Thursday

It’s Thursday! In today’s newsletter:

• The amazing ways sleep can impact our skin

• Nighttime skincare mistakes to avoid

• Can bamboo save the planet?

• Should you add oil to your skincare routine?

The Amazing Ways Sleep Can Impact Our Skin

We know that sleep is critical for many different bodily functions — but how does it impact our skin?

According to science, the term “beauty sleep” may have some truth to it.

When we sleep, our circadian rhythm works with our brains to regulate many different processes — including those that impact our skin.

As we sleep, our skin actually heals. Our bodies produce a growth hormone as we sleep, which helps our cells rebuild.

Because our blood flow is boosted at night, this also contributes to skin repair and can help even skin tone.

On the flip side, when we don’t get enough rest, it can cause acne, paleness, dark circles, wrinkles, fine lines, and more.

Next time you find yourself putting off your bedtime, remember that it’s playing an important role in your skincare!

Avoid Making These Nighttime Skincare Mistakes

Nighttime is critical for our skincare routine — and is when our skin repair is at its peak. It’s essential to make the most of our PM routine and avoid some mistakes that could stunt the hard work our bodies do to care for our skin!

• Going to bed without washing your face: This means you’re going to bed with dirt, oils, pollution, and maybe makeup or sunscreen on your skin from the night before still on your skin, which puts you at risk for acne and other skin issues.

• Not using a moisturizer: Moisturizer is key to helping your skin stay soft. Plus, if you skip a moisturizer during that critical peak healing time, your skin may over-compensate and produce extra oil, which can lead to breakouts.

• Assuming your nighttime routine can do it all: Trying to layer all your products at nighttime on the same day can lead to irritation and mean they’re not working as effectively as they could. For example, you don’t want to mix an exfoliator, retinol, and vitamin C as it could be too harsh on your skin. Instead, carefully prioritize one or two areas with a couple of products.

• Not changing your sheets or pillowcases: Even if you go to bed with clean skin, you still sweat throughout the night, so it’s critical to change your sheets and pillowcases regularly.

While it’s not the end of the world if you do these things once in a while, they’re not good habits to do on the regular. Be sure to make your nighttime a priority and show your skin some love!

This New Toilet Paper Just Might Save the Planet

Every 24 hours, 27,000 trees are cut down to make toilet paper. To us, that feels like way too many — and Honeycomb agrees. That’s why this small, female-founded brand created luxury, three-ply toilet tissue made from bamboo. It feels just like regular high-end toilet paper but doesn’t harm trees.

So why bamboo? It’s the fastest-growing plant in the world — growing 100 times faster than the average tree — which means thousands of rolls can be produced in the time it takes for a single tree to grow back.

Even better? Code NTS30 will give new customers 30% off their first order for the next 24 hours.

Get started here.

Thank you to Honeycomb for sponsoring Note To Self. 

Should You Add Oil to Your Skincare Routine?

Oil, as it relates to our skin, often gets a bad reputation. However, oils — both the kind produced by our skin and those we use as skincare products — can play an important role in our skincare routines.

Different products will have different benefits, but experts say that people with all skin types can benefit from incorporating oil into their routine.

Some products may be a single oil in pure form, while others are a mix of multiple kinds of oils. Other products may blend an oil or oils with other products, like retinol.

On the whole, face oils help support skin barrier health and lock moisture into the skin, Hadley King, MD told Byrdie.

A few different skincare oils with different benefits include:

• Argan: May boost skin elasticity and help even skin tone

• Jojoba: Is lightweight, non-comedogenic, and helps regulate sebum, which makes it a great option for acne-prone skin

  Rosehip seed: May help repair the skin barrier and ease inflammation

• Safflower: Can help with eczema and acts as an antioxidant

If you’re interested in adding oil to your skincare routine, do some research or chat with an expert to find what kind would be best for your skin type and any concerns you may have!

A Note From Us

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ True or False: True, our skin can “flex”! Our skin actually has tiny muscles called "arrector pili" that are located inside our hair follicles. This is what makes our hair stand up when we get cold.

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week! 

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Remember that skincare is just one aspect of a holistic self-care routine — but it can be a powerful one.

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!