Most people want to wake up gorgeous, looking like the slumber hours didn’t have any effect on them. If you’re planning to wake up with a partner and the relationship is new, it’s even MORE important that the morning look is one that is inviting. If you are used to wearing makeup, you realize at SOME POINT you will have to take off that makeup and show the real YOU. AND… you want to make a good impression.
Below are some things you can do before laying your head on that pillow to help you wake up gorgeous!
Breath
One thing we cannot live without is oxygen. So, since we have to breath, it is important to do things that can help get rid of bad breath.
- Brush and floss teeth before bed
- Use a tongue scrapper to clean bacteria off your tongue
- Use a water flosser or Oral irrigator (ex: Waterpik). This helps to remove food and bacteria from between the teeth and under the gum line that the toothbrush may have missed. The bacteria sticks to the food that is decaying through the night and causes a foul odor from your mouth in the morning. It’s one of the things that gives the term “morning breath” its name.
- Stay hydrated! Lack of hydration can cause dry mouth. Dry mouth allows bacteria to build up.
- Keep a glass of water on your nightstand. Drink as needed to hydrate mouth and dilute
- Do you like garlic and onions? The scent of garlic can stay with you for a day or so because the oils pass into your bloodstream. A study in 2016 showed that raw apple, raw lettuce and mint leaves were the best at decreasing the sulfur odor caused when we eat garlic.
- Cavities and medical diseases (kidney, liver failure, diabetes, stomach issues) can also have an impact on your breath.
Wash your FACE
In 2019, a review published by Clinical and Aesthic Dermatology found that our skin contains circadian clock genes. It shows that skin has a time clock and responds differently in the day time than in the nighttime. During the nighttime, the skin is reparing DNA. Thus, washing your face before bed, takes all the junk off so the skin has one less thing to fight against while repairing.
- Use warm water because it opens the pores to let the trapped dirt and oils out
- Dry brush or use a facial cleansing brush to take away the dead cells and smooth our skin.
- DO NOT sleep with makeup on. Your face needs to breathe freely and cleaning allows it to breathe!
- Using a cold water or ice cubes helps to bring down inflammation as well as close the pores (This especially helps if you had been crying and don’t want to wake up puffy eyed). I like to keep my nighttime moisturizer in the fridge so when I use it at night, it’s already COOL.
- Apply moisturizer or lotion (for body) 15 minutes prior to bed so the product can be absorbed into the skin instead of the sheets.
- TIP #1: if you have dry skin, a mixture of aloe and light oil makes your skin feel beautiful by morning. I have used this all over my body after dry brushing…WOW! Caution: If using it straight from the plant and some of it gets on your tongue…it tastes horrible so you may want to try packaged pure aloe from a reputable company, if you aren’t sleeping alone or expect to be smooched on.
- Tip #2: See Tip #1 and do this all over your body after a shower or dry brushing… skin feels like butter in the morning. Let your body soak in the oil and aloe before touching those sheets.
Sleep
Sleep amount, position and time are an important factor in the look of your face. Lack of proper sleep accelerates aging.
- Sleeping on your stomach pushes your face into the pillow and causes creases. Sleep on your back.
- Adequate sleep is essential for the optimal amount of DNA repair of the skin. Without proper sleep you start to look older.
- Create a bedtime routine and stick to it. I have a bedtime alarm and I now find myself getting sleepy around that same time.
- Strive to get 7-9 hours of sleep.
- Optimal room temperature for sleeping is 60-67 degrees F.
- It is suggested that you leave your electronics in another room so you don’t make the mistake of looking at your phone and having the blue light on the screen cause your brain to say, “wake up”. If you need an alarm to wake up, get an old-fashioned clock that won’t have bright light to wake you up when you don’t want to.
- Go easy on the tobacco, alcohol and caffeine prior to bed.
- Silk and Satin fabric for your pillow cases allow your skin to slide across the fabric instead of sucking the oil and moisture out of your skin and hair.
- Wear your hair up in a bun or on top of your head while sleeping. When you awaken, you can just let it fall to the sides instead of rising out of bed with it tangled and bunched. Also, the bun keeps the natural oils and moisture in the ends.
Extras
- I turn my phone on sleep mode and I only have emergency contacts in my favorites, just in case they need to contact me.
- I tend to like 100% cotton, high thread count sheets. They feel better and last longer. A bit more expensive but worth it. Also, Lyocell Bamboo feels nice on my skin as well.
- If the last meal is at least a few hours before bed, it gives the food time to digest.
- Nasal washing prior to bed time can improve your ability to breathe and reduce nose blockage. This seems to allow me to sleep more soundly. It can reduce snoring that can keep people awake.
- Keeping my bedroom dark with blackout shades has proven to be a BIG PLUS.
- Keeping my hair out of my face while asleep keeps the hair products off of my face which can cause puffy eyes in the morning.
Conclusion
By creating a routine you will start doing things without thinking about it. You can put your own twist on things.
- Stay hydrated.
- Wash and moisturize your face
- Get 7-9 hours of straight sleep
- Good Luck as you Wake Up Gorgeous!
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