After a long, busy day, it can seem like a chore to pamper one's skin before slipping into bed. For some, an evening ritual helps them wind down and prepare for a good night's sleep; for others, it just delays much-needed relaxation (and, let's be honest, that episode of GOT is more exciting than exfoliation). But if you approach your PM regimen with a little more knowledge, you can get the job done avoiding some common pitfalls that make skin worse.

1 - TAKE IT OFF. TAKE IT ALL OFF.

This is a not a unique perspective – removing makeup before heading to bed is obvious. But don't assume that make-up removal is the same as skin cleansing. Absolutely, address the pigment first, but then actually *cleanse* your skin to release makeup from within pores.

2 - PULL HAIR BACK.

While sleeping in a tight ponytail will lead to hair breakage, it's still important to get hair off your face before bedtime. Especially since 90% of women don't wash their hair every day, the oils and hair products in our hair can lead to breakouts around the perimeter of our faces. Embrace the scrunchie.

3 - SORRY, LAUNDRY HAS TO HAPPEN.

Considering more modern approaches to hair maintenance (see above), it is more important than ever to wash your pillowcases frequently, at least once per week. And although not ideal for the environment or your bills, using hot water will help kill off bacteria and allergens.

4 - BEING IN BED ISN'T ENOUGH. SLEEP.

We've all been there...not enough sleep leads to a dull complexion with undereye circles. In fact, lack of sleep is so stressful to our systems that fatigue leads to free radicals, increasing the potential for damage and wrinkles on the skin. Put your phone down, turn off the lights, and count sheep.

5 - DON'T 'AIR OUT' SKIN

It seems intuitive that when skin appears clogged, dull, or tired, we think skin needs to breathe. (Heck, deep breaths help us when we feel these symptoms.) But dermatologists agree: while keeping pores clear is important, the top layer of skin is dead, and therefore the under-layers of skin access oxygen via our bloody supply, not the air. Therefore, our best course of action is to apply treatments and moisture, and lock it in.

We recommend a layer of our Pure Nilotica Melt as the last step in your PM regimen, to seal in your skincare and help your skin restore itself while you slumber. It's non-comedogenic (so it won't clog pores), and chock full of vitamins and essential fatty acids. When you awake, you will be in awe at how plump, smooth, and vibrant your skin can look.

These elements of purity, rest, and moisture will help keep your evenings efficient yet effective, and bear in mind: the better your skin looks, the less makeup you will need for coverage, making the whole process even simpler over time