About last night. How much did you get, what position did you do it in, and how was it for you? Sleep (or the rising lack of it) is becoming a national obsession, with late nights and early mornings squeezing us from both ends, and the lure of a 3 a.m. Instagram binge making it even less likely we’ll drift off again in the event of a late-night waking.
Thankfully, the beauty industry’s got this, with some of this year’s hottest launches aimed at helping us get more rest and maximising the hours of sleep we do manage to carve out for ourselves. The rest is common sense: no exercise right before shut-eye, keep melatonin-disrupting screens out of the bedroom (time to invest in an old school alarm clock), no long lie-ins at the weekend (ouch) and stick to a regular bedtime. But in the meantime, here's the fun stuff...
When you can’t fall asleep...
Aromatherapy Associates already have a mind-alteringly good range of bath oils able to transport you into any state imaginable (they’ll pick you up, slow you down, even hold your hand through emotional trauma.) To this they’ve just added Himalayan salts infused with a genuinely knock-out blend of vetivert, camomile and sandalwood. Turn your duvet back in advance and you might just make it into bed before passing out.
Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Himalayan Bath Salts, £42 available at Bath & Unwind
Photo: Press
When you can’t stay asleep...
Recognising there’s a world of difference between getting to sleep and staying there, This Works has developed a sleep-wooing range with built-in time release systems, ensuring you receive a drip-feed of soporific aromas all night long. Most brilliant of all is the motion-activated Hair Elixir. Not only does this fine mist reboot its scent with every toss and turn you make, it leaves hair looking sleeker come morning.
This Works Sleep Plus Hair Elixir, £25
Photo: Press
When there’s sleep but not much of it…
Go heavy on the hydration and you'll always get out of bed looking fresher than you did when you got into it, no matter how long you slept. So here's a sleeping mask (a Korean beauty trend that's heading our way) designed to offset the effects of late nights and early mornings by packing the skin with water. It's deliciously cooling too, which is a welcome touch when, you know, booze happens.
Dior Hydra Life Jelly Sleeping Mask, £52
Photo: Press
W hen you want to make your sleep work harder...
There are 24 hours in a day so let's use them, right? This night-time treatment cream uses glycolic acid, retinol and fruit enzymes to clear dead cells from the surface of the skin and march healthily plump ones to the top, wiping out acne, lines, pigmentation and scarring. Plus, neroli, rosemary and sandalwood essential oils set the scene for a blissful night while your face is in skincare boot camp.
Alpha H Beauty Sleep Power Peel, £49
Photo: Press
When you need morning restoration, fast…
There's little that can't be fixed with a good scrub, especially when you don't have to expend any energy scrubbing. Leave this sugar-based exfoliating mask on for five minutes while you're in the shower before briefly massaging in and rinsing away; you'll emerge with the glow of your life. It's scented with mandarin and grapefruit too, for a citrusy burst of fortitude in the face of your morning commute.
Ole Henriksen Truth Sugar Glow Polishing Mask, £36 available at Escentual
Photo: Press
When there's a long day ahead...
Having just launched a night cream created to help women in their thirties tackle the effects of stress and patchy sleep (Multi-Active Night Cream), Clarins has turned its attention to daytime rescue in the form of a magical elixir containing ginseng, an energy-giving Chinese botanical. Just mix into your skincare or foundation to reverse the dull look of a sleep-starved complexion – an extra step but worth it.
Clarins Booster Energy, £30 (available from April)
Photo: Press
When you just have to fake it…
Tired skin can't take much makeup (too dry, too fragile, and too sensitive) making this the day to wear as little as possible and choose water-rich formulations. So, tinted moisturiser rather than foundation, and creams or liquids over powder. Glow is a great idea right now, so tap a subtle highlighter (i.e. light on shimmer) under your brow bones to distract from tired eyes without overloading on concealer.
Benefit Dandelion Shybeam, £19.50
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