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8 Ways to Actually Wake Up Flawless

Skin

Whatever's causing you to pile on primer, foundation, concealer, and powder in the morning can easily be fixed with a specialized night- time routine (that's when our bodies are fixated on repair). time to get your beauty sleep!

If you wake up to...

Breakouts

Reach for salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Seeing mostly blackheads and whiteheads? Go with salicylic acid. It exfoliates to purify pores and unclog sebum. (Find it in Dermalogica's gel.) "If you have red or painful cystlike bumps—signs of bacteria overload—opt for antibacterial benzoyl peroxide," explains Eric Schweiger, MD, a dermatologist in Manhattan. He prefers a micronized formula like La Roche-Posay's. Super-potent, the particles are small enough to penetrate the skin's surface.Heads up:Benzoyl peroxide is notorious for bleaching fabrics, so use old pillowcases. Try: Dermalogica, Overnight Clearing Gel, $49. La Roche-Posay, Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment, $37

If you wake up to...

Dark Spots and Pigmentation

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Reach for hydroquinone. "It's the most effective lightening agent out there," says Dendy Engleman, MD, of Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery. The ingredient inhibits the enzymes that pump out melanin (responsible for producing dark spots). Two percent is the highest concentration you can get without a prescription (find it in Peter Thomas Roth's cream)—used nightly, it fades everything from freckles to melasma (sometimes in as little as one week!) and even helps to prevent new discoloration if you're vigilant about SPF daily. For seriously dark spots or large patches of discoloration, see a dermatologist for a 4 percent prescription of hydroquinone (the max you can get in the U.S.).Try: Peter Thomas Roth, Pro Strength De-Spot Plus, $78

If you wake up to...

Dullness and Dryness

Reach out for hyaluronic acid. Dry, lackluster skin craves moisture, and nothing is more quenching than hyaluronic acid. It's a hydro-phillic, or water-loving, molecule that constantly pulls in moisture from the outside air for 24/7 hydration, says Dr. Engelman. As the top layers of your skin soak up the moisture, the barrier on the surface looks plump and dewy. For an HA-packed regimen, try two drops of Pestle and Mortar's 100 percent pure hyaluronic acid formula followed by Lancôme's sleeping mask—this combo's serum-like delivery quickly penetrates the skin's surface, providing intense overnight hydration. Try: Pestle & Mortar, Pure Hya luronic Serum, $69. Lancôme Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Moisturizing Overnight Serum-In-Mask, $59.

Get dream skin while you dream with these derm-approved MVPs:

Detox Mask

Daily toxins from pollution and makeup get stuck in pores, stretching and enlarg ing them. Purge them with a clay mask, and pores will look smaller and other products' active ingre dients will penetrate more deeply.Try: Esteé Lauder, NightWear Plus 3-Minute Detox Mask, $45

Retinol

This vitamin-A derivative is the only skin-care ingredient proven to grow collagen. This one contains retinol plus vitamin B, which strengthens the layer of skin that retains moisture.Try: Dr. Dennis Gross, Ferulic + Retinol, Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum, $88

Moisturizer

A great moisturizer is key to maintaining heathy skin. "Think of it like a Band-Aid," explains Dennis Gross, MD, a dermatologist in NYC. "It locks in natural moisture and seals in all the ingredients you've layered on previously." Try: Clinique, Smart Night Custom-Repair Moisturizer, $57

Eyes

A DIY laser plus a peptide-rich eye cream are all you need to achieve your #eyegoals.

Harnessing the same technology used by professionals, Tria's at-home laser delivers a mild injury to the eye area, encouraging skin's natural renewal process. Just move the laser in teeny-tiny circles around each eye for a minute (it's normal to feel a prickly sensation), and follow up with eye cream. We're loving Ole Henriksen's: Its gel-like texture cools and depuffs on contact—plus it's loaded with collagen-plumping peptides.Try: Tria, Age-Defying Eye Wrinkle Correcting Laser, $249; Ole Henriksen, Ultimate Lift Eye Gel, $42

Lips

The easiest way to pout perfection? A pre-bed lip facial three times a week.

Start with a softening scrub to remove flakes and roughness. "Use your fingertip to buff in small circles, or apply the scrub to a toothbrush for more intense exfoliation," says Dr. Engelman. As you buff, you'll increase plumpness by boosting circulation as well as clear dead skin so lips can better absorb the soothing ingredients in a balm or overnight lip mask. Try: Clinique, Sugar Scrub and Lip Balm in Citron Bleu, $19.50; Bite, Beauty Agave Lip Mask, $26; Dior, Addict Lip Glow Pomade, $33

These sneaky saboteurs could be screwing with your skin….

1. Allergies

Even if you don't suffer from seasonal allergies, irritants like pollen, dust, and feathers can find their way into your bed, resulting in red, watery eyes and unwanted puffiness each morning. The quick fix? Wash sheets in hot water each week (cold water does not sanitize as effectively), and cover your mattress in a plastic slip cover.

2. Late Nights

If you're sleep-deprived, your blood flow kicks into high gear, thanks to a spike in cortisol, showing up in the form of dark under-eye circles (they're actually engorged blood vessels beneath the surface). On nights when a full eight hours is impossible, try this sleep cheat: Klorane Soothing and Relaxing Eye Patches ($21 for 7 sets). Their texture is cooling, which helps contract blood vessels, and soothing cornflower helps to brighten over time.

3. Diet

Booze and Chinese takeout are surefire ways to wake up to puff. "Alcohol and sodium make you retain fluid," says Dr. Engelman. If you overindulge, sleep propped up with a few pillows to encourage drainage from the eye area.

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