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Most of us at some stage claimed that “we need our beauty sleep”. This is often said in jest as we know that there is no magic kind of sleep that can be labelled “beauty”. This phrase is used rather to express how long we need to sleep for each night to have healthy glowing skin.

We all know that a poor night’s sleep can result in hanging eye lids, dark circles under our eyes and deeper more defined fine line and wrinkles. This happens regardless of how good our diet is or how healthy we are in other areas of our lives.

Why is this?

Our bodies need time to rejuvenate and regenerate. This applies to every part of the body including our largest organ, our skin.

Our skin needs us to stop and rest while it goes to work. Here’s what happens while we sleep:

Regenerate & repair

While we sleep our skin replaces dead skin cells. This is also when the skin repairs damage from UV exposure and other pollutants.

Natural anti-inflammatory

Cytokines that have an anti-inflammatory effect are produced while we sleep and help fend off dark circles under our eyes.

Collagen

At this time the body releases human growth hormones, a necessary ingredient for collagen production. This collagen helps keep our muscles toned and skin at its full thickness which reduces the sign of fine lines and wrinkles.

Blood flow

When we rest at night blood flow to our skin increases, feeding nutrients where needed.

What can we do to help with our beauty sleep?

1. Get a full night’s rest.

The importance of this cannot be overstated for healthy skin. It’s not always possible to get a full night of unbroken sleep but aim to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night with at least 4 hours of unbroken sleep.

2. Cleanse face thoroughly before going to bed

Our facial skin is exposed to a cocktail of environmental pollutants and grime each day. Cleansing thoroughly with a gentle cleanser free from harsh chemicals allows skin to breath, minimise the risk of blocked pores and is vital for healthy skin.

3. Feed the skin

Use a moisturiser with natural and organic ingredients to help boost skin elasticity and replace lost nutrients.

4. Hydrate

Keep a glass of clean water near the bedstand. By the time you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. Fending off a feeling of thirst is the best way to stay hydrated.

5. Pillowcase care

Rough cotton or nylon pillowcases can pull and stretch the skin. For people who sleep primarily on their back this is not a huge problem. For people who habitually sleep on their side, consider using a silk pillowcase which is gentler on the skin, allowing it to glide as you move around.  Regardless of what kind of pillowcase you use over time it will accumulate a build-up of pollutants from hair and skin so replace with a fresh one every week.

6. Let go of your day

In general, under stress we regress. As part of a healthy bedtime routine let your day be done, this can be as simple as saying “I let go of my day”. We know that everything will still be there to think about tomorrow.

We can help maximise the benefits that our skin reaps while we sleep. As an added benefit the steps above can help us feel healthier and more rejuvenated overall. Growing old is a privilege and our fine line and wrinkles tell part of our life story. Looking after our health and having a healthy sleep routine will allow our skin to look its best on this journey.

Everyone knows the harmful effects of excess sun exposure. Its primary danger is skin cancer and it can also cause premature skin aging. So, it’s not surprising that for a growing number of people sunless tanning has become a preferred way to get a golden glow for summer as there is no risk of UV skin damage.

Would you believe that the chemical reaction that produces the appearance of a tan on the skin is the same reaction that is responsible for the golden browning on cooked bread or your morning toast!?
The browning which happens in both cases is due to the reaction of sugar and amino acids and is called the Maillard reaction.

The most common ingredient used in self-tanning solutions to achieve this effect is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), but as with any ingredient it comes in lots of different grades. Natural fake tans which are COSMOS certified use DHA derived from natural ingredients, such as sugar cane. This DHA is designed to react to the proteins and amino acids in the outer layers of the skin.

Products with synthetic based DHA include fake tan chemical absorbers designed to penetrate the skin’s surface to develop a faster tan. These tans can also contain ingredients like dyes, artificial fragrances, parabens, alcohol and petrochemicals. The side effect of the absorbers used to develop synthetic based tanning lotions, is that all the products chemicals are more easily absorbed into the body too.

