Epilator Authority

Author: Heather McClure

  • Do Epilators Wear Out? Epilator Durability & How to Increase Lifespan

    Do Epilators Wear Out? Epilator Durability & How to Increase Lifespan

    Ugh! I hate our consumer culture that encourages us to just buy, buy, buy cheap products that break easily and have to be replaced. This is one reason I gave up disposable razors. This is also why I spent so much time researching the durability of epilators and if epilators wear out before I finally invested in mine.

    So do epilators wear out? All epilators wear out eventually. The best quality epilators can last 3-5 years or even beyond 10 years. Lower quality epilators will wear out much quicker, often in 1-3 years. There are several things you can do to keep your epilator from wearing out quickly. Read ahead for my tips on finding a durable epilator and increasing the lifespan of your epilator. 

    How Long Does an Epilator Machine Last?

    An epilator can be an incredibly good investment, depending on how long it lasts. So how long is that? 

    I can’t speak about most generic brands of epilators, because there are so many different ones on the market now and I don’t have experience with them. However, most name brand epilators, including epilators from Braun, Emjoi, Epilady, Remington, and Phillips, typically last quite a while and can be well worth the upfront investment. 

    Most of these epilators will last a minimum of two years. The more high end models, such as the Braun Silk-épil and Emjoi Emagine can easily last 3-5 years or often up to a decade or longer if you take care of it well.

    You can also extend the life of these higher end epilators through replacement parts. When one part of the epilator wears out, you can often find replacement parts online for a fraction of what a whole new epilator would cost. Just buy it and then keep on keepin’ on. As long as your epilator’s motor stays in good shape, it can last a really long time when you have a model that offer replacement parts for sale.

    Besides buying replacement parts, you can also extend your epilator’s lifespan by using it carefully and doing a few maintenance steps.

    Do Epilators Go Blunt? 

    One way an epilator can wear out is due to the epilator’s head beginning to work less efficiently over time. When this happens, users often wonder if the epilator is going blunt?

    Well, kinda. 

    Unlike razors, epilators cut hair and do not have blades. So there are no blades to go blunt. 

    However, epilators do have springs, discs, or tweezers that grab hairs. Over time, elements like moisture and rust erode or damage these. 

    Springs, for example, often become stretched after a year or two and can no longer pinch hairs as well. 

    Tweezers and discs might be worn down and then there is enough space for hairs to slip through instead of getting caught. 

    Besides this permanent damage, it’s more common for epilator heads to work less efficiently because they aren’t clean enough. Dirt, oil, lotions, dead skin cells, and sweat can coat the springs, discs, or tweezers in an epilator, making them too slippery to do their job. 

    Other Reasons Epilators Wear Out

    Besides “blunt” springs, discs, or tweezers, there are several other common reasons that epilators wear out:

    Hair Balls

    Like your cat, your epilator can be overwhelmed by hairballs. That is, if you don’t clean it well.

    Hairs left to accumulate in the head can block the head from fully rotating. This in turn will often cause the epilator to turn off as a protective measure to prevent the motor from overheating.

    The simple solution to this is to clean your epilator head to prevent anything from clogging it up.

    Overheating

    Unfortunately, if your epilator doesn’t automatically turn off when it’s clogged and begins to overheat, then it can get too hot which can damage the motor. This could also possibly happen if you have a generic epilator or one with a poor design and use it too long in one setting. 

    Battery Dying

    Batteries are essentially perishable items. Eventually they stop holding charges. However, if used correctly, they can last years. 

    Motor Dying

    Like batteries, motors never last forever. Being mechanical, they will be worn out with use to physics. Fortunately, since epilators are used pretty sparingly, epilator motors can last quite a long time. 

    How to Make Your Epilator Machine Last Longer

    Keep it Clean

    As I’ve mentioned, dirt, oils, and hairballs are a few things that make an epilator work poorly. So one of the best ways to take care of your epilator is to keep it clean, especially the head and tweezers (or discs or springs). 

    This means you should try to use your epilator after you’ve cleaned and exfoliated your hair and skin. This will prevent deposits of oils, sweat, dead skin cells, make-up, lotion, shampoo residue, etc. 

