A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP IN A JAR

You have a moisturiser, right? I mean, I hope you have a moisturiser (please say you do) because if not, what are you putting on your face in the day?! But do you also have a specific night formula? Fingers crossed you do but if not, here’s why you need to invest.

Research by Estée Lauder and Cleveland University Hospital – presented at the International Investigative Dermatology meeting in 2013 – concluded that inadequate sleep increased the signs of ageing. The study found that women who regularly got less than five hours’ sleep had twice the lines and wrinkles, suffered from more dehydration and were more vulnerable to UV damage (ie pigmentation) compared to those who enjoyed seven hours or more….I mean, that’s all of us, right?! So while you’re up all night with your babe/having a sleepless night due to stress/waiting up for a teenager, you need a really clever skincare formula that can tackle all of this for you. Your day cream just won’t cut it.

IN THE DAY…

…you need a moisturiser that will protect your skin from UV damage (yes, even in winter). It must also act as an invisible shield – pollution, daily grime and dirt cling to your face everywhere you turn, from the second you leave your house your skin is under attack.

Day specific moisturisers are therefore designed to protect your skin from all of this from happening.

WHEREAS AT NIGHT…

…you need to repair your skin. Sleep is one of the best anti-aging ingredients. While we sleep, growth factor hormones start to repair cell damage that happened during the day, peaking during the deepest first two hours of sleep and continuing throughout the night. When you’re surviving on minimal broken sleep, your skin just doesn’t have enough time to repair itself. Also, the shock from being jolted away by a screaming baby/snoring partner/bed-hopping child triggers high spikes in cortisol, the stress hormone, leading to puffiness, inflammation and collagen breakdown, which means skin stops being as firm and plump as it was in our 20’s. Ugh.

This is why it’s so important that our night time moisturiser works double-duty overnight.

SUPERCHARGE THOSE NIGHT TIME HOURS WITH MY EDIT:

1: Beauty Pie Japanfusion Deep Moisture Mask, £19.50 members price / £100 non-members price.

I actually use this mask as a night cream. The texture is heavenly, my skin feels soft, plump and creamy after use and I miss it when I finish a tube. I actually think this is a brilliant dupe for Sisley Black Rose Mask (£130+) – well worth trying.

SHOP HERE

2: Olay Regenerist 24 Retinol Night Moisturiser, £16.95

A great all-rounder. Super lightweight to apply, not greasy and doesn’t cause breakouts. After a few months, skin texture is definitely smoother and the tone looks more even. The addition of Niacinamide counteracts the irritation and dryness often caused by retinol by protecting and moisturizing the skin barrier.

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3: Elemis Peptide 4 Plumping Pillow Facial Hydrating Sleep Mask, £48.60

At night, body temperature rises as we go into repair and recovery mode. As a result, your skin loses hydration whilst you sleep. This super-cooling gel mask fights the visible signs of tired, dull skin by helping to seal in hydrating actives throughout the night, leaving skin looking radiant, refreshed and well-rested in the morning.

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4: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, £64

Yes, yes, we know – *technically* this is a serum, but seeing as this wonder nighttime product is one of the best-loved in existence and sells 10 per minute around the world, it’s deserving of a mention. Enriched with super hydrator hyaluronic acid and non pore-clogging, you’ll wake to smoother fine lines and plumper skin.

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5: Caudalie VinoPerfect Dark Spot Correcting Glycolic Night Cream, £25

Skin pigmentation is a common issue for many people in the UK, likely due to our communal lack of SPF throughout the year. This is why so many night creams contain glycolic acid, as it’s the ideal overnight exfoliator. Expect to see brighter, more even-toned skin after two months. Vegan.

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6: M&S Formula Ultimate Sleep Cream, £22.50

I swear this is one of my most-loved beauty products. It’s the beauty industry’s hidden little secret; it feels heavenly to apply, skin feels silky soft and looks radiant the next morning, Labelled eight hours sleep in a pot for its remarkable ability to basically recharge your skin’s batteries. 

SHOP HERE