Night Beauty Secrets

The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote the poem, where a firefly didn’t know what happens when stars fade. George Gordon Byron was more fortunate saying “Night shows stars and women in a better light”. And that makes sense nowadays. "In 2010, the number of evening means on the cosmetics market grew by 40%, while women spent about $ 56 million for night skin care. That is twice overruns the amount of money spent on the day care products and  makeup" - said the director of the International Skincare Marketing L'Oreal Paris, Pierre-Emmanuel Angeloglu.

The peak activity of the cell renewal takes place from 11 pm to 4 am, and  works only if you are asleep! If you apply cream at night and sit in front of a laptop or watching TV afterwards, there will be no result. "During the night time vigil  forms a hormone called Cortisol (hydrocortisone), which destroys the skin cells. When having 7-8 hours of sleep needed, the organism produces a hormone of growth, which, by contrast, improves the skin "- explains the dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone.”People, who sleep seven hours every day, have the highest life expectancy. It is proved that the death rate increases for those who sleep more than eight or less than six hours a day "- says Marie-Anne Brie, director of scientific development company ILC-France. "Sleep consists of alternating fast and slow phases and intermediate stage. All of the recovery processes occur during rapid eye movement sleep, "- adds Eric Perrier, research director of LVMH Recherche Parfums & Cosmétiques.

According to dermatologist Annie Cohen-Letese, at 1 a.m.your cells are eight times more active, and  renewing to a total of 60%. Most vascular circulation is observed between 11 pm and 4:00 am. Around the same time occurs the maximum absorption of nutrients from cosmetics. This is the time for “larks”.

To  get maximum benefits to your skin during night time, you will need:

1. Water treatment

Twenty minutes in a warm bath or ten minutes in a shower - is enough for steam at a high temperature open skin pores and remove the dirt. “Then  apply bigger portion of a night cream on your face than you do  in the morning. 

2. Sex or Yoga

Better if there are both. Doing yoga helps you practice breathing. Sit on the floor, cross your legs, straighten your back and  relax. Close your eyes, inhale deeply and slowly through your nose. Exhale, trying to free the lungs.

During sex  your body actively produces useful hormones like estrogen (provides hair shine and skin elasticity), oxytocin (involved in the synthesis of endorphins - the antidepressant, efficacy of which is 10 times higher than that of Prozac). One passionate sexual intercourse burns off from 200 to 600 calories which is equal to 15 minutes on the treadmill, forty-minute of jog in the fresh air, or 15 minutes of intense exercise to strengthen abdominal muscles.

3. Pillow fights

"If you spend a night lying on your stomach, then you wake up in the morning with an inevitably puffy face and bags under eyes. This situation leads to disruption of the body heat and perspiration, also it causes wrinkles "- says Heidi Waldorf, a dermatologist from New York City. The most optimal position is  to be laying on the back or right side. If you find sleeping on your back uncomfortable, put another pillow under your knees. Still doesn’t work? Then try to sleep on your right side, using pillows with natural fillers and satin or silk pillow cases. The mattress should be flat and rigid in order to help you take a right posture and avoid circulatory disorders. Don’t forget to change  your mattress  every seven years!

4. Skin care

The effect  of night creams and masks is dramatically  increasedduring the night time, because your body doesn’t have to compete with the sun, street dust and decorative cosmetics. "For example, retinoids which are responsible for regeneration of the skin cells, get destroyed by ultraviolet light, - says Tom Mammone, the executive director of research at Clinique - and vitamins C, E, H may bring more good if they penetrate into the skin several hours before a bedtime." Cleansing the face before going to bed is a matter of a prime necessity. "Avoid soaps in order not to dry up the skin. Soap is a cleaner, not a facial cleanser! In a way it's better not to wash the  face at all than to do it with a soap, "- said Veronique Delvin, the director of scientific development Lancôme.

“To ensure a normal level of skin moisture, there will be more than only cosmetics needed - says Sheldon Pinnell, the professor of dermatology at the University of Southern California. – try to drink water (about 6-8 glasses a day)  and  consume  foods with a high amount of omega-3 (fish, nuts). At night, turn on the bedroom humidifier.  I used it once to get rid of the dryness in my throat, but then I realized that my skin has never looked better. Just do not forget to clean the humidifier regularly, especially if you are allergic. “Pay attention to the serum: they have a high ability to penetrate, and at night their effectiveness is only growing. The Vichy scientists believe consider night to be the most favorable period for getting rid of inflammation. Do not forget about  feet and hand care  products (the kits, which include gloves and socks, are especially recommended) as well as for the hair. Before going to sleep use a few minutes to brush your hair with a natural bristle brush to stimulate circulation in the scalp and hair follicles.

Always Yours,

Rusinka