Get your beauty sleep, or so the saying goes. Did you know that this age old saying is in fact steeped in science? Beauty sleep is real.
Getting a good nights sleep is essential to the repair and restoration of our bodies, our hormones and our skin. But of course a good skincare routine can really help to accelerate the benefits of it; more on that in a moment.
During the first few hours of sleep, usually between the hours of 10pm and 1am, our body does it’s most restorative work. This period is closely linked to the circadian rhythm meaning we get a good ratio between REM sleep and long wave sleep. Essentially, going to bed at a decent hour and getting your 8 hours in is far more beneficial than going to bed at 1pm and getting your 8 hours.
Those few hours between 10pm and 1am are all important to your beauty routine. So if you can, try to make sure your beauty sleep includes a few precious hours during this time. Your skin will thank you for it.
To boost my beauty sleep, my current skincare routine has been parred down to 3 hard working items that I combine or alternate between to get the absolute most out of.
This is an adjuvant to a good eight hours of sleep and most importantly getting to bed around 10ish as many nights a week possible.
Aurelia Probiotic Cell Repair Night Oil
This is a 50ml bottle of bliss which smells as good as it feels on my sensitive skin. This oil is suitable for all skin types and boasts a wealth of fantastic natural ingredients that work harmoniously to bring about luminous plump skin when you wake up each morning.
Here’s what the brand have to say:
An award-winning intensive overnight boosting treatment which works in tandem with the skin’s natural nightly repair mode.
BioOrganic pure botanicals ensure this exquisite oil instantly absorbs to work on all fronts: Kalahari oil provides abundant essential fatty acids, Mongongo oil restructures and regenerates the epidermis and Kigelia firms and tones. Baobab, rich in precious Omegas, helps repair, hydrate and renew while the antioxidant properties of Hibiscus and Pomegranate fight free radicals reducing oxidative stress.
A relaxing, night time blend of Neroli, Lavender, Rose and Mandarin, encourages mindfulness while this addictive Cell Repair Night Oil works to hydrate and soothe all skin types, promoting a luminous, dewy and radiant glow.
The oil is light and absorbs quickly into the skin without feeling sticky or heavy as some oils can.
I start by rubbing 2-3 drops between my palms, helping to warm up the oil and release the fragrance. Neroli and rose are 2 of my favourite fragrances and the additional blend of Lavender and Mandarin make this the most comforting, fresh and relaxing scent. It is perfect before bed.
Aurelia advise that you place your hands in front of your face, close your eyes and take 3 deep breaths. A wonderfully relaxing ritual which allows you to appreciate the beautiful fragrance and benefit from the naturally relaxing properties of this combination.
I press the oil gently into my skin neck and decolétè.
The oil is described as being suitable for all skin types. I personally am a dehydrated and sensitive skin type and find this oil to be absolute perfection for my needs. I have lots of dehydration lines and my skin can look very lacklustre due to this. My skin always looks so refreshed and hydrated each morning after using this beautiful oil.
Aurelia describes their oil as being perfect for:
- All skin types, including dry, sensitive, oily, acne prone & combination
- Encouraging the skin’s nightly repair process to hydrate protect and firm
- An overnight boost of antioxidants and vitamins
- Using after sun, wind or extreme weather exposure
- Creating an indulgent, nightly, anti-ageing routine before bed with exquisite essential oils
- Facial massage to aid lymphatic drainage and circulation promoting luminosity and glow
- Bedtime as it is non- greasy and instantly absorbed to save pillows and hair
One of the things I love about this brand is their clean and cruelty free ethos. The brand is approved by the vegan society so you can be assured that our animal friends have had to endure no pain or suffering in bringing about this delightful product.
The ingredients are clean and the oil contains a wonderful array of botanicals and essential oils. Here are the details if you are keen to know what’s inside:
Ingredients ~
Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet almond) oil, Cannabis sativa (Hemp) seed oil, Triticum vulgare (Wheat) germ oil, Olea europaea (Olive) fruit oil, Schinziophyton rautanenii kernel (Mongongo) oil, Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) seed oil, Punica granatum (Pomegranate) seed oil, Adansonia digitata (Baobab) seed oil, Kigelia africana fruit extract (Kigelia africana), Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract, Citrus aurantium dulcis (Orange) flower oil, Citrus nobilis (Mandarin orange) peel oil, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) oil, Rosa damascena flower oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E), Limonene*, Linalool*, Citronellol*, Geraniol*, Hydroxycitronellal*, Citral* (*naturally occurring in essential oil)
Key Botanicals~
BAOBAB – Omega rich ‘super fruit’
HIBISCUS – Antioxidant rich
KALAHARI OIL – abundant essential fatty acids (easily absorbed)
MONGONGO OIL – Vit E and fatty acids for restructuring & regenerating
KIGELIA AFRICANA – Firming properties
Essential Oil Bled ~
LAVENDER
ROSE
MANDARIN
NEROLI
I’ll often wear this oil alone as it works wonders all by itself and I tend to use it 4-5 times a week. I do sometimes use it all week too. This oil is lovely to use in combination with a Gua She if you have one or a Jade or Rose Quartz roller too. I’ll often do a facial massage or lymphatic drainage with this oil as it is so wonderfully pliable when it is on your skin.
I am on my second bottle of Aurelia Cell Repair Night Oil and I think this will be a firm favourite for me for many years to come. At £62 for 50ml this is a great value for money product. My first bottle lasted me around 6 months and I’m never scarce with product.
Would I recommend this product? Absolutely. For me this is 12 hours sleep in a bottle; priceless.
