10 easy ways to wake up prettier (than you were going to sleep)

Sometimes you wonder why in God's name someone thought to call it beauty sleep – when the vast majority of us wake up looking anything but.

I mean; what are we doing wrong?! Because even on those few and far-between days we actually manage to hit the sack early, we still cringe when looking in the mirror first thing.

But guess what; beauty sleep DOES exist. I repeat: It is NOT a myth. Our skin (our absolute largest organ, by the way) renews itself when we sleep, meaning if you skimp on snooze, your face will soon start to show it. So quantity is important, that much is a given, but as far as quality goes...what you put in is what you get out.

So to wake up refreshed, well-rested and good looking, here are the tricks and tools you NEED to start using:

1. Wash your face

At night, your body (and skin!) is in repair mode, fighting hard to rejuvenate itself after the day's wear and tear. Before going to bed, make sure you cleanse your face properly to remove make-up, oil, dirt and bacteria sitting in your skin. This will prepare your skin for your night-time products, designed to help your skin do what it does best at night.

After cleansing, exfoliating, and toning, apply a serum with anti-aging properties under your moisturizer.

2. Look for key ingredients

Glycolic acid, retinol and peptides encourage collagen activity. Soothing ingredients like white tea extract, azulene, and chamomile provide anti-inflammatory relief, meaning these are all great to keep an eye out for when shopping for night products for your skin.

3. Sleep on your back

The best way to sleep is on your back as your face will not touch the pillow, meaning no creases will be made. Many experts also recommend having your pillows propped up slightly, as this will help to reduce under-eye puffiness by allowing fluid to drain from your face.

4. Use a silk pillowcase

Silk, as opposed to cotton, does not suck moisture from your skin while you sleep, helping to keep your face plump and dewy. It also provides some extra slip, preventing wrinkle formation and hair breakage.

5. Don't snuggle your pillow

Squishing your face into a pillow for like 2500 hours a year is like ironing wrinkles into the skin.

6. Get a humidifier for your bedroom

These are great, especially for the winter months when the cold air outside combined with the artificial hot air inside your house can make your skin sensitive and dry. Turning the humidifier on at night will help prevent moisture loss in your skin.

7. Adjust your skin care by season

Our skin changes with the season and also throughout our monthly cycle. In the winter, when hydration is key, opt for heavier moisturizers or a face oil. In the warmer summer months, though, a gel cream or very light moisturizer might work better for your skin and help keep you break-out free.

8. Wash your pillowcase frequently

When we sleep, our bodies lose a lot of moisture. Most of this will be soaked up by your duvet-cover and pillowcase. In fact; our pillowcase collects all kinds of ‘yuck’ that can clog the pores on your face over time, from conditioner residue left on your hair post-shower to natural scalp oils to grime and grease on your body, all of which can cause your skin to breakout!

9. Create a calm sleeping environment

Your bedroom should be a TV and electronic-free zone. This is a room where you should shut the world out and just rest. When your quality of sleep improves, so will your skin. Just try and see for yourself!

10. Sleep enough

All the other tricks won't matter if you skimp on this vital one. A lack of sleep causes the skin to look pale and tired because the circulation has been impaired. Also, make a note of the fact that sleep deprivation is known to causes stress, which can aggravate many skin conditions, including acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Bottom line, guys: When we're tired, we look it!

(Photo credit: Bellamumma.com and Thatnordicfeeling.com)