Everybody knows that catching quality zzz’s is essential to your overall health. According to the National Sleep Foundation, being well-rested can seriously improve your life, and there’s even evidence to suggest that getting enough sleep can help you live longer. So avoid any bad sleeping habits such as little or too much sleep, and if you’re waking up feeling very tired after a long night sleep, check that you don’t have any sleeping disorders you may not be aware of affecting your overall sleep.
But there’s another great bonus to catching up on a quality night of sleep: it can also make you look younger while you’re at it. A night of rest is as important for the skin as it is for the brain. In fact, while you sleep, your skin cells divide at a higher rate, and hydration levels decrease, so it’s a good time to give your body’s biggest organ an extra boost.
Here are some great ways to reduce wrinkles while you sleep.
Read more after the jump:
Nighttime Skin Care Essentials
The first thing you want to add to your nighttime wrinkle-fighting regimen is a good-quality nighttime wrinkle cream. Giving your skin the anti-aging ingredients it needs to thrive — and ward off those stubborn fine lines and wrinkles that compromise your youthful look — is extra-important at night. Why? It all comes down to giving the skin disrupted access to your skin cells.
Find a night cream that can not only ward off wrinkles, but also enhance the skin with vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients that’ll help create a smoother, more even texture. We recommend Farmacy Sleep Tight, a lightweight night balm that uses naturally derived ingredients to restore the skin’s elasticity and smooth away fine lines and wrinkles. Double-up when you add Farmacy Invincible to your bedtime routine. This anti-aging serum will effectively boost the skin’s natural hydration for a younger-looking appearance overnight.
An Anti-Aging Pillowcase
Who would have thought that a pillowcase could be to blame for dull, tired-looking and aging skin? New anti-aging pillowcases made from silk, satin and synthetic and natural blended fabrics claim to hydrate and restore the skin while you rest. The benefit of an anti-aging pillowcase is that it allows you to sleep in whatever position you’re most comfortable. Since sleeping on your side can cause more wrinkles than sleeping on your back, it’s never a bad idea to expose your sleeping side to materials that are gentle on the facial skin.
There are many types of anti-aging pillowcases on the market, with the two most popular being the Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase and the DreamSkin Anti-Wrinkle Pillowcase. The Slip Pillowcase claims to restore skin by allowing the face to slip and slide across the fabric. According to the brand, regular cotton pillowcases can damage the skin, causing “sleep creases” that cause wrinkles. On the other hand, DreamSkin’s pillow cases are made from a high-tech blend of materials that claim to prevent wrinkles better than silk or satin.
A Wrinkle-Fighting Pillow
Now that you know there’s such a thing as age-fighting pillowcases, you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that there’s a new breed of bedroom pillows on the market for those who want to smooth away facial wrinkles. New anti-aging pillows are challenging the notion of beauty rest with unique new solutions that address wrinkles caused by years of contact with the wrong pillow. According to experts, the creases that develop on your face when you sleep can cause permanent wrinkling. Enter the anti-wrinkle pillow.
The key to finding a good wrinkle-fighting pillow is to identify one that helps eliminate facial creases. This can be achieved through a blend of compression, tension and shear. One of the most popular options on the market is the JuveRest Sleep Wrinkle Pillow, which claims to minimize facial wrinkles caused by creases. This uniquely shaped pillow features a sloped neck and a head cradle to minimize facial contact and to provide essential head and neck support while you sleep. We say it’s worth a try!
Silicone Décolleté Pads
Silicone anti-aging pads are a good option for those who are particularly concerned with smoothing away chest wrinkles while they sleep, but may also serve to erase facial wrinkles. In general, these pads — often called “décolleté pads” because they’re used on the sensitive, wrinkle-prone décolleté area — are made with medical-grade silicone. According to manufacturers, these pads are worn at night on the chest or face and help boost collagen production to fight wrinkles. Simply peel away the self-adhesive pad and place it on the chest, face or neck area while you catch your zzz’s.
Popular anti-aging silicone pad maker SilcSkin produces 100 percent medical-grade silicone anti-wrinkle pads that are made with the same type of silicone that’s used to treat scars and burns in medical applications. According to the brand, these pads work by deeply hydrating the delicate skin on the face and chest and encouraging faster collagen production to fight wrinkles. SilcSkin makes silicone anti-aging pads that are specially designed for placement on the chest and face, including around the eyes and mouth.
Change Your Position
If your go-to sleep position is your side, you may be at a higher risk for developing wrinkles throughout the night. If you wake up after a night of side sleeping to deep creases on the side of your face, you may want to consider changing your sleep position to prevent wrinkles. Experts say that the best way to avoid overnight facial wrinkles is to sleep on your back, and though it can take some training, it may be well worth the adjustment.
Training yourself to sleep on your back can be a challenge, but there are several products on the market that can help you make the transition. For example, you can use sleep positioning pillows along the sides of your body to discourage you from rolling over while you sleep. You can also invest in products like the JuveRest sleep pillow to ensure that your head stays in place and you don’t risk turning it over throughout the night. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and invest in a good-quality anti-aging skin care system before you hit the sheets!
Images by Marina Dean-Francis for Beauty SCENE
