantity of sleep you get is only half the story. The second half is the quality of it. Even if circumstances dictate you can only get very few hours' sleep a night, here is how to make sure it's the best quality possible.
Invest in silk pillowcases
Resting your face on a silk cloud every night not only reduces the sleep creases in skin (which over time set into wrinkles) as it works with the facial contours, but also enables your skin to retain more moisture than cotton. Paired with the softness of silk, you'll notice how much smoother skin feels come morning (silk is particularly good if you suffer dry skin as it won't rough it up as much).
Timing is everything
If your bedtime ranges anywhere between 9pm and midnight, then we're talking to you. Try to go to bed at the same time every night, as it trains your body and mind into a routine. The body's natural circadian rhythm (fancy term for biological clock which works in 24-hour cycles) controls everything from sleep pattern and body temperature to when and how often hormones are released. Erratic sleep patterns can upset the rhythm which throws bodily processes like skin restoration off kilter.
Keep your skincare routine the same
Like your body, skin also needs a consistent routine. Firstly (and arguably most importantly), cleanse. The ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm gently dissolves impurities, make-up and toxins from the skin's surface. Next, apply ELEMIS Peptide⁴ Night Recovery Cream-Oil. This works like a reset button to reboot the skin overnight so skin cells work in formation. The result? Brighter, facial-worthy glowiness come morning. Lastly, apply a thin layer of the ELEMIS Pro Collagen Marine Cream to seal in moisture and hydrate the surface. Skin loses the most moisture at night as it's working at its hardest, so it's even more important to replenish.
Digital detox
A Netflix nightcap before bed might be habit, but staring at a screen (any screen) is sending the wrong messages to your skin and brain. The blue and white light omitted prevents the brain from releasing the hormone melatonin (our bodies' natural sleeping pill) that tells our bodies it's time to sleep. As a result, the body takes longer to fall asleep which eats into the time our skin has to restore. We'd recommend prying your eyes from screens at least an hour before bed. Your skin will really thank you for it.
Have a tidy bedroom (even if the rest of your home isn't)
If you're one of those tidy people who have their sock drawer color-coordinated, then high five to you. The rest of us can only aspire. Turns out, we should be too. Evidence suggests that living in mess increases anxiety, meaning sleep is likely to be restless and disjointed. This cuts short the amount of time and energy skin has to repair damage and restore itself. A clear room (and consequently clear mind) will help to no end to improve the quality of sleep.