Want To Wake Up Glowing? You Should Try A Sleep Mask
Beauty sleep isn't just a term we've coined as an excuse to go to bed early on a Saturday night, or just a celebrity claim to looking youthful - it's actually a genuine thing.
Studies show sleep deprivation can have a significantly negative effect the on skin. It was found that poor quality sleepers showed increased signs of intrinsic skin aging including fine lines, uneven skin tone (including pigmentation) and reduced elasticity. They also recover much slower after skin barrier disruption.
If you've had a few nights of poor sleep, you're a parent of young children, work night shift or you just generally aren't a good sleeper, you may notice the effects of a lack of deep sleep in your own complexion. Dullness? Signs of fatigue around the eyes? General puffiness, perhaps?
While I'm not qualified to prescribe sleeping aids, I am qualified to talk about sleeping masks - which, if you're wanting to wake up looking glowy and rejuvenated, may just be the answer.
What Is A Sleep Mask?
No, I don't mean the kind of mask you wear to block out light, but you can find those here. What I'm talking about is an overnight skincare mask. You know, one that you slather on before you tuck yourself in for the night? No? You're not using one? Well, that's about to change.
Sleep masks are often very rich in texture, designed to intensely hydrate and deliver a next-day glow. Hugely popular in the world of K-Beauty, you can expect your sleep mask to contains ingredients like peptides, shea butter, ceramides and hyaluronic acid to nourish and rejuvenate your skin while you sleep.
Some overnight masks, like Alpha-H's Beauty Sleep Power Peel might also pack an extra punch with retinol and glycolic acid to deliver resurfacing effects.
Who Should Use A Sleep Mask?
If you're always on a mission to prevent flakiness, discomfort, tightness and sensitivity, a sleeping mask could be for you. Think of these masks essentially as a rich night cream - they don't exclusively have to be used at night, but the ingredients in these masks can aid and support the skin's natural regeneration process while you sleep.
The ingredients in most of these masks support the healthy function of the skin by protecting and supporting the skin's barrier - ultimately preventing water loss and reducing sensitivity.
What Are The Best Sleeping Masks?
Now, if a decent night's beauty sleep isn't an option, it might be time for us to find you a sleeping mask. One that will *hopefully* mimic the effects of 8-hours of shut-eye, or at least reduce the appearance of tiredness and give you a lil' bit of glow.
HydroPeptide Hydro-Lock Sleep Mask
A richly hydrating, yet lightweight moisturiser designed to stengthen and brighten all skin types - especially those prone to dryness or noticing the signs of ageing. It soothes and hydrates, improves cell turnover and supports the healthy function of the skin with ingredients like royal jelly peptides, panthenol, licorice root and shea butter.
innisfree Green Tea Sleeping Mask
This affordable mask leaves the skin feeling soft and supple, hydrating and nourishing your complexion overnight without feeling sticky or greasy. The formula is packed with repelenishing and protection antioxidants to support the skin's barrier, while Jeju green tea extracts (high in Vitamin C, amino acids and catchetin compounds) leave the skin brighter and more radiant.
This will be your overnight skin saviour if you suffer from dryness, dehydration or sensitised skin. This mask helps to restore your skin's barrier, boost moisture levels and ease discomfort with a dose of probiotics, shea butter and argan oil. Your skin will be left calm, balanced and soothed - oh, and it's a personal favourite of mine.
Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask
This might come as a surprise, but this plumping, radiance-enhancing overnight mask was nspired by NASA technology, and uses a memory gel texture for its supporting, comforting feel. It locks in nutrients to support overnight restoration, and features ingredients like prickly pear (rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids) to help improve elasticity, mugwort to soothe redness, antioxidant-rich green ginger and tomato leaf stem extracts to promote skin clarity.