    In addition, it’s best to clean your epilator head after every use. How to do this depends on your epilator model, so follow the instructions in your manual. But at a minimum, you should be clearing hairs out of your head after each use and thoroughly cleaning the head after every 2-3 uses. 

    Stay Cool

    To keep the motor in tip-top shape, make sure you don’t overheat it. If you hear it struggling or feeling the epilator getting hot, take a break. Turn the epilator and make sure there isn’t anything clogging the head like hairs. Then leave the epilator off for a while until it has fully cooled. 

    Protect the Rechargeable Battery

    Follow your manufacturer’s instructions about battery care to extend your battery’s life as long as possible. Usually, you should use a fully charged epilator and never let the battery run down past 20 percent. 

    Store Carefully

    It’s best to store your epilator between 59 degree Faherenheit and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Also to protect the electrical elements, keep it in an area that doesn’t have excessive humidity. So it’s probably best to store it outside of the bathroom.

    Do You Need to Replace Epilator Heads?

    So your epilator seems like it has gone “blunt” and isn’t catching hairs as well anymore? If you have an epilator with a detachable head, you may need to replace the head. But that’s not always necessary or possible.

    First, consider if the motor is working well. Has it slowed down since you first bought it? If this is the case, a new epilator head may not solve your problem. You may have to ditch the whole epilator and buy a new one.

    But if the motor seems to be performing well, the next thing to check is the head itself. Is it clean? The springs, discs, or tweezers need to be squeaky clean to perform at their best. So make sure you’ve done a thorough cleaning and then try the epilator out again.

    If that doesn’t solve the problem, then it’s time to look into a replacement head. If you have a more high-end name brand epilator, it’s likely that your manufacturer sells replacement heads online. You can check out replacement heads on Amazon or go directly to your manufacturer’s website.

    When Should I Replace My Epilator?

    Most epilators will work well for two or more years. However, as time goes by, your epilator will likely begin to stop grabbing hairs as efficiently. At this point, you have a few options.

    If you have an epilator from a company that offers replacement parts, such as Braun or Emjoi, you can look into replacing individual parts to make your epilator work like new again. This is often more cost-effective than buying a completely new epilator.

    Unfortunately, if you can’t find replacement parts for your model or if you notice that the problem is your motor, there isn’t much else you do. At this point, you have to decide if it’s worth buying a new epilator or not. 

    If you are still getting decent results from your epilator and saving money is a priority, just stick it out and keep using your epilator until it’s not working anymore.

    And if time or convenience is more important than money, then it’s probably time to just replace your epilator. 

    Final Takeaways

    All epilators eventually wear out. But how long your epilator lasts will depend on several variables.

    A quality epilator can last anywhere from 2 to over 10 years. If you buy a high end name brand epilator model, take good care of it and replace parts as they wear out, your epilator may last a decade or longer. In contrast, if you buy a cheap generic model, you may find yourself replacing the whole thing every 1-3 years. 

    Related Questions

    What is the most durable epilator?

    High end name brand epilators are usually pretty durable. In addition, if you get a model that has replacement parts to buy, you can save money by replacing parts instead of the whole epilator when something breaks. Two high end models that I love that also have replacement parts available are the Braun Silk-épil 9 (click to check it out on Amazon) and the Emjoi Emagine. 

    Have more questions about epilation? Check out the Epilator FAQ and Beginner’s Guide!

    Want to remember this? Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board so you can find it later!

  • Can You Use An Epilator on Your Face?

    Can You Use An Epilator on Your Face?

    When I first started using an epilator, face hair wasn’t even on my radar. However, after I started mastering my little epilator, I started to wonder if I could use it to remove my face hair as well, specifically since my peach fuzz was darkening as I aged. Before I took the plunge, I decided to do some research to see if using an epilator on my face was a good idea or not.

    So can you use an epilator on your face? Epilators can be safely used on the face to remove hair from the chin, upper lip, cheeks, sideburns, and between eyebrows. However, it’s not recommended that you use an epilator too close to the eyes.

    I’ve personally gotten great results from using an epilator for my facial hair. However, the quality and type of epilator you use can affect your results. There are also several side effects to prepare for and prevent when venturing into facial territory.

    Advantages of Epilating Your Face

    Why would you even want to use an epilator on your face instead of the other hair removal methods out there? One of the main reasons I love it so much is because I have incredibly sensitive skin. I can’t use creams or waxes because my skin will either break out in a rash or sometimes even tear. Since epilators don’t actually touch the skin, I can use them without causing skin irritation, which is especially important when it comes to the face.

