When I was doing my undergrad, I worked at Starbucks doing the opening shift. That meant waking up at 3 a.m. and being at the store by 3:30 a.m. When I look back on it now (15 years later), I’m amazed I ever made it. I would go out with friends until midnight, crash for a couple of hours and then head into work. Sometimes I would just skip sleep altogether. But friends, we aren’t those spring chickens anymore 😂. If you’re enjoying your 30s like me, your nighttime routine needs an upgrade.
Get in bed earlier
In our 30s and beyond, we still require seven to nine hours of sleep. The problem is, people see this number and shoot for the bare minimum. If you think to yourself, “I need seven hours of sleep a night” and get in bed at midnight with an alarm set for 7 a.m., you’re not getting the full seven hours! As we get older, it takes us longer to fall asleep (busy brains, anxiety, etc.), and we also become lighter sleepers. Shoot for the whole nine hours, and realistically you’ll end up getting a full seven to eight.
Take your makeup off sooner
Most of us wait until before we’re about to hop into bed to remove the day’s face paint. As we mature, our skin cell turnover slows down, which means the top layer struggles to stay moisturized naturally. While you can find hydrating makeup products, none will do as much for your skin as a nutrient-dense night cream. The more time you can let these products soak in, the better your skin will look when you wake up. And just an extra note—when I say take off your makeup, I don’t mean with a makeup wipe. Makeup wipes have no place in your beauty arsenal after 30.
Indulge in a collagen latte
No, I’m not suggesting you end your day with a steaming cup of caffeine. A collagen latte is a cozy and dreamy way to end the night. Look for one that features collagen peptides to help strengthen skin from within, along with magnesium and melatonin to promote sleep.
Get your sleep vitamins
Getting better sleep is going to make your skin look better overall, but you can always use some internal support. Popping vitamins before sleep can help skin and hair cell turnover and growth.
Increase your pillows
After 30, it’s a good idea to start sleeping with two pillows. Having your head elevated a few inches while you sleep can prevent the dreaded puffiness. This is a time when gravity helps you with lymph and blood flow so fluids won’t accumulate under your eyes and in your face.
Give your hands as much attention as your face
Sure, we may all slap some hand cream on before turning out the lights, but once you pass 30, it isn’t enough. Moisturize your hands with a thick, luxurious hand cream that will keep your hands and fingernails looking their best first thing in the morning. Our hands tend to get dried out throughout the day with exposure to dry air and excessive washing. Night is a chance to try to undo some of the damage, which will also keep cuticles and fingernails moisturized so they will grow longer and stronger and break and peel less. You can also apply a cuticle oil or castor oil to your nails for extra strength and shine.
No more basic pillowcases
Silk pillowcases are all the rage when it comes to beauty sleep, and for good reason. Sleeping on silk or satin pillowcases helps with hair breakage and wrinkles in your skin. If you can’t splurge on the silk, make it a habit to change your cotton or linen pillowcases every other day. Dirt, makeup and bacteria can collect in the fibers of cotton or linen pillowcases, even if you wash your face every night. Make sure to wash them with fragrance-free laundry detergent so you don’t encourage skin irritation.
