Our skin loves nighttime, and who can be surprised? When we’re tucked in and snoozing, our face, hands, and feet are protected from the sun, wind, and other environmental stressors. Plus, most of the biological activities that repair and restore the body (including the skin) take place while you’re at rest, says David Leffell, M.D., professor of dermatology and surgery at Yale University’s School of Medicine and author of the book Total Skin— hence the term “beauty sleep.” But for true overnight miracles, give nature a helping hand. Here, 19 ways for you to be a sleeping beauty.
Zap Zits
Pimples may disappear like magic if, before retiring, you treat them with a product containing an antibacterial ingredient (bacteria can cause acne) and a sebum controller like zinc, says Kansas City, Missouri, dermatologist Audrey Kunin, M.D., associate clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. (Try Bio Jouvance Clarifying Iris Extract or Repêchage Hydra Refine Pore Perfecting Serum.)
Soothe Irritation
To reduce redness, makeup expert Jane Iredale recommends dusting on a loose micronized mineral powder with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, both of which have anti-inflammatory properties and won’t clog your pores. (Try Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Mineral Veil or Jane Iredale Amazing Base.)
Reduce Facial Lines
A cream or serum with vitamin A or retinol will help counteract fine lines, says Dr. Leffell, and since it can make your skin sun-sensitive for a few hours, it’s best used at night. (Try Dr. Brandt Skincare “A” Cream Night or Philosophy Save Me.) To treat deeper wrinkles, ask your dermatologist about a prescription for Renova, Retin-A or Avage, a cream that recently received FDA approval. Use every other night to reduce the chance of irritation.
Protect Your Face
On the nights you’re not using vitamin A, try a cream or lotion with antioxidants, which help fight off skin-damaging free radicals. Since you’re most exposed to these particles when you’re out in the sun and fresh air, nighttime is your best bet for a fix, says Los Angeles-based dermatologist Howard Murad, M.D. (Try Clinique Repairwear Intensive Night Cream or Clarins Line Prevention Multi-Active Night Cream.)
Hydrate Dry, Rough Feet
Rub on a foot cream, then pull on cotton socks to hold the moisture in. (Have trouble sleeping in socks? Cut off the toe ends so your feet can breathe. Your heels will still reap the benefits.)
Get Silky
Plagued by dull or flaky skin? Instead of vitamin A, use a glycolic acid cream to slough away the dead skin cells, which will help increase moisture retention. Check the label: You’re not looking for straight glycolic acid, but rather its salt compound form, which will be listed as glycolic acid compound or glycolic and ammonium glycolate. The compound has been buffered to make it less acidic (i.e., less harsh) than glycolic acid — plus it’s time-released, so it works all night, says Dr. Kunin. (Try M.D. Forte Facial Cream I.)
Defeat Major Skin Flaking
If your skin’s still alligator-rough after regular glycolic acid use, try an at-home microdermabrasion kit with a buffing tool and cream. (Try DermaNew Total Body Experience.) Follow with a moisturizer containing a gentle emollient like dimethicone or beeswax. (Try Burt’s Bees Evening Primrose Overnight Creme for your face or Lanacane Medicated Body Lotion for your body.) The dermabrasion will exfoliate your skin thoroughly, letting the moisturizer penetrate deeply.
Prevent Puff
Do you retain water in your face and eye area? Lisa Okesson, national training manager for makeup company Shu Uemura USA, suggests this old Hollywood secret: Sleep on your back and use a slightly elevated firm pillow to help prevent fluids from pooling in your facial tissues at night. (Try Dr. Scholl’s Memory Foam Contour Pillow, which has a “lip” that props up your head.)
Smooth Crepey Lids
Heavy creams can cause whiteheads to form on the thin skin of your eyelids. For that area, many doctors like Neova Eye Therapy, a light gel with a GHK copper peptide to help rebuild collagen. Or wear the lightweight Talika Eye Therapy Mask while you sleep — it releases natural wrinkle-fighting ingredients.
Moisturize Your Undereye Area
Hate the taut feeling of too-dry skin but find soothing eye gels too greasy? Dab on TheBalm Time Balm. A concealer created to be worn day or night, it manages to feel superlight while delivering a slew of hydrators, including beeswax, soybean oil, and panthenol.
Save Chafed Elbows
Slip on (and sleep in) Bath & Body Works Gel-Bow Moisturizing Gel Sleeves. These ultrathin gel-lined sleeves force-feed olive and jojoba oils into that ever-scruffy area.
Salve Sore Fingertips
Washing your hands (and dishes) can leave the tips of your digits cracked. Apply a small amount of ethyl cyanoacrylate — a.k.a. Krazy Glue — over the crack or split to seal your skin, says Dr. Leffell. It’ll peel off naturally over the next couple of weeks as the new skin grows in.
Fortify Brittle Nails
Let the strengthening properties of hydrolyzed wheat protein and calcium — found in OPI Original Nail Envy Nail Strengthener — penetrate throughout the night. It’s clear, so you won’t end up with smudged color come dawn.
Relieve Chapping
For raw, dry hands, try a foot cream instead of a hand cream, says A-list manicurist Kristi Marie Jones. (Try pH Beauty Labs Totally Nutty Shea Butter Heel Cream.) You’ll be better able to tolerate the heavier consistency at night.
Treat Foot Cracks
Apply Polysporin antibiotic ointment to seal cracks on the bottom of your feet, says Dr. Kunin. Top with Epilyte lotion (available at drugstores) to soften the sides of the cracks so the skin is better able to heal.
Get Rid of Calluses
Soak your feet for a few minutes in lukewarm water, then massage in Carmol 20 or AmLactin 12 percent cream or lotion; both over-the-counter preparations contain ingredients to soften your soles’ thick keratin layer, says Dr. Leffell.
Hydrate Flaky Lips
Dry lips seem to crack the most at night, says Iredale, making lipstick application uneven and cakey in the a.m. Chapstick OverNight Lip Treatment claims to repair damage while you sleep — and after trying it, we agree! It left our lips supersoft.
Whiten Your Teeth
Don’t have time for whitening trays or strips during the day? Crest Night Effects — which contains packets of whitening gel and disposable brushes for painting the gel on — is formulated to be worn during snoozetime for 14 consecutive nights. Don’t worry about saliva washing it away; the gel isn’t water soluble.
Repair Cuticles
“Paper absorbs the natural oils from your fingers, leaving cuticles ragged,” says Jones. During the day, hands are too busy for repair work, so try this before bed: Rub a cuticle cream (oils may dissipate too quickly) around your nail bed. (Try Orly Cuticle Therapy Creme or Sally Hansen New Cuticles Cuticle Renewal Cream.)