    The next best thing is how smooth it leaves my face. Unlike shaving, epilation pulls the hairs out by the root, so there is no stubble later. And the hairs typically come in a little finer or become finer over time if you keep epilating regularly. So even if I let my facial hair grow out a bit, it’s not that noticeable.

    And after you get into a routine, it take almost no time at all to keep your face smooth and hairless. I spend less than an hour a month keeping my unibrow and mustache at bay.

    Side Effects of Using an Epilator on Face

    Now for the bad news. Epilation doesn’t work perfectly for everyone. If you are sensitive to pain, have coarse hair, or are prone to ingrown hairs, epilating your face may not work out as well for you.

    Here are some possible side effects to be aware of:

    1. Pain! This is probably the thing that people complain about the most. But luckily for most women, facial hair is really fine and doesn’t hurt that much to pull out. The pain also decreases over time. Most of us have already been tweezing or waxing so it’s not much different than that.
    2. Ingrown hairs are also high on the list of horrible side effects. These are hairs that become trapped under the skin and cause pimples or cysts. The more coarse your hair is, the more likely that you’ll get ingrown hairs when epilating. However, if you take some precautions and exfoliate a lot, you can cut down on the risk of getting ingrown hairs.
    3. Inflammation is another possibility. Even though an epilator isn’t usually touching your skin, the irritation of the hair follicles can cause your skin to become inflamed which may result in redness, swelling, bumps, or some bleeding. Luckily, these side effects are temporary and will go away within a few hours.

    How to Get the Best Results When Epilating the Face

    These are some of the steps I take when I epilate my face to prevent side effects and get the best results.

    1. Buy an epilator intended for the face. There are specific models for facial hair that are much smaller, lighter, and easier to use on the face. If you don’t want an epilator just for your face, however, you can buy full size epilators that come with attachments that make the epilator heads smaller for using on the face.
    2. Make sure your hair is the right length. If you’ve already waxed or removed facial hair, wait until your hair is about two to three millimeters long before trying to epilate. If it is much longer than that, however, you should probably shave it and wait for it to grow back to about two millimeters. Otherwise, it will be more painful pulling out longer hairs.
    3. Read your owner’s manual. This should be a given, but let’s be honest here, most of us don’t do this. But your manual may have info that I don’t know that could save you some major headaches.
    4. Test a small area first. This step is especially if you’ve never used an epilator at all or have coarse facial hair. A small test patch will let you see if you will get a lot of side effects or have problems with ingrown hairs. Wait about a week or two and if everything seems okay, proceed with the rest of your face.
    5. Cleanse and exfoliate. Take a hot shower to cleanse and exfoliate your face. Or use a sink and then use some hot steam to open up pores. This helps reduce the pain and makes the process go more smoothly.
    6. Just do it. Pull your skin taut and move the epilator head against the direction of the hair growth until all your hair is gone. Stay clear of your eyes or the super delicate skin near your eyes.
    7. Soothe your skin. Use some ice or a skin soothing gel if your face is feeling inflamed to help reduce the swelling and pain.
    8. Finish up. Apply some witch hazel or your favorite toner to close your pores and disinfect.
    9. Exfoliate like mad. Carefully exfoliate the next day and every other day (if your skin can tolerate that much exfoliation) to prevent ingrown hairs.
    10. Check yourself out. Take a look at your results and then try not to obsessively touch your skin all day because it feels so soft and smooth.

    Quick Tips

    • If you’ve never epilated before, try out a patch on your lower leg before your face to see how painful it is. This is usually one of the least painful areas to epilate. If you can’t handle the pain here, you may want to skip your face altogether.
    • If you are worried about pain, take a non-steroid anti-inflammatory like acetaminophen about 30 minutes before you start epilating.
    • Remember to charge your epilator or replace the batteries before each epilation session.
    • Save epilation for right before bedtime so that you can sleep through any lingering pain. This will also leave plenty of time for redness and irritation to go away before you have to be at work, school, or out in the public.
    • Don’t forget to clean your epilator regularly to keep in working properly and sanitary so you don’t end up with breakouts or infections.

