Who knew that “beauty sleep” was actually a REAL thing? Like, you can actually get prettier while you sleep. What!?!? I immediately thought “sign me up” and bet you did, too. Here are the tricks to becoming a real-life sleeping beauty!

Let’s be honest, personal hygiene and maintenance can be difficult to keep up with sometimes during the week, especially if you have school and work to attend. Sometimes you need quick, simple ways to get out of bed already looking bright and beautiful. Sleep is essential to good health, but with our busy lives, sometimes we prioritize other things above catching up on our z’s.

Most ladies need somewhere between 6-8 hours of sleep a night. A full night’s slumber allows your entire body to rebuild sore muscles and your brain to process the day. It also helps repair your brain for optimum function and thinking skills.

Sleeps helps us relax and reduces the amount of stress we experience during the daytime. Ever find it hard to focus when you’re sleep deprived? This is because your blood pressure raises and creates stress hormones that keep your body in a constant state of high alert.

Adequate sleep also helps you maintain and lose weight. The same hormones that regulate stress also help regulate your appetite, and lack of sleep makes them go haywire, therefore having you craving salty, unhealthy foods all day.

These things obviously all contribute to your overall beauty. We each have to do the work to take care of the outside though, so here are a few tips to make that a little bit easier for you:

Skin Care

It’s important to have a good regimen to keep your skin healthy. Try to get into the habit of washing your face every night to remove dirt and oil that could sneakily clog your pores. Applying a quality moisturizer before bedtime is a good way to restore the moisture in your skin and wake up glowing.

If you have acne, use a mask once or twice times a week to dry up pimples and reduce redness. Toner is also an excellent way to assure your skin is extra clean and help prevent further breakouts. If a perfect eight hours isn’t always possible, you can also dab on some eye cream under your eyes to reduce bags and puffiness.

Quick Hair Tips

Straight hair. If you’ve got straight hair, one of the easiest ways to wake up with a fun hairdo is to go to bed with wet braids. Follow the steps below for a perfect just-stepped-off-the-beach hairdo.

• Wash and condition your hair right before bed.  
• Separate hair into two large pieces, more if you want lots of volume.
• Work hair gel or extra hold curling spray into all the parts of your hair to be included in the braid (avoid the roots as they may get greasy during the night and be more prone to greasiness during daytime).
• Braid your hair, while still wet, into very tight braids. Loose braids will create less volume.
• When you wake up in the morning, simply take the braids out, running your fingers through the undone hair to create the finished product. Skip the brush! This will make your hair frizzy and straighten all the waves out you worked so hard for while you slept.

Curly hair. If you have curly hair, especially if it’s particularly prone to frizziness, the first thing you should do is invest in a satin pillowcase. No, this isn’t so you can feel like a princess when you sleep (that’s just a nice side-effect!). The silkiness of the material actually reduces the rubbing during the night that makes curly manes take on a mind of their own.

Apply smoothing cream before bed, separating your hair into several parts to ensure it is thoroughly soaked in the product. In the morning spritzing a curling spray on it and scrunching it up with your hands should give it just the kick it needs to be ready for your day.

The Way You Sleep

You might not realize it, but the position you sleep in can also majorly contribute to the way you look when you wake up the next morning. Sleeping on your stomach can actually lead to puffiness in your face. It also reduces circulation, which can contribute to wrinkles and signs of aging.

You need to be able to sleep in a position that’s comfortable for you and will also provide good back support and promote proper circulation while you sleep, which is why choosing the right mattress  is crucial part of your beauty care!Do your research online to find the best one for yourself before you go out shopping for a new one. If you’re comfortable in your bed, you won’t have trouble falling asleep –and won’t lose valuable z’s tossing and turning all night.

These are just a few tips for your skin, hair and body to help you become a more beautiful you while you sleep. Pick your favorite ones and adopt them into your own life for new, quick bedtime routines.

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Marcela De Vivo  is a freelance writer in the Los Angeles area whose writing covers everything from marketing, tech, and health & wellness. As a mother of three, she certainly knows how valuable sleep can be!