Taking care of your skin can be a full time job. During the day we are exposed to sun and environmental damage and at night we use anti-aging products that can leave our skin feeling dry. With our busy lives, we can end up neglecting to take the proper steps to ensure our skin is healthy and hydrated.
Thankfully there are a few things you can do at night to nourish your skin while you sleep. While your body is at rest, these products and treatments work overtime to ensure you wake up with soft, moisturized and glowing skin. For the delicate skin on your face, we’re partial to sleeping on Nollapelli pillowcases, but we’ll share more tips and tricks below to help you put the beauty back into beauty sleep.
Try an Overnight Face Mask
Korean skincare has hit the US in a major way. With intense routines that can be anywhere from 8 to 20 steps, they really take skin care seriously! The latest Korean trend to hit the States is the overnight face mask. These masks are richer than your average night cream and designed to go on top of your evening skin treatments as the final step, then be rinsed off in the morning. Because it works while you get your beauty rest, it’s the perfect product for a person on the go.
If your current routine is leaving your skin feeling dry and flaky, try using an overnight face mask for an extra boost of hydration. Unlike a traditional clay-based mask or a trendy sheet mask, an overnight face mask goes on like a moisturizer, soaks into the skin right away, and does not need to be removed until the morning when you wash your face. Overnight face masks work by creating a protective veil over your skin, allowing the active ingredients to penetrate throughout the night.
Be sure to shop around for one that works best for you. Most department stores will allow you to take home a sample so you can try before you buy. Patch test the mask on a small spot near your jaw to see how your skin will react. It may seem tedious, but it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your facial skin- especially if you are already experiencing irritation from dryness.
Use a Humidifier
Sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom can add additional moisture to the air that can help keep your skin from drying out. Humidifiers can also help alleviate symptoms like dry eyes, eczema, itchy skin, dry nasal passages, cracked lips, and nose bleeds due to dry air, allergies, or asthma. They not only benefit your skin but can also revive dry, brittle hair.
It is important not to go overboard with your humidifier. Always maintain relative humidity below 50% in order to prevent dust mite infestations, mold and mildew growth and bacteria. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) the ideal relative humidity for health and comfort is around 40% to 50%. In the winter months, it may have to be lower than 40% to avoid condensation on the windows. You can measure humidity in the air with a hygrometer or relative humidity gauge. These devices are available at most hardware stores or online.
If you use a humidifier you must clean it regularly! If you don’t, you run the risk of spreading bacteria and mold, which can worsen allergies and asthma symptoms. If cleaning out your humidifier sounds like too much work, try choosing a newer model that comes with built-in antibacterial technology to help keep the water clean so you don’t have to wash the unit as frequently.
Invest in High Quality Bedding
A bedding textile with the right combination of yarns and weave can help preserve the moisture of your skin. At Nollapelli, our proprietary fabric actually helps your body retain moisture, protecting your skin and hair. If the skin on your face is your biggest concern, try our Pillowcase Duo for maintaining hydration while you sleep.
According to the National Institute on Aging, it’s common to lose sweat and oil glands as we age. Our body loses moisture more quickly than when we were young, and there are fewer glands working to retain that natural moisture. Drinking lots of water, moisturizing your skin with a cream or lotion and avoiding long, hot baths with harsh soaps can help stave off the skin dryness that comes with aging. Choosing bed linens that work for, not against, retaining moisture in your skin can be a skin saver as well.
Cotton fabrics can soak up to 27 times their weight in water, according to Gizmodo. If you’re sleeping in bed linens made of 100% cotton, they could be pulling precious moisture from your skin and trapping it between their fibers. This deprives your skin of moisture and leaves you sleeping in damp, uncomfortable sheets. A high tech fabric built for skincare like Nollapelli’s bed sheets and pillowcases encourages that moisture to remain in your skin, working to keep your skin hydrated and youthful, instead of being wicked into the fabric of your bedding.
