My Night Time Beauty Tips

Good evening! I don't know about you lot, but when it gets to the end of the day I usually feel like just falling into bed fully clothed and with all my make up on. But as we all know, this isn't a very good idea.

Over the last few months, I've developed a simple bedtime routine which takes no time at all, yet has made a nice difference to my skin, my energy levels and my beauty sleep. Today I thought I would share with you all some of my top tips!

1. Wipe away! I'd LOVE to follow an extensive routine each night which involves me cleansing, exfoliating, toning, moisturising and what-not, but the truth is when it gets to 11pm and I want to go to sleep, I can't always sum up the energy to do all that. I do however make sure that I clean my face quickly before I go to sleep, as there's nothing worse than going to bed with all your make up, the day's dirt and dead skin cells on your face! I have sensitive skin which gets easily irritated by make up wipes, so I opt for good old-fashioned baby wipes. Pampers Natural Clean Wipes have a lovely smell and are unsurprisingly very gentle on the skin. (Top Tip - Baby wipes are also a LOT cheaper than make up wipes, so it's kinder to your bank account as well as your skin!)

2. "Vitalise". It is not uncommon for women to be anaemic at some point in their lives, with 1 in 10 women who suffer from heavy periods becoming anaemic. (See Patient.co.uk for more information) I have been anaemic in the past, and the low energy levels that came with it were a nightmare. It was important for me to take iron supplements to try and remedy this, and although I am no longer anaemic, it is something I have kept up with. I now take multivitamins combined with iron (Sainsbury's ones are good - £1.35 for 60), and it's a great habit to get into. The bottle is on my bedside table, so I see it as I'm climbing into bed and remember to take one. Packed full of vitamins A, D, E, C, B6, B12, K thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid and of course iron, it's an easy way to make sure that you're getting a health hit each day!

3. Luscious lips. After I brush my teeth, I always slick on a layer of lip balm to prevent cracking. Whilst this is more important in the winter, it's become part of my night time routine and so I do it all year round. The result? My lips are not flaky, chapped or dry. Yay! One of my favourite balms is in fact Tesco's Medicated Lipbalm, because I love the menthol sensation! I also use Vaseline in Aloe Vera with its lovely cucumber and aloe vera extracts.

4. Beauty sleep. In order to keep your hair, teeth, skin, nails and all of your body parts in tip top condition, you need to get a good night's sleep. This is easier said than done, sometimes! I can thoroughly recommend two wonderful products which help me to nod off. The first is Planet Spa Sleep Serenity Pillow Mist from Avon (I adore Avon, by the way); perfect to spray onto your pillow case and sheets - it doesn't stain - the gorgeous lavender scent really helps to me relax. It's currently just £3.10 for 100ml. Why not try it out for yourself?

The second product I encourage you to buy is Badger Sleep Balm - I flippin' love this stuff! The essential oils smell glorious, and as soon as you get one sniff, you'll be Zzzzing before you know it. It comes in a cute and practical tin, which means it's ideal for slipping into an overnight bag - AND it's a certified organic product, so there's no reason not to love it. 

5. H2O. Water. Water, water, water. Everyone's always banging on at us to drink more water, aren't they? But it can be easy at the end of the day to tot up how many glasses you've had and realise you've not achieved the '8 glasses' recommendation. So last thing, once I've cleaned my face and brushed my teeth, I pour myself a glass of cold water, and take it to bed. I then sit there quietly propped up against my pillows, maybe reading and listening to the radio, and make sure I drink the whole thing (I take my vitamin at this point, too!) Then at least I can add one more glass to the day's fluid intake, and know that I won't get dehydrated in the night. This has become a nice final stage to my routine, letting me collect my thoughts after what has usually been quite a manic and busy day.

So there you have it. In a way, it's the lazy girl's guide to a bed time routine which ensures you're not neglecting any of the important stuff. If you've tried them, let me know what you think of any of the products I've suggested!