As the seasons change, so do our beauty routines. It’s hotter, dryer and more humid, so we have to compensate for that, which results in us having to use new products and sleep in them, which means our sleep quality can be greatly affected. But it doesn’t have to be.
There's no need to worry, though, as we've got some of the best tips to help you sleep comfortably in summer. In fact, we share how your summer beauty routine doesn’t need to stop you from sleeping and how you can adapt your nighttime regime to still look poised for the next day.
Start your nighttime beauty routine one hour before bed
Should you do skincare right before bed? The answer is no. You need to give your skin time to absorb the products you are using. Starting your skincare routine before you get into bed means you can quickly transfer the moisture onto your pillow. This, in turn, can stain your bedding. If you have ever noticed yellow stains on your bedding, your beauty products could be partly to blame if you put them on right before bed.
That moisture can sink through the bedspread to your pillow or duvet, meaning you need to wash or replace them more often. As luck would have it, you can find out if you need to replace your pillow or duvet today! The moisture transferred onto your bedspread could cause skin irritation if you do your routine repeatedly before bed and tend to sleep on your side, laying in those products. If this is the case, you must wash your bedspread weekly.
So, instead, start your skincare routine around one hour before you go to sleep. That way, your skin has enough time to absorb the product. You are also carving out dedicated time to care for yourself, something we have all been guilty of forgetting before.
5 Secrets to Enhance Your Beauty Routine While You Sleep
1. Reuse your old bed sheets for the nights you fake tan
Over the past three months, searches for ‘best fake tan’ and ‘best gradual tan’ have spiked by 83% and 125%, respectively. Hand in hand with fake tan often comes the dreaded orange stains on your PJs and your bed sheets.
There is a way to sleep in fake tan to allow it to develop and, most importantly, protect your bedsheets. Firstly, apply your self-tan at least one hour before bed. Your skin needs around 20 minutes to absorb the product, so this ensures your skin has absorbed the moisture before hopping into bed. Once you are ready to go to bed, take out an old, clean bed sheet that you are no longer using and sleep on the bedspread to prevent any stains from getting on your actual duvet cover.
Ideally, you want to choose bedding you do not put on your bed, so if you are thinking of throwing an old duvet cover away, save it, as it could be handy for your summer beauty routine. Once you have tanned, throw that bedspread in the wash on high heat (over 40 degrees) to remove the stains.
You should always opt for loose pyjamas made from breathable materials, such as cotton when tanning. This is because you need to avoid contact with your skin. So if you sleep on your side with your legs on top of each other or with your hand between your legs, your pyjamas should stop you from rubbing your tan.
2. Opt for satin pillowcases if your summer beauty routine involves heatless curlers
Heatless curlers have become a huge beauty trend, with over five billion views on tutorials on TikTok alone. This method is trendy in summer as it is less damaging to hair and means you don’t have to use hot curlers in the heat. For anyone who has tried this hair hack, you may know how difficult it is to get comfortable in bed.
Make sure your hair is completely dry before attempting this curling method. This will ensure your curls will last and prevent any damage to your hair due to the friction of tossing and turning when sleeping with wet hair. You should try never to sleep with damp hair for this reason.
Opt for a satin curler - not your dressing gown robe, unless that is satin - and a satin pillowcase. This will also ensure less friction when sleeping, giving you better curls.
3. Don’t forget a satin cap if you sleep in Olaplex
It’s no understatement to call Olaplex a cult haircare product. Launched in 2014, this haircare line has amassed over two billion views on TikTok. But for those who sleep in the hair mask, you must take a few steps to protect your bedding and sleep quality.
Sleep in a satin cap (or a shower cap if you have one to hand) to protect your hair by reducing friction from moving side to side at night. This cap will also help protect your pillow as the more moisture sinks into your pillowcase and pillow, the more your pillow becomes an ideal environment for bacteria due to the heat and humidity.
Leaving your pillow damp each time you do the hair mask means the fillings of your pillow can also not evenly distribute, affecting how supportive it is. A study discovered that an unsupportive pillow can impact your physical health due to it pushing your neck into unnatural positions, which can lead to sleep deprivation.
Furthermore, pillowcases that get damp and are made of materials that retain moisture could lead to breakouts and clogged pores due to the dead skin and other bacteria that can live in those spots.
4. Sleep on an old towel for overnight face masks
While most people tend to use face masks during the day, there is growing popularity for overnight face masks - with the trend amassing 7.2 million views on TikTok. If you sleep in a face mask (and have checked it is safe to do so), you need to consider how to protect your bedspread.
Place a towel over your pillow and pillowcase - ideally, one that is not coarse as that could lead to discomfort when sleeping on it and even cause friction on your skin, leading to red marks when you wake.
You should also try to sleep on your back to avoid rubbing the mask onto your towel - and removing it from your skin. Sleeping on your back is the best position to keep your spine in place, so if you have been suffering from back or neck pain, now is the ideal time to change your sleeping position. And don’t forget, if you are sleeping in a face mask, put it on around one hour before bed to allow some moisture to dry.
5. Sleep in a satin eye mask to improve sleep
If you have noticed you are sleeping less in summer, you are not the only one. In summer, the more daylight - due to the longer days - the less melatonin you produce. Melatonin is your sleep hormone; when exposed to light, your circadian rhythm resets (your sleep cycles). This can inhibit the production of melatonin, which you need to go to sleep. You might notice you tend to sleep more in the winter, which could be why.
So, to ensure better sleep quality, opt for a satin eye mask which is kind to your skin - particularly the delicate skin on your face - and doesn’t cause any redness. For those who get eyelash extensions in summer, especially for holidays, a satin eye mask can help keep them in place and protect them as you sleep.
Check out our blog for more info on summer sleep hacks, including if you should sleep in a bra and how melatonin impacts sleep.
