Sure, we may have cracked open a few medicine cabinets during our lifetime, and maybe even peeked behind a closed bedroom door or two trying to get relief from a snoozy dinner party. But we draw the line at snooping in a bedside table. We have boundaries.
Instead, we politely asked some of our favorite models, celebrities, and businesswomen to share the beauty essentials they keep in their top drawers — because what a woman reaches for after dark can tell you a lot about who she is. Ahead, Zendaya, Kendall Jenner, Shay Mitchell, and more celebs share the creams, balms, and brushes they rely on for a good beauty sleep.
Arianna Huffington
The cofounder of The Huffington Post is also the author of The Sleep Revolution, so she knows a thing or two about beauty rest. Ahead, her number-one tip and favorite products to keep stashed by her bed.
"I love my Pottery Barn Charleston Vintage alarm clock," says Huffington. "I always make sure I have my phones charging far, far away from my bed, to help me avoid the middle-of-the-night temptation to check the latest news or emails. In past years, this clock has become my go-to gift for friends, so they won't be tempted to charge their iPhones by their beds."
Pottery Barn Charleston Vintage Clock, $49, available at Pottery Barn.
"My bedside table is also home to a tube of Fresh’s Seaberry Nourishing Hand Cream and a lavender-and-lovage-scented candle by Jo Malone," she adds.
Fresh Seaberry Nourishing Hand Cream, $23, available at Sephora.
"There’s something about lighting a candle that does wonders for easing my transition into sleep," says Huffington.
Jo Malone Lavender & Lovage Scented Candle, $65, available at Jo Malone.
Andreja Pejić
The model stocks her bedside table with products that make her feel sleepy and sexy.
"The lip balm my lips get their life from — or that, I should say, extends their life — is Aquaphor Lip Repair," says Pejić.
Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect, $3.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
"I personally love the, 'OMG, wow, your skin is the smoothest thing ever!' reaction," says Pejić. "To achieve that, I use retinol-based body creams like Paula's Choice, as well as AHA-based creams like
Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment, $28, available at Paula's Choice.
"Next to my bed, I have my dōTerra Petal Diffuser, along with a variety of essential oils. I usually opt for lavender oil, but it really depends on my mood. They have really great blends of their own, like Breathe, Balance, Guard, and Serenity. So I always find the perfect scent for the end of the day," says Pejić.
dōTerra Petal Diffuser, $62.67, available at dōTerra.
"You will always find a cute eye mask in my drawer. I don’t use it every night, but when I have jet lag, it’s a real lifesaver. Right now, I’m loving this Slip eye mask I found on Net-A-Porter," she says.
Slip Silk Eye Mask, $45, available at Net-A-Porter.
Shay Mitchell
The Pretty Little Liars star's bedside favorites are all affordable — score!
"You’d find makeup-remover wipes (those are always beside my bed) and the one-minute self-heating mask from Bioré," says Mitchell, who is an ambassador for the brand. "I have them everywhere — in my purse, travel bag, set room, room. I just toss them everywhere because any moment I have a chance to take off my makeup, I throw on that mask and feel super-clean."
She also keeps eye drops on hand after having undergone Lasik (which can cause dryness).
Bioré Self Heating One Minute Mask, $7.49, available at Ulta Beauty.
Charlotte Tilbury
The celebrity makeup artist is known for her signature bedtime look.
"I'm famous for my bedtime makeup routine! I call it my bedroom smoky eye look. My husband has never seen me without makeup..." says Tilbury. "I always take off my makeup, apply Magic Night Cream and Magic Eye Rescue, and then apply a slick of Wonder Glow, as it contains a magic ingredient called fluorescent core that redirects light to more flattering angles of the face. It's like a filter for the face."
Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow, $55, available at Charlotte Tilbury.
"Before I go to bed, I apply a pea-sized amount of my firming and toning Magic Eye Rescue with the tip of my ring finger. This finger has the lightest touch on the delicate skin around your eyes," she says.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue, $60, available at Charlotte Tilbury.
She, too, lights a candle before bed. "My favorite scents are Figuier and Baies," Tilbury says.
Diptyque Baies Candle, $62, available at Diptyque Paris.
Jessica Alba
When you're an actor, a mother, and a businesswoman, you need products on hand that serve more than one need.
"My Magic Balm. What I love about it is that I can put it under my eyes, I can put it on my lips, and it's great for morning or night," she says. "And then, I usually keep a big bottle of water there. The more hydrated you are, the better you look."
Honest Beauty Magic Balm, $18, available at Honest Beauty.
Cassandra Grey
It fits that the founder of one of the chicest online beauty destinations — Violet Grey — doesn't skimp on luxury when it comes to her bedside beauty essentials. She was even kind enough to throw in some reading recommendations.
"I currently have three books ( Originals by Adam Grant, They're Playing Our Song by Carole Bayer Sager, and On & By Andy Warhol) on my nightstand that I'll alternate depending on what state of mind I'm in before slipping into bed," she says. "I leave consistency to my beauty routine."
The MIT Press On & By Andy Warhol, Gilda Williams, $20.10, available at Amazon.
"Each night before selecting my book, I'll massage the tiniest amount of this into my nail beds," she says.
Dior Crème Abricot Nail Cream, $27, available at Sephora.
"Then, I follow up with a dollop of the La Mer hand cream to prolong my manicure before slipping off into la-la land. If I skip my routine one night, then I didn't actually get any beauty sleep (don't ever skip!)," she says.
La Mer The Hand Treatment, $90, available at Nordstrom.
Harley Viera-Newton
The British model, DJ, and clothing designer keeps her essentials for silky hair and smelling good close by at all times.
"The products on my nightstand are my everyday go-to products as well as my travel essentials — they are always with me! I've had my Mason Pearson hair brush since I was little and can't live without it — it's the only tool that can really transform a terrible hair day for me," she says.
Mason Pearson Hair Brush, $205, available at Barneys New York.
"My perfume is always on my nightstand: Le Labo in Rose," she says.
Le Labo Rose 31, $175, available at Barneys.
"The Caudalíe Beauty Elixir is a lifesaver — just a few sprays and I'm immediately refreshed and glowing. Before bed, I like to use a rich moisturizer to hydrate my typically dry skin. I'm currently obsessed with Caudalíe's Premier Cru — I swear I wake up looking a bit younger!" she says.
Caudalíe Beauty Elixir, $18, available at Sephora.
Kendall Jenner
After a day surrounded by products on set, the model keeps things minimal at home, and reaches for a single potent serum to maintain her glow.
"Most days, I am shooting and have on multiple makeup looks so I like to be good to my skin. I drink tons of water and after washing my face, I always apply Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II. It refreshes my skin and feels amazing after a long day," says Kendall, who is a face for the brand.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, $62, available at Estée Lauder.
Zendaya
The singer has a side table that's refreshingly relatable — and product-free.
"It's funny, because right now I'm moving so my room is a mess. What's on my side table, honestly, is like old eyelashes — you know when you want to go right to sleep, so you peel off your eyelashes [in bed]? And makeup wipes and bobby pins. Probably some hair. It's really not the average cute setup," she says.
Huda Beauty Faux Mink Lash Collection, $23, available at Sephora.
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