    Is an Epilator the Best Way to Remove Your Facial Hair?

    If buying an epilator scares you, remember that there are many options to control facial hair in women.

    If hormones are the cause, a trip to the doctor may help. He or she can offer you advice and possibly a prescription that will help solve the underlying cause of your hair growth.

    Besides this, there are multiple facial hair removal methods: waxing, shaving, electrolysis, laser, creams, shaving, threading, and epilating, each with their pros and cons.

    For most women, laser or electrolysis are the ideal methods for facial hair. These two hair removal methods can have permanent results in many instances.

    Unfortunately, these two methods cost a pretty penny. We’re talking potentially thousands of dollars. So for most of us, it’s out of reach. But don’t fret, my dear! There are still several more options.

    Removing Hair at the Surface

    Shaving removes hair at the surface. It is fast, easy, and inexpensive. But is it a good choice for women?

    Shaving grows back quickly, and since it makes hair ends blunter, hair appears thicker when it grows back. It is also harsh on the skin.

    According to Anita Bhagwandas, a beauty editor at the Guardian, “Shaving is not only inflammatory (causing sensitivity), but it also makes the skin look more papery and thin. Add a five-o’clock shadow to the mix and you’re undeniably causing your skin damage.”

    Removing Hair from the Root

    Waxing, some depilatory creams, and epilating are tactics that remove hairs at the root. This means that hair takes longer to grow back (up to two to six weeks), freeing up precious time.

    Even more, hair tends to grow back thinner over time. This is a big advantage for women with facial hair. But these methods have some cons too.

    Waxing is done at a salon or home. Either way, you’re dishing out money regularly. And waxing rips tons of skin cells out with all those hairs.

    This can result in inflammation, red bumps, and rashes for some women. According to Evergreen Beauty College, “Your face may look slightly blotchy after your waxing session.”

    With waxing, the hair will be gone for a while, but you’ll have to let some stubble grow out before you can wax again. There is also a risk for ingrown hairs.

    And did I mention these methods can hurt like a mofo?!

    A less painful way is using depilatory creams. These dissolve the hairs instead of pulling them out so that part doesn’t hurt. However, they are full of nasty chemicals that may or may not affect your skin with burning or rashes. They smell, well let’s just say….not pleasant.

    And then we have epilation. This is done via threading or with a mechanical epilator. Of course, using an epilator is my favorite.

    Sure, the other removal methods have their place and purpose, depending on your skin type, hair type, and preferences. But for me, an epilator is about as good as it gets in the hair removal realm, especially if you are specifically using a good quality epilator.

    Related Questions

    Can you use a normal epilator on your face?

    You can use most normal epilators on your face, but it’s not always ideal. Some epilator heads are too large for the face, so it’s harder to navigate around the nose, eyes, and mouths. Usually epilators come with accessories like facial caps that you can put over the head to make it smaller for the face.

    What’s the best facial epilator?

    My pick for best overall facial epilator right now is the Braun Silk-épil 7 7/880 Sensosmart (click to check out photos and reviews on Amazon). This is a nice high end epilator that works on all hair types and is the perfect size for the chin and upper lips as well as the legs and body.

    If you are wanting a small, budget-friendly facial epilator that works well, I highly recommend the Emjoi Epi-Slim.

    Can men epilate the face?

    Many men use epilators for facial hair, but coarser hair can be more painful to epilate and cause more side effects like ingrown hairs so men usually prefer other methods like shaving.

    Have more questions about epilation? Check out the Epilator FAQ and Beginner’s Guide!

    Want to remember this? Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board so you can find it later!

  • Where to Buy an Epilator in Stores

    Where to Buy an Epilator in Stores

    I’m not gonna lie, finding an epilator in stores is hard. But I did the leg work so you’ll know exactly where to buy an epilator in stores.

    I checked tons of local stores plus dove into some research online to find out which brick and mortar stores are most likely to have epilators to buy. 

    So where can you find and buy an epilator in stores? You can sometimes find a limited selection of epilators in several different chain stores, but they aren’t consistently stocked at most of them. Your best bet is likely Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy or Boots.

    If you’d like to save yourself a wasted trip, read on to find all the stores that are likely to carry epilators and how to check if your local stores have epilators in stock.

