We at Parachute care about what we put into our homes and on ourselves. Our products are Oeko-tex certified – meaning free of harmful chemicals and dyes – so we can sleep well knowing our bedding is made well. However, even with the best bedding (ahem), toxic ingredients have made their way into our daily lives – most alarmingly beauty. With less than 20% of cosmetic ingredients having been tested for safety, beauty is one of the least regulated industries in the U.S. Cue our friends at Follain who created a non-toxic marketplace to provide access to clean beauty products we actually love. Follain maintains their own evolving list of restricted ingredients and has more recently started creating their own. It’s no secret that we believe in the power of beauty sleep so we were thrilled when Tara Foley, Founder and CEO of Follain, shared her tips for creating a non-toxic nighttime skin regimen. Find her words below...
A Holistic Bedtime Routine
I’m a big believer in the importance of sleep. It’s the time when your body (including your skin!) heals and restores itself, so it’s worth putting in a little extra effort to create a totally nourishing and nontoxic nighttime routine. I love giving my bedroom a sanctuary-like vibe with beautiful, sustainably made bedding and other details, like air-purifying plants and essential oils. And, of course, I’m a huge advocate of maximizing your beauty sleep by using skincare products that are based in healthy, wholesome ingredients without any of the harmful ingredients often found in conventional skincare.
Why Your Nighttime Skincare Routine Is So Important
All the products you use matter to your skin and personal health, but your evening skincare routine is extra important. First of all, since you’re not exposed to the pollutants and UV rays that your skin faces during the day, you can trade protective products for more nourishing ones. This is also the time that your skin renews and regenerates, so you get more bang for your buck with your nighttime skincare – it’s a great time to put to work investment products like serums and oils.
3 Ways to Make Your Nighttime Routine Work Harder
1. Apply your skincare a couple hours before bedtime:Don't let your sheets soak in all the benefits of your skincare! My nighttime routine is fairly involved and includes a lot of oils. The last thing I want to do is go through the trouble of applying it all and then have my pillowcase absorb more of it than my skin. So, I usually go through my skincare routine a couple hours before bed – sometimes right when I get home from work, because it’s such a treat and a great way to unwind from the day.
2. Give yourself a mini facial massage:You don’t need to go to the spa to treat yourself to a facial massage, which has tons of benefits including increased circulation, brighter complexion and reduced muscle tension. You can do this with a tool like a jade roller, which will gently exfoliate too, or with your hands. A quick massage will help your products absorb in deeper and make your routine feel more like a self-care ritual.
3. Find the best products for your skin: If you really want to see results from your nighttime skincare routine, it’s important to use the right products for your unique skin and your personal skincare goals. That’s why at Follain, we pride ourselves on being matchmakers, and why our shelves (and site) are carefully curated with only the best of the best of clean beauty. (Every product we sell goes through a strict five-step vetting process.) We love helping people find their skincare matches, so if you need a customized routine, take our skin quiz or stop into a Follain store!
Cleaning up your beauty routine and making the switch to nontoxic products is a step toward a healthier lifestyle. Think about it: You wouldn’t eat toxic chemicals, so why risk putting them on your body only to be absorbed into your bloodstream? Beginning with your nightly routine is a small start that your body will thank you for.