Sleeping Beauty Saturday: My Nighttime Routine

Everyone's heard that you should wash your face before you go to bed, to get the makeup off.
Yes, that's true, but there's a lot more you can do at night that might actually improve your skin to where you don't need to wear as much makeup, or even none at all.

First, a few wee factoids:
- It takes a little less than 30 seconds for something like a moisturizer, a mask, or makeup to absorb into your skin.
- Your pores (and hair follicles) open both at night, and in warm water.
- While warm water opens pores and hair follicles, cold water closes them.

So, what to do with this information?
- If you're going to use a hair mask or treatment, it's best to use it overnight, since your follicles will open and absorb the nutrients better.
- When you wash your hair, wash your scalp in warm to luke-warm water. This will allow the nutrients to cleanse and penetrate your scalp and roots. When you use conditioner, rinse it in cool to cold water. This will lock in the conditioner.
- Also, if you can, get a filtered showerhead, because while water is filtered, not everything can be filtered out at the plant. The things that can't be filtered end up in your open pores and follicles. Yeah. Ew.
- If you're going to use a deep moisturizer, a serum, or a vitamin treatment, you're likely better off using it at night, because your pores will open and it will absorb faster. That, and you won't have to walk around with globby stuff on your face all day.

Now here's what I (try to) do every night:
- I wash my face and use a toner. *I'm only using the toner until I run out; after that, I plan to use witch hazel. My toner is starting to hurt my vitiligo scars, and witch hazel is more natural. (Remember the 30 second rule I mentioned earlier.)
- I use a gel moisturizer and e.l.f.'s under eye . . . stuff. (I cannot for the life of me think of the word for it, but I think it works pretty well.)
- I take a 10,000mg biotin, because I'm trying to grow my hair out. (It also does wonders for your skin, too.)
- Another thing that helps your body even more is being well hydrated. I try to drink about 2 liters of water a day, but clearly that's not always going to happen.

In the morning, I can tell that my skin is firmer, brighter, and just looks healthier.

What's your nighttime routine?
Let me know if you try any of these and if they work for you!