It’s happened to all of us at some point – we go to sleep with smooth wrinkle-free skin and the next morning we go to look in the mirror and witness creases and lines etched across our faces. Cue panic mode!

Did we age overnight and develop wrinkles? Nope! They’re called sleep wrinkles. You might be surprised to know that these sleep wrinkles aren’t just a result of aging or genetics.

The position you sleep in could be the culprit. In today’s post, we’ll delve into the science of sleep wrinkles and share tips on how to prevent them. From the best sleeping positions for your skin to choosing the right pillow and bedding, we’ll give you a comprehensive guide on how to tackle this common (but not talked about enough) beauty problem.

If you’re interested in taking your beauty sleep more seriously, read on to discover how to wake up sleep wrinkle-free!

How Sleep Wrinkles Form

Chances are you’ve woken up and noticed deep lines etched into your face that weren’t there before you went to sleep. Sleep wrinkles, unlike normal wrinkles, are not the result of aging.

Instead, they are caused by sleeping in certain positions that create creases and lines on your face.

The science behind sleep wrinkles is quite straightforward – as we age, our skin becomes less elastic due to the loss of collagen, and as we sleep, these creases and lines become more pronounced.

The repeated pressure on certain areas of our skin leads to wrinkles that can be particularly difficult to erase. Think of it as if you’re manually creating wrinkles albeit unintentionally. Now imagine doing this every night!

So, how exactly are these wrinkles being formed as you sleep? Throughout the night, your head can weigh more than 10 pounds, and this weight is being pressed into your pillow.

Depending on the position you sleep in, this weight can cause the skin on your face to fold and crease over time, ultimately leading to sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles can also form due to the way that our skin moves as we sleep.

When we toss and turn, our skin can be pulled in many different directions, causing those pesky creases to form.

It gets even better. The skin on our neck and chest are thinner, so if you’re also a side sleeper, these creases form very easily in those areas.

Eventually, we start resorting to more invasive (and over-the-top expensive) treatments to try and get rid of these permanent wrinkles like Botox and filler.

These treatments are super expensive and aren’t event permanent with yearly maintenance required. That’s a lot of money going down the drain over time!

The easiest way to avoid going down this path is PREVENTION.

If I happen to sleep on my side this is what appears the next morning. I get several lines and creases showing up on my chest from the skin being compressed throughout the night! Cue panic mode. Side note, don’t forget to apply skincare to these areas before bed!

The good news is that there are some easy preventative measures that you can take to avoid the formation of sleep wrinkles.

Preventing Sleep Wrinkles

The most surefire way to prevent sleep wrinkles it by sleeping on your back. This is because the position you sleep in determines the amount of pressure and friction your skin experiences as you sleep. Sleeping on your back is the best position for your skin as there is no pressure on your face, preventing any creases from forming.

If you find it difficult to maintain a back sleeping position, consider investing in a specialized pillow that will help train you to sleep on your back comfortably.

Using a back sleep training pillow like Sleep & Glow’s Aula pillow helps ensure that you stay sleeping on your back throughout the night.

You’re not only prevented from moving to sleeping on your side / stomach, but you also avoid turning just your head and causing neck wrinkles to form.

If you’re a side sleeper, invest in an anti-wrinkle pillow like the Omnia pillow by Sleep & Glow. This will help to reduce the friction that your skin experiences as you sleep, making it less likely for sleep wrinkles to appear.

When you’re sleeping on your side you are smooshing the entire side of your face into your pillow, including the most delicate wrinkle-prone areas.

Additionally, avoid sleeping on pillows that are too high or too low, as this can cause your neck to be in an awkward position, leading to a wrinkled appearance.

Sleep and Glow’s engineered design was developed with dermatologists and orthopedists to ensure the right anatomical support. Check out a full review of Sleep and Glow’s pillows here.

By taking these simple steps, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing sleep wrinkles and wake up without having to worry about reversing the damage etched on your face from last night.

Other Tips for Preventing Sleep Wrinkles

Switch to a silk pillowcase!

Besides using the right pillow, your bedding can also play a significant role in preventing sleep wrinkles. Opt for silk pillowcases as they cause less friction on your skin than cotton pillowcases.

Silk and satin are also gentle on your hair, reducing the likelihood of hair breakage and frizz. 

Sleep and Glow only uses the softest, premium fabrics like Tencel and silk. 

They carry silk pillowcases perfectly suited to their anti-wrinkle pillows and are made with 19mm Grade 6A Mulberry Silk. The material is resistant to absorbing face creams and is hypoallergenic and naturally anti-bacterial.

The Tencel is a natural, nano-processed material made from Australian eucalyptus wood, which also has hypoallergenic and bacteriostatic properties. Tencel is great for sensitive skin and has a smoother and softer feel than cotton. Sleep & Glow sources a custom woven Tencel of high density for maximum durability.

For bedding, choose materials that are soft and gentle on your skin, like Egyptian cotton or bamboo. These materials are breathable, hypoallergenic, and gentle on the skin, ensuring a good night’s sleep while preventing sleep wrinkles.

In addition to sleeping positions, pillow, and bedding, there are other steps you can take to prevent sleep wrinkles.

Watch what you consume before bedtime. Eating a heavy meal or consuming alcohol and caffeine can lead to dehydration, which can contribute to sleep wrinkles. Try to avoid eating and drinking anything too close to bedtime, and hydrate throughout the day to keep your skin looking its best.

You can also add the popular skincare method called “slugging” which involves adding a thick, occlusive face balm as your final skincare step. This essentially “embalms” the skin and prevents moisture from escaping and skin from drying out in the middle of the night.

Remember, preventing sleep wrinkles is about taking a couple of easy, proactive steps to maintain the health and appearance of your skin. These simple tips, combined with the right sleeping position and bedding, can help take your beauty sleep to the next level.

Be sure to check out Sleep & Glow here and save with affiliate discount code OBL.