How to Get Beautiful While You Sleep

Co-authored by Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD

Last Updated: October 7, 2022 References Approved

A good night's sleep is essential if you want to look and feel your best. In addition to making sure you get enough sleep, there are lots of other things you can do to maximize your beauty benefits. Your body regenerates itself while you sleep, and you can take advantage of its natural processes to get better looking skin, hair, and more! There are even some easy ways to style your hair while you sleep.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Getting Beautiful Hair

1
Apply a store-bought hair mask. If you have dry or damaged hair, you can replenish it while you sleep by applying a hair mask. Most will require you to wash your hair the next morning, so make sure you have time to do so.^{[1]
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- To keep the products in your hair, you may want to wrap it in a towel, a t-shirt, or even cellophane wrap.
- These products might stain your pillowcase, so be sure to protect it with a towel if you're concerned about your wrap not staying put.
2
Make your own conditioning treatment. If you don't want to splurge on an expensive hair mask, you can make your own at home. Homemade hair masks are even messier than store-bought ones, so be sure to wrap your hair securely and give yourself plenty of time to wash it the next morning. You can find a variety of recipes online, but some common moisturizing ingredients include the following:^{[2]
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- Avocado
- Mayonnaise
- Olive oil
- Raw egg
- Shea butter
- Aloe vera
- Yogurt
- Pumpkin
- Banana
- Coconut oil
- Milk
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3
Create waves. To wake up in the morning with beautiful waves, try pinning your hair up in small buns or braids before you go to sleep. You can also try wrapping your hair around a headband. In the morning, let your hair down, apply a bit of styling product if necessary, and you'll be ready to go.^{[3]
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- Depending on your hair type, you may want to apply a light hair spray, curling product, or even tanning oil to help it hold the wave.
4
Banish frizz. No matter what kind of hair you have, you can help keep it looking great between shampooing by tying it up in a silk scarf before bed.^{[4]
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- If you don't want to wear a scarf to bed, try sleeping on a silk pillowcase. It will create much less friction than a cotton pillowcase, which means less frizz.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Getting Beautiful Skin While You Sleep

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Keep your face clean. The most important thing you can do for your skin at night is to wash it. Removing all of the dirt and makeup from your skin will allow it to regenerate and will prevent breakouts.^{[5]
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- Keep your face free of oil during the night by keeping your hair away from your skin. Wrapping it in a silk scarf will protect both your skin and your hair.
2
Sleep on your back. Friction between your face and your pillowcase can cause wrinkles to develop, so try to sleep on your back.^{[6]
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- If there's just no way for you to stop sleeping on your side, try switching to a pillowcase made from silk or satin. These materials create less friction, so they reduce your risk of wrinkles.
- It's also important to change your pillowcase every few days because the oils from your face can build up on it quickly.
3
Elevate your head. Some people's eyes tend to be puffy in the mornings, even if they've gotten a good night's sleep. This may be due to fluid accumulation, so prevent it by elevating your head slightly as you sleep. Two pillows should do the trick.
4
Use eye cream. Whether you're concerned about puffiness or dark circles under your eyes, allay them by applying a generous amount of eye cream before bed.
5
Moisturize. For healthy looking skin with a dewy glow, be sure to apply a generous amount of moisturizer to your skin before bed. This is especially important in the winter.^{[7]
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- Every time you wash your face, you should also apply moisturizer.
- For facial moisturizing, be sure to use a product that won't clog your pores.^{[8]
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- If you have other skin concerns, such as dark spots or wrinkles, you can find night creams that are especially formulated to deal with them while also nourishing your skin with the moisture it needs.
- To moisturize feet, apply a liberal amount of lotion or petroleum jelly, then cover your feet with plush socks.
- Winter presents a challenge for those with dry, sensitive skin. As ambient temperature and humidity goes down, your skin becomes dry and chapped—using heavy cream moisturizers or petroleum-based ointments can help with irritation.
6
Hydrate. Supplement your moisturizing regimen by drinking plenty of water and using a humidifier in the dry winter months.^{[9]
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7
Apply a homemade face mask. For radiant, nourished skin, try sleeping with a homemade mask on your face. Keep in mind that this will most likely be messy, so you will probably want to put a towel over your pillow. There are countless recipes available online, and some of the common ingredients include the following:^{[10]
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- Olive oil
- Tea
- Oatmeal
- Honey
- Brown sugar
- Lemon juice
- Avocado
- Essential oils
8
Fight acne. If you have acne-prone skin, fight off the bacteria that cause blemishes with a nightly application of an acne cream that contains salicylic acid.
- For stubborn blemishes, try applying a clay mask before bed.
- For a more natural treatment, try applying a mixture of cinnamon and honey to your face before bed.^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Reaping Other Beauty Benefits

1
Apply a lip conditioner. Your lips need moisture to stay kissably smooth, so give them some love with a deep conditioning treatment. There are a plenty of options available at beauty stores.
- You can also make your own overnight lip treatment with olive oil and honey. If you want to exfoliate as well, add in some brown sugar and massage the mixture into your lips.
2
Renew your cuticles. You can apply store-bought cuticle oils or balms to soften and minimize the appearance of unsightly, rough cuticles.
- You can also keep it simple and apply petroleum jelly to the beds of your nails at night. For better results, wear a light pair of gloves to bed.
3
Tan while you sleep. If you'd like to wake up looking like you spent the evening on a sunny beach, try applying an overnight self-tanning mask. You'll have a subtle glow and moisturized skin all from one product.
4
Tend to your lashes. If you want healthy, long eyelashes, put a dab of castor oil on them before bed each night.^{[12]
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Whiten your teeth. After brushing your teeth as you normally would, dip your toothbrush in some baking soda and brush them again. Don't rinse your mouth out.^{[13]
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- Don't do this more often than once a week or you may damage your teeth!
- You can do this at any time of day, but you should avoid eating or drinking anything for at least one hour after application, which makes bedtime ideal.

Expert Q&A

Question

What causes dull, dry skin?

Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Dr. Navid Malakouti is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology, dermatologic surgery, and medical dermatology. He treats patients of all ages for conditions like acne, rosacea, psoriasis, skin cancer, botox, fillers, lasers, and chemical peel. Dr. Malakouti is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, Fellow of American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and a member of the Skin of Color Society. He holds a BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from The University of California, San Diego and an MD from The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He completed his Dermatology residency in Washington D.C. at Howard University, VA Medical Center, Children's National Hospital, and the National Institutes of Health.

Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD

Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Healthy and young-appearing skin is hydrated with water that is trapped under naturally-occurring oils. Deficiency in either water or oils will give the skin a dull, dry appearance, which contributes to aging. Your skin's moisture content is also dependent on multiple factors including your age, genetics, and environment.