Relaxation for your body

A soothing shower at the end of the day can relax you by removing stress and preparing your body to wind down. As an added bonus, the steam and heat from the shower opens your pores so that impurities are easily removed. But don't spend too long in the shower - 10 minutes tops - as the hot water can strip your skin of moisture and natural oils. Be sure to apply a hydrating cream to your entire body immediately after your shower.

The scent of lavender is particularly soothing and associated with relaxation. Try L'Occitane Shea Lavender Soap to cleanse your way to soft skin. Follow with a body cream to help skin seal in moisture, leaving you as soft as your satin sheets!

Step-by-step to healthy skin

A few simple steps are all you need for your nightly facial skincare routine. Don't think of a night-time routine as an extra chore, but rather as a series of steps to pamper your skin and keep it healthy.

• Cleanse. Cleansing is key, and you should always wash your face every night before going to bed. You don't want to leave all the build-up from the day on your face! Choose a gentle cleanser like NeoStrata Facial Cleanser - PHA 4 that removes dirt, makeup and oil but doesn't irritate skin and is formulated for all skin types. Avoid using soap. In fact, British Columbia esthetician Selene McCorquodale tells iVillage that soap, "strips the skin of all natural oils, which we need. Soap is a detergent. It's better not to wash the face than to use soap."
• Tone. Toners remove impurities and any leftover residue. Although toners are refreshing and leave skin feeling purified, be sure to choose an appropriate type for your skin's needs and apply to your face and neck. For oily skin types, look for ingredients like witch hazel. However, such ingredients are too drying for other skin types. If you have dry skin, you'll want a toner that will retain moisture, so choose ingredients like hyaluronic acid, panthenol or glycerin.

For oilier skin, try La Roche Posay Effaclar Toner Astringent to keep pores clear and remove excess sebum. Skin Ceuticals Revitalizing Toner is alcohol-free - for normal to dry skin - to balance and moisturize dry skin with botanicals.

• Exfoliate. Use an exfoliating product about once a week. If you exfoliate too frequently, you wind up with irritation and dryness. Worse, you can remove your new skin. Night-time exfoliation allows any resulting pinkness or redness in skin to return to its normal color before we head out in the morning. Try products with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids, exfoliants often found in scrubs, to remove dead, dry skin cells and bring smooth skin to the surface.

Check out an alpha hydroxy acid facial polish to banish dead rough skin. If you have dryer skin, look for an exfoliating product like Tracie Martyn Enzyme Exfoliant to smooth and resurface skin without stripping away valuable moisture.

• Serum. At one time, women didn't bother with this extra step, but we've since learned that serums play a critical role in skin care. Serums boost collagen and firmness while decreasing lines and uneven coloration. Plus serums allow beneficial ingredients to penetrate skins deeper layers for optimal results. Serums containing antioxidants and vitamins are powerful weapons against free radical damage, lines or loss of firmness, so look for a serum that has these components. Try NeoStrata Bionic Face Serum with vitamins A, C and E to correct lines and wrinkles.
• Moisturizer. Moisturizers replenish skin's much needed moisture - a requirement for regeneration. Choose moisturizers with plant enzymes, vitamin C and olive oil for an extra hydrating boost at night. Try Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Moisture Network Night Cream or Murad Night Reform Treatment to add moisture and hydration all night.

A night-time routine is the perfect time to add an anti-aging product. Research shows products with AHAs, retinoids and vitamin C are powerful in reducing wrinkles. Try Philosophy Save Me, infused with vitamin C, or SkinMedica Dermal Repair with vitamins C and E, retinol and hyaluronic acid.

• Treatment. The type of treatments you should use depends on your skincare issues. If you're prone to breakouts and pimples, try Murad Acne Spot Treatment with salicylic acid to clear up blemishes. This treatment also has vitamins C and E to prevent over-drying and irritation. For treating under-eye wrinkles or puffy eyes, try Cellex-C Advanced Eye Firming Cream to boost collagen and make eyes look brighter.

Treatment products contain different beneficial ingredients, such as Coenzyme Q10 and retinol. Coenzyme Q10 is a vital component of cells, providing them with nutrients and treating wrinkles. Retinol, an ingredient related to vitamin A, treats and minimizes skin damage.

Pillows and wrinkles

Can pillows cause wrinkles? Absolutely, say experts. And we don't mean the kind of wrinkles that disappear in the dryer or with an ironing board either!

If you sleep on your side, your cheeks and chin will be pressed against your pillow, causing wrinkles in these areas. Do you sleep on your stomach with your whole face buried in your pillow? Don't be surprised if you have forehead or brow wrinkles. Your best bet for avoiding wrinkles is sleeping on your back.

If you find this position too uncomfortable, try putting another pillow under your knees. But if you absolutely can't sleep on your back, look for a pillow with fluffy natural fillers so the pillow won't be squashed against your face. And try a smooth satin or silk pillowcase, which may also prevent your skin from becoming wrinkled.

Benefits of sleep

As you drift off to slumber, ponder these benefits that sleep delivers to your skin.

• Regeneration. Sleep not only restores your body and mind, but your skin as well. At night, our skin repairs itself from the damage and stress it incurred during the day. As cells are renewed, the result is improved texture and tone. So, ultimately skin looks and feels better. Dermatologist Jeanine Downie, M.D. tells Oprah magazine that not getting sufficient sleep means that skin can't regenerate and repair itself. Consequently, skin may appear to lack vibrancy. You might also notice discoloration, especially under your eyes.
• Hormones. What happens when you don't get the amount of shut-eye you need? According to dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, M.D., lack of sleep leads to higher levels of a hormone called cortisol, shown to have damaging effects for skin and tissues. On the other hand, sufficient sleep produces human growth hormone (HGH), adding strength and elasticity to our skin.

With a good night-time skincare routine and enough sleep, fabulous skin can be a reality - not just a dream!

See also:

Yoga for a Healthy Complexion

Skin Care in Your 30s

Beauty Tips for Oily Skin

Preventing Plugged-Up Pores

Juara Product Review