It’s commonly known that sleep is important to overall health and wellness. Sleep not only helps improve and maintain mental function and energy, as well as aid with healthy eating habits. (Anyone who has felt the afternoon slump knows what we mean!) But did you know that our sleep habits also impact the health of our skin? There’s a reason it’s called beauty sleep, after all!

Research supports the notion sleep has substantial influence on our skin. In a2013 journal article, it was shown that sleep deprivation can absolutely result in changes to our faces. These changes include:

• Dark undereye circles
• Increase in fine lines
• Inflammation of eye area
• Pale skin pallor 

Much of our skin’s restoration and rejuvenation occurs at night. This is because of an increase in the skin's blood flow while we dream the night away. So you can see why a good night's sleep is integral to keeping skin healthy and glowing. That, drinking enough water, and quality products make for the right combo.

Here are some tips for putting the beauty back in your sleep. Work these into your nighttime skincare routine and wake up to more vibrant skin!

Wash your face before resting your head on the pillow.

Always — and we mean ALWAYS — wash your face before hitting the sheets. This is probably the most important step to achieving healthy, happy skin. Deeply cleansing the dirt, makeup and impurities off your face every night before turning in will allow your skin to breathe. Especially after wearing a mask all day. We recommend using a gentle gentle cleanser, like our Cleansing Facial Foam.

Invest in a good overnight moisturizer.

After cleansing and toning your skin, the next step is to replenish your skin with a nourishing moisturizer. At Ativo Skincare we pride ourselves on thoughtfully formulating our moisturizers to suit the individual needs of various skin types and profiles. One of our favourite (and best-seller!) moisturizers to use overnight is the Vital-C Vitamin C Cream. Powerhouse ingredients like Aloe Vera, Tamanu extract, and Vitamin C will soothe, aid collagen production and neutralize your skin from any sneaky free radicals. 

Indulge in a hydrating face mask 2 - 3 times a week.

Hydrating your skin overnight helps to fight inflammation and to restore moisture. Our Glacial Overnight Gel Mask is made with star ingredients like aloe vera juice, cucumber extract, and blue spirulina to help keep skin feeling nourished. Simply apply after your cleanse and tone ritual.

Use a pillowcase made with soft, breathable fabric.

Invest in a pillowcase that doesn’t irritate the skin, and make sure to wash that pillowcase often to ensure dirt, sweat and oils resulting from sleep are removed regularly. We love using a silk or bamboo pillowcase to ensure a restful night’s sleep. Sleeping with a soft pillowcase can also help keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay.

Consider magnesium oil to supplement better sleep.

Our bodies generally lack adequate levels of magnesium within our bodies, yet it is effective in aiding with back pain, stress, insomnia, and other metabolic conditions. With our hectic days, it can be daunting to have to take another supplement. However, we’ve created the easiest solution to upping your magnesium intake with our easy-to-use Pure Magnesium Oil spray. Just spray 8-10 times onto your back, legs (unshaven), or arms for fast transdermal absorption.

Wishing you an amazing beauty sleep!