    What You’re Likely to Find in Stores

    Very few brick and mortar stores have epilators in stock all year round. If they do, they usually have a small selection. 

    You’re most likely to find the latest Braun Silk-épil model. If you’re lucky, there may be one or two other brands or models of epilators available. Epilday, Panasonic, or Phillips epilators are what I see most often in stores after Braun epilators.

    How to Check the Stock of Local Stores

    The best way to find out if a store near you carries epilators is to search the store’s website first. Most chain stores give you the option to search the availability of local stores. This allows you to check the stock of all the stores in your area before you head out. Then you can just hit up the store that has the epilator that you want. 

    In the following section, I provide more detailed info on how to do this for each store so it’s easier for you to do this quickly.

    However, if the stores change their websites after this post is published, the directions here may become outdated. If that’s the case, these three basic steps will likely work for any store website:

    1. Search for epilators
    2. Click on an epilator you’re interested in
    3. On the full product description page, look for in-store availability or pickup

    Just a warning: many stores have razors and hair trimmers (such as the Finishing Touch Flawless Hair Remover) listed under epilators. However, epilators pull hair out by the root with tweezers, discs, or springs. These other products just cut the hair at the surface. So if you’re not familiar with the product, make sure you read carefully to see if it epilates or only cuts hair. 

    Brick-and-Mortar Stores that Sell Epilators

    Since most of my readers are located in the United States, I’ve focused mostly on stores and availability in the US. 

    However, if you are in Europe or Canada and have a store owned by the parent company of a store I mention in your region, it’s probably more likely to carry an epilator. This is because epilators are more popular outside of the United States. So it may be worth doing a little more investigating on your part. 

    If you’re outside of North America or Europe, this article may not be helpful to you as I’m not familiar with stores outside of this area. 

    Ulta Beauty

    Ulta Beauty has a small selection of epilators in many of their stores. Unfortunately, they don’t usually have the best prices. Most epilators I’ve seen there are at least $5 higher than other stores. 

    However, if you’d like to see if an Ultra near you has epilators for sale, click here. Then click on the epilator you are interested in. When you get to the product page, click “store availability” and enter your location to see if the product is available near you.

    Best Buy

    In contrast to Ulta, Best Buy sometimes has epilators on clearance for large discounts. So if you’re looking for a store to buy an epilator at, this is where I would probably look first.

    To see if there are epilators in a store near you, just click here to get to their epilator search results. Click on a product and the page should tell you if it’s in stock at a nearby store.

    Target

    When looking for an epilator in stores, I’ve had the best luck at Target. They almost always have at least a Braun Silk-épil in stock. 

    In addition, if you have a Target Redcard, you’ll get 5% off the price.

    To see what the Target near you has, click here for a list or epilators on their website. On the left hand side, under “get it fast,” click on “in stores.” 

    Bed Bath & Beyond

    Bed Bath & Beyond tends to have a nice selection of epilators online and one of the best selections you’re likely to find in stores as well. 

    The prices tend to be all over the place, though. Some will be much lower than other places, while some are much higher. So if price is a concern for you, check the prices on Amazon first for a reference point. 

    To see if your local Bed Bath & Beyond has epilators, go to the epilator search results page here. At the top of the page, click on “availability” and select the store nearest you. 

    Macy’s

    Macy’s usually carries epilady epilators online. Sometimes you will also find them in stores, but it’s not very common. In addition, Macy’s prices are going to be higher than other places usually. I included it here anyway, just in case you love shopping at Macy’s. 

    To see if Macy’s has an epilator in stock near you, go here. Then choose “free pick up today” on the left hand side of the screen.

    Walmart

    Walmart has sold epilators during black friday, but they don’t seem to keep them in stock throughout the year. If you’d like to check your local store, go to this page. At the top of that page, click “store availability” and choose a store. You will then be shown all the epilators in stock at that store. 

    Walgreens

    Walgreens rarely has epilators in their stores. If they do, it’s usually a small manual spring epilator. If you’d like to check for yourself, go to the epilator search results on their site by clicking here. Then select your store at the top of the page. 

    JCPenney

    JCPenney sells epilators on their website, but rarely in their stores. If you want to check anyway, you can go here and select store pickup on the left hand side to see if any are available in a store near you.

