Make The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleep Cream Part of Your Dream Team
Because of our complex brains and our constant multi-tasking throughout the day (which requires accessing different parts of the brain), women need more sleep than men in order to feel refreshed — a theory I’ve always had but which was scientifically proven by a team of researchers at Loughborough University in Leicestershire, England. And, of course, as much as we may want and need to catch more ZZZs, few of us are actually getting the recommended amount of sleep. While I can’t necessarily offer quick fixes for some of the realities that lead to a lack of sleep (night feedings with a newborn, teething babies, long work hours that end past midnight, tight deadlines that require all-nighters, etc.), I can at least recommend some beauty products that will make you look refreshed — even if you feel like you’ve been run over by a garbage truck and you’re asking for a coffee IV.
I’ve talked about overnight beauty products becoming a growing section of the skincare market, and with good reason! These products are designed to work as you sleep, the time of the day when skin cells are at their peak in terms of performance: in the evening, skin cells regenerate 8 times faster than during the day, while collagen, elastin, and melatonin production all go into overdrive. Researchers have discovered that there’s a way to capitalize on the skin’s natural circadian rhythm: since the dermis is more permeable at night, lotions and serums will penetrate deeper into the skin, and because of skin cells’ speedier regeneration rates during the evening, any concentrated creams applied before bedtime will likely produce more dramatic results. And that, friends, is how the “sleeping cream” was born, a product meant to be applied over your essences, serums, and creams, and left on all night, so that you can awaken to a more supple and radiant-looking complexion.
The Body Shop’s Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream ($39 at thebodyshop-usa.com and The Body Shop stores) is one of the newest additions to the growing array of sleeping creams — and one of the best in the category. The latest member of the Oils of Life collection (which also includes the Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Essense Lotion and Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil), this cream has a delicious aqueous and almost gel-like consistency – think of a Jello-O shot but slightly more fluid — that melts right onto the skin without your complexion feeling weighed down, suffocated, sticky, or balmy. Though you can use this product in lieu of your night cream, I like layering it atop my night cream on days when my skin is looking a bit fatigued since the results are magnified by the combination.
What makes this sleeping cream so special? Well, first of all the smell is delightful: powdery and sweet but slightly spicy thanks to the marjoram leaf oil used to fragrance the product. Second, as mentioned, the texture is lovely and virtually weightless. Third, the cream instantly refreshes and cools the skin, which is a particularly welcome sensation on hot summer nights. And fourth and most crucial: it works!
The key components of the formula are the three precious oils identified for their regenerative properties: black cumin oil, sourced from Egypt, which is known to contain a high concentration of antioxidants; rosehip seed oil, derived from Chile, which is a great source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids; and camellia seed oil, which has origins in China and is rife with oleic acid, a wonderful cure for dry skin. These three oils are then accompanied by an additional seven essential oils, all of which boast moisturizing, soothing, luminosity-boosting, or protective properties: lavender oil, which calms skin inflammations and is also said to boost blood circulation; rosemary leaf oil, which has antiseptic properties and is known to help regulate oil production, protect skin from UV rays and other free radicals, and reduce visible aging signs; geranium oil, which helps to tackle and prevent acne, reduce inflammation, and promote a more radiant skin tone; chamomile oil, one of nature’s most powerful skin calming agents; orange peel oil, a great source of vitamin C and an excellent way to even skin tone, boost luminosity, and revitalize the skin; lavandin oil, which stimulates collagen and elastin production; and marjoram leaf oil, a plant in the mint family that is responsible for much of the cream’s delightful scent.
When you apply this product before going to bed and wake up the next morning, you’ll likely notice that your complexion looks bouncier and feels softer and smoother. Over time, you’ll begin noticing other changes: your complexion might regain a healthy glow and your skin might appear a bit more lifted and taut.
And because of the sumptuous texture and aroma of the sleeping cream, applying it will feel like an indulgence and not a chore.
