Overnight Skin Hacks
Don't you just hate the days when you wake up with a big spot or a patch of dry, red skin the day before a party, event or professional photo appointment? The ensuing panic to try every possible treatment product can be pretty stressful as unless you're a beauty/skincare aficionado it's unlikely you've got a huge range of products dedicated to this exact crisis.
The good news is that there's a few little tricks that you can deploy, simply overnight, to help fix those naughty breakouts and the trick is definitely less is more.
First up, do not squeeze, pick or scratch anything! We know you know this, but the temptation is real. Instead, apply skincare products with real goodness and nothing too harsh in the formulations. Your very last resort (and not a last resort we recommend) is anything steroidal.
If you find yourself needing a little pick-me-up, here's a few tips on treating everything from surprise spots and cracked hands to dull skin.
Topical treatments: if you're suffering from redness, don't go near the toothpaste, try a topical treatment of just a couple of drops of a soothing oil like Rosehip or Lavender. The best way to treat those spots or patches if you're not sure about adding a concentrated oil to the skin then you can add a drop or two to a tiny bit of moisturiser and rub into the area.
Night oil: Despite what you might think, night oils actually balance the oil levels in the skin by encouraging oily skin to produce less oil. Using a concentrated oil at night is the perfect treatment for skin, whether you've got flare ups or not, as without using other skincare products or make up on top, it's the ideal chance for your skin to absorb all the goodness over several hours. Great night oils include both single source oils or blends that are high in Vitamin C and other anti-oxidants (like the Rosehip or Lavender we mention above).
Hand cream: It's really hard to treat our hands during the day, we're always busy doing something and washing them regularly so an overnight hand cream is your best bet of returning the skin to its fullest softness. Using a lotion- or butter-based cream
Tea: As they say, "you are what you eat" so nourishing from the inside is always a good idea. A herbal blend like Pukka Herbs' Nighttime Tea is good for soothing and calming both the mind and body, a simple Peppermint is great for digestion and is a diuretic so helps to flush out your system, or even a homemade blend of your favourites from your local bulk food store will do the trick. Cleansing from the inside will help restore your outer glow.
Finally, a good night's sleep will do absolute wonders for your skin. During sleep our body is at maximum healing potential so as well as fixing those flare ups, you'll also be prepping some glowing skin and reduced eye bags for an all round fresher look the next day.