So, the safest way to get that bronzed look:
⦁ UV-FREE and
⦁ TOXIN-FREE
is to choose an organic self-tanning lotion that will not only turn your skin golden brown but will also leave it feeling luxuriously silky soft too. The best ones such as https://wotnot.com.au/collections/tanning have added ingredients that promote healthy skin. Wotnot tanning lotions include Australian certified organic Kakadu plum and camellia oil to provide antioxidants and nutrients to help slow the aging process while certified organic aloe vera softens, moisturises and soothes, leaving a beautiful even tan that fades naturally. 

Having a beautiful, natural, golden tan can make you feel instantly sexier. What better time to do it than 24-48 hours before a night-out?

Sunless tanning expert Juliana Illievski, who's worked in the industry for 20 years, shares exactly how to achieve and maintain the perfect faux tan this New Years Eve with Wotnot COSMOS Certified Natural Self Tanning Lotion.

PREPARE: 

16-24 hours prior to treatment prepare your skin. Shave/Wax and Scrub your skin! 

My perfect scrub ingredients are found in the kitchen cupboard. Use 1 cup of raw sugar or fine Himalayan salt scrub to 1/2 cup of coconut oil or almond oil and dry scrub in circular motion. Once done, rinse your skin and rub your skin with a towel. Make sure you shave or wax at least 24 hours prior to self-tanning.

APPLY & DEVELOP: 

Apply a thin layer of moisturiser to your eyebrows, lips, elbows, knees and tops of feet ten minutes prior to self-tanning. 

Put on your Sunless Mitt and prepare to get glowing! 

Apply 50 cent piece size worth of Wotnot Self Tanning Lotion to every area of the body in circular motion in this sequence.

• Ankles to knees, importantly bending at the knees and use sparingly in the ankles
• Thighs to hips including buttocks area (use a 50 cent piece quantity on each leg).
• Hips to chest (go over chest area twice keeping 45 minutes between application for better definition).
• Arms, importantly bending at the elbows.
• Hands only consist of a quick smooth over whilst your knuckles are in a claw position.
• Back area, it's best to ask a friend to apply your Wotnot Tanning lotion in a circular motion starting from the hips up.
•  Tanning the face and neck area. I find it is best to purchase yourself some new foundation sponges and allow a 50 cent piece of self-tan onto the sponge and start dabbing and pushing the product into the skin until you have perfectly coated the selected areas. Then grab a Q-Tip and apply some water onto the cotton and roll it over your eyebrows and use a separate Q-Tip for over your lips. Apply one coat every 5 days to keep your facial skin radiantly glowing. 

If you need to double coat your self-tanner, it’s best to leave a day in between applications to allow the first application to finish working on your skin. Keep your Wotnot Self Tanning lotion on for 8 hours before rinsing off, patting the skin dry and head out for the day. 

EXTEND: To maintain glowing skin it's essential to keep your skin hydrated on the outside and inside. Drink plenty of water and use a daily moisturiser morning and night (Wotnot baby lotion is perfect and so gentle J). Use Wotnot Facial Wipes to clean the skin as it will not affect the tan as it's alcohol and toxin-free! Your tan will gradually lighten whilst your skin self-exfoliates.

By Juliana Ilievski  - Sunless Tanning Expert (Cryo Spa Clinics)

Most parents and carers, who actively seek to understand exactly what is in the baby wipes they use, look at the ingredients listed on their baby wipes packaging. Baby wipes are classified as cosmetics in Australia therefore manufacturers must clearly list all ingredients, in descending order of concentration on their packaging. 

But what about the FABRIC in their baby wipes? Currently there is no legal requirement for brands to disclose exactly what the material in each wipe is made from. 

The truth is that the fabric used in most baby wipes is made from AT LEAST 70% polyester, which is a form of plastic made from petroleum. The fabric used by some brands is made from 100% polyester!