    Aldi (US and Europe)

    Every once in a while, I have seen epilators for sale in Aldi. Aldi rotates products throughout the year so they are only available for a week or two at a time. 

    These are a generic brand and the quality may not be great. I’ve never tried them so can’t say, but I do remember that they are often really low cost at around $20. So if you just want to test out epilating, it may be worth checking if your local Aldi has any. 

    The best way to know if your local Aldi has an epilator for sale is to simply check out the weekly ad. You can find yours here if you are in the US.

    Or here if you’re in Europe.

    Boots (UK)

    If you’re in the UK and want to buy an epilator in a store, you’re in luck. This is because Boots is one of the best places to get epilators in stores with a much wider variety than you’ll find in most US stores.

    To see what your local store has in stock, click here. Then choose an epilator. Once you’re on the product page, click “find in stores” to see if the epilator is available in stores near you. 

    Where I Bought My Epilators

    Online shopping may not be right for everyone, but I’ve bought all of my epilators from Amazon.com. I live in a metro of half a million and only found two different epilators in my city, both priced higher than Amazon, so Amazon was the clear choice for me.

    Amazon has by far the widest selection of epilators I’ve found, including the most popular epilators as well as tons of generic brands. And most epilators come with free shipping, which is the main disadvantage of shopping online. 

    I think the only way I’d buy from a local store would be for easier returns. Thankfully, none of the epilators I’ve bought have needed to be returned. I credit this to doing tons of research beforehand and choosing a quality epilator from the get go. 

    Final Takeaways

    Lots of stores sell epilators these days, even in the United States, which is an improvement from just a few years ago. Unfortunately, the selection is very limited and the prices are often higher than what you’ll find online.

    If you want to buy from a brick-and-mortar store, I would start first with Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, or Boots. They seem to be the stores that consistently have at least one or two models in stock at all times. 

    Want to remember this? Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board so you can find it later!

  • Best Time to Sleep for Skin

    Best Time to Sleep for Skin

    After years of trying various hacks for skincare, I finally realized the component that makes or breaks all the others: sleep.

    I can use #allthethings in attempts to make my skin look good while still hating what I’m seeing in the mirror. Then some days, I neglect my skin yet get high-quality sleep at the right times and my skin magically looks ten times better.

    So what is the best time to sleep for skin? According to sleep researchers, the best time to sleep for skin benefits is between 8 PM and midnight. You’ll get the most benefits if you get 7 to 9 hours each night and keep your sleep and wake times consistently the same each day.

    Why is this time the best for sleeping? And what happens to your skin when you get high-quality sleep at this time? Read on to find out.

    The Optimal Time to Sleep

    We sleep in cycles of 90 minutes. During each cycle, we go through all four stages of sleep, including three stages of slow-wave sleep and one stage called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

    Although all stages of sleep provide different benefits, many researchers believe that the first three stages may provide most of the restorative benefits of sleep.

    This is important to note because, after midnight, your cycles tend to have longer periods of REM sleep, cutting short the non-REM sleep. So if you fall asleep after midnight, you may be missing out on the optimal levels of non-REM sleep.

    According to Matthew Walker, a sleep researcher at the Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab at the University of California, Berkeley, “When it comes to bedtime, there’s a window of several hours, roughly between 8 PM and 12 AM, during which your brain and body have the opportunity to get all the non-REM and REM shuteye they need to function optimally.”

    This means that you need to be getting to bed by midnight if you want all the restorative benefits of sleep (including the restorative benefits for the skin).

    Benefits of Sleep for Your Skin

    Research has shown again and again that sleep in crucial to looking your best. Just one night of poor sleep can cause swollen eyes, droopy eyelids, undereye circles, paler skin, droopy mouth corners, and wrinkles or fine lines.

    In addition to this, sleep deprivation will make your skin age faster. This is because your skin repairs and replenishes itself each night. And every night you skip out on a good 7 to 9 hours, you are adding unnecessary age to your skin.

    Yes, just one night! But on the flip side, it just takes one good night of sleep to improve the appearance of your skin and put a stop to that pre-mature aging.

    How to Get High-Quality Sleep

    As you know now, for your skin to look it’s best, you should be falling asleep between 8 PM and midnight. You also should be sleeping getting 7-9 hours each night, no matter what.

