Overnight Beauty Tricks Southern Belles Swear By

Makeup routines and beauty trends come and go. However, there's one lesson that has stood the test of time, and we can thank all the steel magnolias in the Bible Belt for it: Make sure you get plenty of shut-eye.

Southern women are taught at a very young age about manners and makeup, and not always in that order. After all, Mama takes pride in handing down the same beauty tips that were passed on from her mother. In addition to Southern charm, every girl raised below the Mason-Dixie understands how important it is to leave the house looking her best, which is why you'll rarely see her not all gussied up, even when making a trip to the grocery store. It's practically a standard for Southern belles to maintain a well-groomed appearance at all times, and it starts with her nightly ritual.

Yes, the key to a Southern woman's enviable glowing skin and effortless bouncy curls requires a little prep work the night before. If you're ready to wake up flawless, turn to these seven tried-and-true beauty secrets that Southern women swear by. And the best part? They work while you sleep. So lay your pretty head down tonight, because you'll need those much-needed Zs to face a brand new day and fresh look tomorrow. Sweet dreams.

1. We Always Remove Our Makeup

Going to bed with makeup on is the ultimate no-no. Even if you're not heavy on the foundation, lipstick, or eyeshadow, it's important to wash your face from sweat and grime accumulated throughout the day before retiring to bed.

2. We Never Forget to Moisturize and Slather on Night Cream

Before we hit the sheets, we pamper our faces with night cream for smooth, soft skin and to minimize wrinkles. Our beloved weapon of choice—Pond's Cold Cream. Grandma would be so proud!

3. We Embrace Curlers (Just Not in Public)

While we'd never be caught dead running an errand with our rollers still in, we're not afraid of wrapping sections of our hair around humble Velcro or pink foam rollers at night. During the summer, these come in handy to achieve added lift at the roots and more defined curls, without having to break out the hot irons each morning.

4. We Wrap Our Hair in a Silk Scarf

No sense in doing all that rolling work, if you're not going to protect and maintain it. That's why Southern women are serious about their silk head scarves to minimize morning frizz and to ensure their blowout lasts longer. Thanks to the silk scarf, your hair doesn't have to succumb to those nights you spend tossing and turning.

5. We Slip on a Silk Eye Mask

Sure, eye creams are great and all, but for maximum impact, we also use a silk eye mask to soothe skin, lock in moisture, and to keep our lids crease-free. Not to mention, an eye mask is functional for a good night's sleep because it helps to block out light.

6. We Sleep on Satin Pillowcases

Cotton causes friction, which isn't good for our skin or hair. Trade in your cotton pillowcases for satin ones to help tame flyaways and prevent those unwanted sleep lines and wrinkles.

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7. And, Lastly, We Sleep on Our Back

Puffy face and wrinkles? Yikes! No one wants that, so we avoid sleeping on our stomach or sideways. Burying your face in the pillow only increases forehead lines and breakouts (because of dirt and grease on the pillow) that even the most powerful serums and anti-aging creams won't be able to fix. And that simply won't do for us Southern gals.