Rare is the woman who can look at herself moments after waking up in the mirror without wincing. Blotchy skin, puff eyes, dark circles and bed head are just some early morning woes, and no, it’s not a pretty sight. But wait! There’s hope. We spoke to a few experts and collated some genius tips that will help you wake up fresh and pretty as a daisy every day.
1. Get Your Beauty Sleep
It’s called ‘beauty sleep’ for a reason. If you’re a busy girl, it’s time to slow thing down a bit and make sure you get your recommended eight hours of shuteye. Afterall, getting adequate zzzs is the first step to clearer, smoother skin. A sure sign that you’re not getting enough is bags under the eyes and a pale, worn out complexion when you awake.
Pro Tip: Brew yourself a cuppa of chamomile tea that will help calm you down and lull you into a deep slumber.
2. Change The Way You Sleep
If you sleep on your stomach, this is the time to roll over NOW! Your head weighs about three kilos and with it pressing down on your cheeks, you’re bound to develop wrinkles over time. In fact, many dermatologists can tell which cheek you tend to sleep on because it has more wrinkles. This is the time to join the legion of people who sleep on their backs. Result you wake up minus puffy eyes! Find sleeping on your back next to impossible? Sleep on your side but use a pillow that cradles your body so that your face doesn’t get buried in the pillow.
Pro Tip: Add an extra soft pillow under your head so that gravity helps drain blood and lymphatic fluids away from your face.
3. Sleep On Satin Or Silk
Switch to a satin or silk pillowcase and sheets; the slip factor means less friction and fewer wrinkles. Since silk or satin are smooth, soft fabrics, they are best to prevent skin abrasions.; plus they allow air to remain tangle-free. It’s a win-win.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have a satin or a silk pillowcase at hand, place a silk scarf on your pillow that will do the job, just as well!
4. Eat Right
The biryani, pav bhaji and pizza may have been too tempting to resist the night before, but excess salt, refined carbohydrates can cause body bloating. The reason you are waking up puffy eyed every morning is nothing but poor food choices. To stay svelte in the a.m. start eating whole grains and veggies or low fat protein for dinner and wash it all down with plenty of aqua—preferably two liters per day.
Pro Tip: Always eat at least 2–3 hours before bed. This is because eating immediately before going to sleep may cause digestive issues, such as acid reflux as well as disruptive sleep.
5. Cleanse Well The Night Before
Waking up to a new pimple spouting on your cheek is possibly the worst way to start the day! The only way to avoid this is to wash your face with a face wash best suited to your skin type. Remember to cleanse even if you’re exhausted; oils, makeup, germs and toxins build up on your face through the day, leading to unwanted acne, clogged pores and wrinkles. Take your pick from MCaffeine Naked & Raw Coffee Face Wash, Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Scrub Foam or Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to take your makeup off before hitting the sack. Opt for a double-product such as the Plum E-Luminence Simply Supple Cleansing Balm, that removes dirt, impurities and makeup with ease and moisturizes your skin at the same time.
6. Night-Time Skincare Is Non-Negotiable
Treat your face to some TLC at night to wake up to baby soft skin. An overnight moisturizing helps stave off wrinkles by allowing the skin to heal and repair itself. Try using a Hyaluronic Acid and Retinoic Acid-infused night cream that plumps up your skin and also actively helps in skin regeneration. FYI: Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant that draws water into the skin to give a smoother glow. Choose from Neutrogena Hydro Boost Capsule In Serum or Dot & Key Night Reset Retinol + Ceramide Sleep Treatment Cream.
Pro Tip: Don’t ignore your neck and décolletage; these exposed areas also suffer the wear and tear of time.
7. Hand and Feet Love
Who wants to wake up to dry, cracked heels? Not us! Get foot ready by going over your heels and callouses with a foot file during your evening shower and slick on a coat of super thick moisturizer such as Derma Essentia Moisturizing Foot Cream. You might as well also deep condition your hands every night before clambering into bed with a rich nourishing cream such as the Nykaa Hand & Nail Crème. The result: no ragged or dangling cuticles, just soft, hydrated hands.
Pro Tip: For best results, slather on some foot cream and cover up with cotton socks for smooth, soft feet.
8. Gorgeous Hair Alert
Nothing’s more off-putting than waking up to frizzy or flat hair that refuse to be styled. Simple remedy: pile your hair on top of the head and loosely tie them with a scrunchie to give them va va voom volume in the morning—minus kinks and knots. Just shake out and spritz on texturizing spray such as the Batiste Stylist Texture Me Texturizing Spray.
Pro Tip: If your hair veers to the dry and brittle, apply a leave in moisturizing conditioner such as the Aveda Nutriplenish Leave-In-Conditioner at night and simply wash out in the a.m. Your hair will look shiny, soft and lustrous. We promise.