    These two elements sleeping well are a good start, but there is much more you can do to make sure you get the highest quality of sleep and therefore, the most benefits for your skin.

    Stay Regular

    Regularity is the key to beating insomnia and ensuring you are falling into a deep, restorative sleep that fully renews your body and mind. This means you need to be going to sleep and waking up at the same time every single day, including weekends.

    When you miss out on enough sleep, even for one day, you will never be able to completely make up for the consequences on your body and skin. Although the consequences of losing sleep for one night is pretty insignificant, they do add up over many nights and many years.

    Besides that, when you are waking up and going to sleep at different times, you essentially are giving yourself jet lag. Your body will not be primed to sleep as well because your circadian rhythm will be constantly resetting. Our bodies aren’t meant to do this.

    So at least commit to waking up at the same time every single day and then listen to your body in the evenings. It will tell you when it’s time to go to sleep.

    Keep Cool

    Humans evolved before climate-controlled buildings. Cooler air after the sunset signaled to the body that it was time to sleep.

    Now our bodies still need that signal, but our environment doesn’t always provide it.

    The best way to fix this problem is to make sure the thermostat is set to a cooler temperature at night. 67 to 72 degrees works for most people, but you may have to experiment until you find the ideal temperature for your body.

    If you are in a dorm room, apartment, or some other arrangement where you can’t change the temperature at night easily, you can try sleeping with a cooling pad or blanket like the Elegear Cooling Throw Blanket (click to see images and reviews Amazon).

    Embrace Darkness

    Artificial light, especially from devices like computers and smartphones, has a major impact on sleep quality. Screen time in the hour before you go to sleep will reduce melatonin production. This is the hormone that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep.

    So definitely put the smartphone or iPad away at least an hour before you plan to fall asleep. Reading a book in dim light is a better option.

    In addition, if you live in an urban area where city lights keep your street bright all night, make sure you have curtains or blinds that block it out so your room can get sufficiently dark.

    Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine

    According to sleep researcher Matthew Walker, caffeine intake has been shown to reduce deep sleep by 20% in studies. So even if you have no problem falling asleep after drinking caffeine, you are not getting the full restorative benefits of sleep for your skin.

    “I would probably have to age you by about 30 years to get that type of a drop in deep sleep. Or you could do it every night with a cup of coffee with dinner,” Walker stated in an interview by Chris Kesser.

    Since caffeine will still be in your blood even after 12 hours, it’s best to avoid it completely. But if you’ve gotta have your morning java, limit it to your first hour in the morning to minimize its effects on your sleep.

    Along the same line, alcohol is problematic too. It fragments sleep, limiting its restorative effects. So if you want to avoid it most of the time as well, especially right before bed.

    Don’t Chill in Your Bed

    Your nervous system is always working in the background, taking in environmental cues and then reacting to them. If it associates your bed with sleep, this will make falling asleep and staying asleep so much easier.

    This is why it’s important to not hang out in your bed unless you are sleeping or will be sleeping very soon.

    If you are lying in bed and just can’t fall asleep after 20 or 25 minutes, then it’s best to get up and go to another room. Do a quiet activity in dim light until you get sleepy. Then you can go back to bed.

    Final Takeaways

    Good sleep is the component missing out of almost everyone’s skincare routine. To get the biggest benefits for your skin, get to sleep between 8 PM and midnight and sleep for at least 7-9 hours each night.

    You should also work on increasing the quality of your sleep by having a consistent bedtime and wake time, sleeping in a cool room, and avoiding artificial light, caffeine, and alcohol.

    Lastly, make sure that sleep is the main activity of your bedroom to condition your nervous system to fall asleep easily when you hit the sack.

    Want to remember this? Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board so you can find it later!

    References

    Chris Kresser: Why We Need Sleep with Dr. Matthew Walker

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology: Does Poor Sleep Quality Affect Skin Ageing?

    Sleep: Cues of Fatigue: Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Facial Appearance

    Time: What’s the Best Time to Sleep? You Asked

  • 6 Free Printable Self Care Quotes

    6 Free Printable Self Care Quotes

    We often have so many demands in our busy lives that self-care rarely becomes a priority. But as I have learned the hard way, this is short-sighted. In fact, self-care can make or break us in the long run.

