How to Look Good when You Wake Up

Getting Ready for Bed

Wash your face before bed. Rinse your face with hot water. This will open your pores and prepare your skin for a deep cleanse. Using the tips of your index and middle fingers, lather facial wash across your face in circles, scrubbing thoroughly. Use a facial exfoliate to get rid of any dead skin cells for a healthier, more luminous appearance in the morning. Use cold water to rinse off the cleanser and close your pores. Gently dab a towel around your face to prevent dryness.

Do not go to sleep with makeup on. If you sleep with makeup on, it will clog your pores, dull your skin, and be smeared all over your face the next morning. Cleanse your face with a gentle makeup remover, and then scrub with a facial wash to remove pore-clogging debris from your face before you go to sleep. You will appear more refreshed and natural when you wake up. Be sure to fully remove any mascara from your eyelashes. Pay special attention to your forehead, nose and chin. These areas usually get oily, and you definitely want to get rid of any possible makeup in these specific areas.

Brush your teeth before bed. If you don't, your teeth will be noticeably gross in the morning and you will have bad breath. Consider using a good mouthwash for fresh breath and floss your teeth every night.

Apply a moisturizer. You do not want to wake up with dry, flaky skin. After you wash your face, be sure to apply a moisturizing cream so your skin can stay hydrated all night. Look for moisturizers specifically designed for nighttime use. Allow the moisturizer to dry completely before putting your face to your pillow so it doesn't rub off.

Moisturize chapped lips. People often have chapped lips when they awaken in the morning from dehydration. To prevent this, put on chap stick before and after you wake up. If you have extremely dry lips, exfoliate your lips before bed, and then apply chap stick.

Drink a glass of water. Your skin needs water to stay healthy and glowing, and your next chance for hydration after you lay down for bed is hours away. Try drinking one or two glasses of water before you fall asleep to keep your skin beautiful. (If this is more than you usually drink, make sure you use the bathroom before going to bed.)

Get plenty of sleep. If you don't allow your body to rest, your eyes may start to develop dark circles and heavy bags, making you appear tired upon waking. You should be aiming for at least six to eight hours of sleep every night.

Caring for Your Hair

Brush your hair before you sleep. If you sleep with unkempt hair, it will only become worse and more entangled in the morning. Simply run a comb or brush through your hair to reduce knots and tangles.

Dry your hair before sleeping. If you take nighttime showers, it is a good idea to wait until your hair dries before hitting the pillow. You can either blow dry your hair, or wait for it to air dry. This will prevent you forming a crazy bed head look that is hard to manage the next morning.

Sleep in a braid. This will keep your hair from forming any cowlicks and give you nice, even waves for a casually-messy-but-polished look. Be sure to wear your braid and hair tie loose so you don't damage your hair.

Try wearing a bun to bed. If you loosely tie your hair in a bun with a soft scrunchy, you can avoid any tangles or hair messes the next morning. As soon as you wake up, release your hair and you will be left with an effortlessly chic look.

Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase. Using a silk or satin pillowcase reduces some of the friction between your pillow and hair. This can help you prevent bed head and damage to your hair.

Taking Care in the Morning

Lighten dark circles. If you wake up with dark bags, lay cucumber slices on your eyes for five to ten minuets. Cucumbers have a skin lightening effect that can help your eye area look revitalized.

Press a cold compress to your puffy eyes. If you wake up with puffy eyes, hold a cold spoon or rag to your eyes for several minutes. The cold temperature will reduce eye inflammation almost immediately. Leave a cloth or spoon in the refrigerator the night before so it is ready for you the next morning.

Wipe your face if you drool. If you find yourself with drool crusted on your face in the morning, keep a box of tissues and a glass of water by your nightstand. This way, you can conveniently wipe your face when you wake up. Some people drool because allergies block their nose and cause them to breathe through their mouth. A nasal spray or medication can keep your nasal airways open, so you can close your mouth and limit the drool.

Wipe away eye crust. Unfortunately, you cannot control all of your bodily functions while you sleep. If you wake up with eye crust, keep a box of tissues and glass of water next to your bed to quickly wipe your eyes in the morning.

Wash your face in the morning. This will cleanse your pores before you start the day to give you a healthy glow. You can also consider using a illuminant serum that instantly lightens up your face, making it look more vibrant.