Are you getting enough? Sleep, that is. If you’re juggling a full-time job and planning your wedding while potentially coping with general Big Day anxiety, it can all conspire to disrupt your 40 winks. A 2017 survey by Bupa showed the average UK adult got just 6hrs 18mins a night. For a bride-to-be with lots on her mind, it’s easy to imagine the hours of decent shut-eye would be much less.
SLIP 'Mrs' Sleep Mask: £50, www.SpaceNK.com
As well as concentration and temperament, tiredness can have a knock-on effect to your health and weight (you’re more likely to reach for high-calorie foods to keep you going) as well as the appearance of skin, as Dr. David Colbert from New York Dermatology Group warns: “Sleep deprivation could result in sallowness, acne, dark circles, and the worsening of existing conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin.” With this in mind, it’s imperative to stick to a night-time routine to ensure you catch enough zzz’s.
Not sure how? Dr. Anna Persaud, CEO of skincare brand This Works, advises: “A bath or shower helps you physically and mentally feel as though you are ‘washing off’ the stresses of the day, which will help suppress cortisol, the stress hormone.” She adds: “Pay attention to your bedroom set-up; keep temperatures at around 18° and dim lighting to encourage drowsiness.”
It’s also wise to avoid your phone to resist the urge to go over emails or fall into the rabbit hole of social media. Instead, finish each day with a beauty routine using products that work best while you sleep.
L’Occitane Immortelle Precious Night Cream: £59, www.LOccitane.com.
Containing organic immortelle, this cream promotes collagen production, improving skin’s texture and luminosity.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate:£38, www.Kiehls.co.uk. You only need a few drops of this cult product to see glowing results the next day.
This Works Sleep Power Recharge Mask: £32, www.ThisWorks.com The Hyaluronic Acid plumping mask is a good night’s sleep in a tube. It’s your saviour if you need to fake looking refreshed.
Dr. Botanicals Hemp Night Moisturiser: £24, www.DRBotanicals.com
Hemp seed oil is the primary active ingredient here. It lavishly nourishes skin until dawn.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque: £34, www.Kiehls.co.uk. Quench dry skin with this mask. You won’t need to skip your day cream either as this amplifies its hydrating effects.
Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins: £30, www.Origins.co.uk
This dual action formula works as a 2-in-1 overnight moisturiser and peel using fruit-derived AHAs from grapes and sugar beets.
Eve Lom Intensive Night Cream: £90, www.EveLom.com.
Fortified with Lipsome Encapsulated Retinol, this rich cream can help smooth lines, wrinkles and age spots without irritating the skin.
This Works Sleep Power Nap Spray:£28, www.ThisWorks.com.
“Make up for lost sleep with a 90min nap in the day,” suggests Dr. Anna. A spritz of this spray allows you to doze as the world carries on.
Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask: £22, www.Origins.co.uk. More of a night cream than mask, simply massage a thin layer of the hydrating formula onto clean skin and leave overnight.
L’Occitane Immortelle Reset Serum: 30ml £49, www.LOccitane.com.
Perfect for all skin types, the Immortelle Overnight Reset Serum will leave you looking rested, fresh, more youthful and radiant by the time the sun comes up.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair:£76, www.EsteeLauder.co.uk.
Use this anti-ageing serum sparingly - all you need is a few drops to cover face, neck and décolletage.
As seen in Khush Wedding Spring 2019 KW21. Buy this issue here