    To help you stay inspired when you feel too overwhelmed to take self-care seriously, I put together these 6 printable self-care quotes along with some background info on each one.

    You can write your favorite in your daily planner or journal so you’ll see a self-care reminder each day.

    A high-quality printable pdf version of these quotes is available to my newsletter subscribers.

    If you’d like a copy for yourself so you can print and frame your favorite quotes, simply sign up below and I’ll send it to your inbox:

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    "You can't give what you don't have."

    “You can’t give what you don’t have.”

    -Paraphrased from Lorne Ladner, The Lost Art of Compassion

    This first of these 6 printable self-care quotes was so transformative for my life. You can find it in many places and books, but the first version I ever found was in the “Lost Art of Compassion” by Lorne Ladner (click to read reviews of this book that changed my life on Amazon):

    “You cannot give others what you don’t have yourself.”

    When I first encountered this idea, I was exhausted and burnt out from being a caretaker of others while ignoring my own needs for years.

    I felt the weight of the world’s problems on my shoulders yet had no energy left to do anything about it. It was a recipe for clinical depression, to say the least.

    But Ladner made it clear to me: I could regain the passion that would propel me into effortless action to help others, but I had to focus on myself first.

    If I wanted to practice compassion through good deeds for others in a sustainable way, I needed to develop it in my heart and mind. Otherwise, practicing compassion just leads to burnout.

    And how do you develop compassion in your heart and mind? Through self-care acts such as meditation that will give you peace of mind and energy so you can care easily for others.

    You cannot pour from an empty cup.

    “You cannot pour from an empty cup.”

    -Unknown

    This quote has a similar message as the previous one. If you are drained of energy or compassion, you can’t give others what they often need the most from you: your mindful attention.

    When you take time to recharge, you can take on the day with new energy and motivation and impact the lives of others in more powerful ways.

    "Self-care is not self-indulgence. Self-care is self-preservation."

    “Self-care is not self-indulgence. Self-care is self-preservation.”

    -Paraphrased from Audre Lorde, A Burst of Light: and Other Essays

    This is an adaption of something Audre Lorde wrote in “A Burst of Light: and Other Essays. She stated, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

    To fully understand this quote, it helps to know that Lorde was an African-American lesbian writer and mother involved in the feminist and civil rights movements. She was also dealing with cancer when she wrote those words.

    The system we live under was not created for the interests or survival of marginalized people like Audre Lorde. They are merely cogs in the machine — and the machine was made to benefit those who rule it.

    The system isn’t going to prioritize the care of marginalized people: minorities, women, or the disabled. Therefore, to survive, thrive, and do the hard work of transforming this world into a place that will serve them too (because let’s be honest, no one will do it for us), marginalized people need to prioritize self-care.

    "Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what's left of you."

    “Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.”

    -Katie Reed

    This is a popular quote from writer and mental health advocate, Katie Reed. It is another reminder that self-care is actually the opposite of selfishness. It’s a key component of doing selfless things well.

    So if you’re one of the many, many women who struggle with feelings of guilt over self-care, print this out and look at it daily until you get over it.

    "You've gotta nourish to flourish."

    “You’ve gotta nourish to flourish.”

    -Unknown

    This is another popular self-care quote without an origin that I can pin down. It’s pretty easy to understand. Like any living thing, you need nourishment to thrive.

    You want to grow as a human being or just adult more effortlessly? You gotta nourish your body, mind, and soul regularly like you would anything else that’s developing into something bigger and better.

    “Pause. Breath. Be gentle to you.”

    -Me

    I had a hard time finding a short phrase that would fit into this design I wanted to use. So I made one up. 🙂

    These words are the best advice I have for anyone who needs to sneak self-care into a busy day.

    Just pick an anchor activity like hitting a traffic light, using the bathroom, or checking your email. Commit to taking a moment to repeat this phase in your mind when you encounter that activity in the day.

    Then do the steps:

    1. Pause. Stop thinking for a moment. Let all your worries go for just a few seconds.
    2. Breath. Take a few slow exhales. Or simply sigh. This works better to activate a calm nervous system response than taking in a big breath first.
    3. Be gentle to you. Give yourself some grace, tell yourself an affirmation, or think of something you are proud that you did today. Life is going to be hard enough on you. You don’t have to help it.

    Want to remember this? Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board so you can find it later!