How To Maximize Your Beauty Sleep — As Seen On “Great Day Houston”

The term “beauty sleep” is more than a cheeky phrase for those wanting more shut-eye — in fact, there’s some scientific truth to the correlation between a solid amount of sleep and a radiant, youthful-looking complexion, smooth and lustrous strands, and a healthy smile. Over the years, scientists have discovered that, while we sleep, our skin recovers and regenerates at a faster rate than during our waking hours — up to 3 times faster, to be exact! During this time,  levels of key hormones such as melatonin (which counteracts any damage cells incurred during the day due to UV exposure and pollution) and HGH (which is responsible for accelerating cellular regeneration and proliferation) increase dramatically. Moreover, this is the time when our skin’s stem cells, those masterminds responsible for producing healthy new cells, reproduce and healthy new layers of skin are formed. Catching those Zzzs on a consistent basis, then, does have a plethora of beauty benefits and, nowadays, you can really take advantage of your dream time by investing in a new generation of beauty products that works while we sleep, providing results so we can wake up feeling and looking refreshed and renewed.

I stopped by “Great Day Houston” recently to chat about some beauty products that can help us get the most out of our sleeping hours. Make sure to watch the segment above (or click here to view on KHOU.com) and keep reading for all the details on these overnight beauty products!

BLISS THAT’S INCREDI-PEEL

We all want immediate results, right? And yet we’re so often told that such a phenomenon doesn’t exist. Well, guess what? You can actually attain more beautiful skin overnight with the help of Bliss That’s Incredi-Peel ( $19.99 at Target and Target.com), a spa-quality peel with a 10% concentration of glycolic acid that’s gradually released overnight to target and minimize fine lines, tackle discoloration, and exfoliate the skin, thereby revealing a smoother, brighter, and more even-toned complexion come morning. Since the glycolic acid in this formula is released slowly and methodically over the course of the evening, the treatment won’t irritate or dry out the skin, so it’s gentler than many of its peel counterparts. Plus, each peel pad is individually packaged in its own sachet, and it’s a one-step, no-rinse process, so it’s the epitome of convenience.

COLORESCIENCE TOTAL EYE RESTORE REGIMEN

They say eyes are the windows to the soul, so we want to make sure the drapes and curtains around those eyes are always gorgeous, wrinkle-free, and vibrant. In other words, we want our eyelids, the corners of our eyes, and our under-eye area to look its very best! Enter the Colorescience Total Eye Restore Regimen ($165 at Colorescience.com), anand it contains an around-the-clock system to reduce puffiness, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and get rid of dark under-eye circles.

The kit includes: the Total Eye Concentrate, a night time treatment that features a soothing rollerball applicator and contains a concentrated blend of active ingredients that deliver an immediate cooling sensation and a burst of hydration as well as more long-term benefits; the Total 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 for daytime use, which has an immediate brightening effect and offers 100% mineral SPF 35 protection; and 12 pairs of  Total Eye Hydrogel Treatment Masks, which minimize swelling and gently hydrate and soothe the under-eye area.

LANEIGE LIP SLEEPING MASK

For lips that are as plush, downy, and bouncy as the pillow on which you rest your head at night, apply a generous amount of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($20 at Sephora.com) to your pout right before bed. This creamy and rich leave-on lip mask features a Berry Mix Complex that’s a blend of vitamin C-rich, antioxidant-packed fruits like raspberries, cranberries, strawberries, blueberries and goji berries. Because of their vitamin C content, these berry extracts help to simulate collagen production, resulting in plumper-looking lips, while their high antioxidant content protects skin cells from free radical damage. The formula also contains hydrating hyaluronic acid to moisturize lips and instantly smooth fine lines and softening shea butter to keep that pout supple and kissable.

PACIFICA WAKE UP BEAUTIFUL SUPER HYDRATION SLEEPOVER MASK

The name of this mask says it all: it’s Pacifica’s Wake Up Beautiful Super Hydration Sleepover Mask ($15 at ULTA and ULTA.com). It’s a creamy, no-rinse, non-sticky overnight mask that’s designed to help replenish thirsty, stressed, or sun-damaged skin. The formula is 100% vegan, and it contains ingredients like floral stem cells to rejuvenate the skin; quinoa extract, which is rich in B vitamins that help to reduce the appearance of dark spots and even skin tone; and Reishi mushroom extract, which has anti-inflammatory properties and is packed with antioxidants as well as polysaccharides that help the skin retain moisture. It also contains hyaluronic acid to draw moisture to the skin and give it a plumper appearance, nourishing avocado and sunflower oils, shea butter, and aloe.

The formula also features botanical extracts with aromatherapy benefits, so the scent will help you unwind and more easily drift off to Dream Land.

SHIFFA ROSE MAROC NIGHT ELIXIR

Shiffa means “to heal” in Arabic, and that’s the philosophy behind this luxury brand, which takes a holistic approach to beauty and wellness. This is the Shiffa Rose Maroc Night Elixir ($175 at Nordstrom.com). This nighttime elixir works to turn back the clock while you sleep thanks to a high concentration of retinoids that stimulate skin cell proliferation and decrease UV-induced skin damage, as well as Moroccan rose, which boosts circulation and speeds the skin’s healing process. Other key ingredients include chamomile, which calms and soothes the skin, and caffeine-infused mirabilis plant stem cells to boost radiance, even out skin tone, and promote cellular repair. Plus, the night oil feels and smells incredibly luxurious and comes in a sleek bottle with a stunning architectural design.

UNWASH OVERNIGHT MASQUE KIT

If you want to have a Rapunzel moment when you wake up, make sure to apply the UnWash Overnight Hair Masque ($29 at ULTA.com) before bed. To use, you’ll want to apply the mask onto clean and damp hair in the evening, then wrap your hair or place it in a lined shower cap (like the one included in the kit) before going to bed so as to ensure that the product stays on your head and doesn’t transfer onto your pillow. In the morning, once you awake, you can rinse off the mask, dry your hair, and style it  as desired. You’ll be blown away by how much healthier, shinier, and more manageable your hair looks and feels.

The mask contains no harsh chemicals — just clean ingredients like moisturizing shea butter; probiotics to help balance the scalp’s microbiome; and geranium extract, which is full of amino acids (the building blocks of hair) and hence helps to reconstruct and fortify strands.