The Ordinary 10% Lactic Acid +2% HA
Can I start by saying I just love The Ordinary. The genius and ingenuity of their products coupled with unparalleled prices just makes me smile from ear to ear.
I do find the catalogue of products to be a bit of a minefield, but, when you do happen upon something that fits, all of that pales into insignificance.
I started off using the 5% LA+HA last year when I needed something to help with the texture issues I have on my skin. I have incredibly sensitive skin and mild rosacea, so chemical exfoliation isn’t something I would ordinarily ( no pun intended) gravitate towards.
However, reading a fellow skincare lover blog post by Majean, I learned about this gentle and effective product. Given the price I felt I had nothing to lose…accept a build up of dead skin cells.
I was delighted with the results and this year I upped my Lactic Acid concentration to 10%. The results continue to be great with a noticeable reduction, almost diminishing of texture issues.
As much as I love skincare I just can’t get my head around all the science of it, so I will leave it to the experts to explain which this little post of magic works so well:
Lactic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin. This 10% formulation offers mild exfoliation and is supported with a purified Tasmanian pepperberry known to reduce signs of inflammation and sensitivity that is often associated with exfoliation. This formula contains a studied Tasmanian Pepperberry derivative to help reduce irritation associated with acid use. This derivative is of plant origin and varies in colour seasonally and this colour variation may be apparent in the formula from time to time.
I mean Peperberries? What isn’t there to love?
I use my LA+HA a couple of times a week, up to 3 times if my skin is being particularly troublesome. It is a thin liquid product dispensed through a pipet so I usually dispense 1 pipet into the palm of my hand and then pat the product onto my skin. This product shouldn’t go anywhere near your eyes…it’s a general rule for acids.
You can use the product alone or, as The Ordinary recommend, mix it with your usual skincare until you build up a tolerance. I still feel a tingle when I apply this so I am yet to wear it alone. Plus my skin needs all the hydration therefore I never omit to top my acid with my favourite oil ( see above), a night mask or a night cream (see below)
Ingredients ~
This reads a little like hieroglyphics to me, but if you’d like to know, here is what is inside this small but very clever little bottle of skincare:
Aqua (Water), Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.
I once read a dermatology article on skincare ingredients and I always remember it saying that other than oil products, when choosing skincare, always look for water or Aqua being high up the list. The closer to the top the more hydration the product will deliver. A great nugget of information, if like me you skin lacks moisture.
This is one of many great products to come from the Ordinary. The combination of ingenuity, simplicity and an amazing price point make this budget friendly product a winner. It may be the cheapest item in your beauty bag but it packs one hell of a high end punch.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. If you have texture issues and a few pounds to spare, you have nothing to lose. Start with 5% and work up if you need to.
Sisley Night Cream with Collagen and Woodmallow
As far as skincare goes, IMHO, Sisley is one of the big guns, the top dogs, the big Kahuna. You get my meaning.
When I was younger I used to use the brand as a whole skincare system. I actually don’t quite know how I afforded this but gradually I weaned myself off because the cost is really quite prohibitive. It has definitely increased over the years too, which of course it will with inflation, but a week before the lockdown, my bestie and I were in Space NK, cooing over products when we picked up some Sisley and were both genuinely shocked by how much the products had increased. Does anyone know why this is? Is it brexit? Leave a comment below if you do know, as I am genuinely curious.
Anyway I digress. Back to the big guns. Sisley is a powerhouse beauty brand with serious science behind the formulations. As I said I’ve used a wide range of the product line in the past, so when I was looking for a really good night cream I gravitated back to Sisley because I knew it would deliver on it’s word.
My skin is aging and dehydrated so I wanted something that would help with hydration and also firming. This particular night cream is formulated to address both concerns.
From the Brand:
Wake up with firmer, smoother, younger looking skin by using Sisley Night Cream with Collagen. This overnight treatment has been formulated to fight back against the most common signs of ageing, by helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helping to bring back a firmness and suppleness to the skin that can be lost over time.
Made with high levels of soluble collagen as well as the naturally derived woodmallow, Sisley Night Cream with Collagen works on two levels. Collagen has been chosen to correct and combat signs of ageing, while woodmallow works to bring back younger looking skin by revitalising the epidermis.
This Night Cream absolutely delivers results. I find it very rich and comforting and always wake up with plump, bright skin in the morning. Sisley products look feel and smell luxurious. Everything from the textures to the packaging exudes the sophistication this brand is synonymous with.
I use the cream as more of a mask/treatment 2 or 3 times a week and often when my skin is in need of some TLC, like after sunbathing or being out in the wind. The brand notes that it is however, most effective when used nightly.
The Night Cream is light but does feel rich on the skin. I personally find that it leaves a little sheen on my skin which can feel a bit tacky on my pillow, but it isn’t greasy and there is no transfer of product.
With a price tag of £136 for 50ml this product needs to do what it promises on its very chic glass jar, but happily, for me it really does deliver.
Now, there is no ingredients list available online but the brand highlight the Key ingredients of Aqua ( this is good- see above), soluble collagen and woodmallow.
The product itself comes with the full ingredients listed on the packaging, which I have pictured here:
Would I recommend this cream? Yes if you have dehydrated ageing skin. But I would recommend trying a sample or popping to a Sisley counter to check that it is for you. with the price tag you want to be sure that this will meet your needs.
And there you have it, my nighttime skincare routine. It’s quite simple, rotating and combining 3 products to help my skin but most importantly getting to bed at a reasonable time, getting at least 8 hours sleep and having sweet sweet dreams.
What is you current night time skincare routine?
