Rise and shine! Want to maximize your beauty sleep? We've got some overnight treatments that will get you gorgeous by morning - beauty

SAY GOOD NIGHT

Do you want radiant skin, healthy hair and stronger nails? Make sure you get a good night's sleep. Proper shut-eye gives the body the opportunity to heal and recuperate. "It is in the deepest stages of sleep that the body does most of its restoring and repairing," says David Edelson, M.D., director of the Healthbridge Multi-Disciplinary Center in Manhasset, New York, which specializes in sleep disorders. When you miss out on adequate sleep, it naturally shows on the outside. Besides the dark circles under your eyes, you could suffer from acne flare-ups or even hair loss. To make sure you roll out of bed looking your best, supplement a good night's sleep with overnight treatments that give nature a helping hand.

GREAT FACE

Before you turn in, take a moment to pamper your skin with a night cream. Most skin types can benefit from retinol, a derivative of vitamin A. Retinol can help skin cells turn over faster so you won't have a lackluster complexion in the A.M. It is also beneficial to acne-prone skin and can help minimize wrinkles. Try Philosophy Save Me or Blue Retinol and Vitamin C Treatment Creme. For sensitive skin that's easily irritated, look for night creams containing antioxidants like vitamins A, C or E, zinc or green tea. We like Darphin Intral Balm, Lancome Absolute Night Recovery Treatment and Caudalie Total Night Care. To zap a zit virtually overnight, try a spot application of Astara Blue Flame Purification Mask, Tip: Use a cleanser that gently exfoliates and removes dead-skin layers so your other products penetrate more effectively. Try Ingrid Millet Gentle Exfoliating Gel for all skin types.

Bright Eyes

We've found a great all-in-one remedy for the appearance of dark circles, fine lines and puffiness around the eyes. The Talika Eye Therapy Mask delivers antioxidants and ceramides (they help prevent dehydration) to the eye area. Put one on at bedtime, or pop it in the fridge and wear it as you catnap, to reduce signs of jet lag or fatigue.

NIGHTTIME HAIR CARE

Healthy tresses deserve some overnight TLC, too. Olive Benson, a veteran hair-care expert and owner of Olive's in Boston, offers this advice:

* Don't sleep in rollers (unless they're on the top of your head) or tight rubber bands (they put too much stress on the hair and can lead to breakage).

* Treat your scalp with nourishing oils like Olive's All Purpose Oil (which includes jojoba, avocado, lavender and chamomile) between shampoos to protect against salt deposits from perspiration. These oils can also prevent irritation of the scalp from chemical processes, so apply the night before a chemical treatment.

* Use a satin pillowcase, wrap or cap instead of a cotton one, which absorbs moisture and oil.

* Benson says it's fine to condition your hair overnight. Just be sure to cover your head with a cap, and rinse out the conditioner in the morning. We like La Deesse Monoi of Tahiti Oil Conditioner and L'Oreal Nature's Therapy Mega Moisture Nurturing Creme. "Anything you take care of will flourish," says Stephanie Suthers, who developed the Hairobics hair-care line. To try: Hairobics Hair and Scalp Booster (infused with 10 essential oils plus fruit and nut oils) and Profectiv Growth-n-Healing Anti-Thinning Circulation Stimulant. "And I always tie my hair with a silk scarf," she adds. Her final tip: "Create the best environment for hair by sleeping with a humidifier on."

PEARLY WHITES

Catrise Austin, a dentist with VIP Smiles in New York City, recommends take-home custom-bleaching trays that you can wear overnight. Austin says her patients brighten their teeth by five shades after using her trays for about ten nights. (Professional in-office treatments usually brighten the teeth by about eight shades.) Jeff Golub-Evans, a cosmetic dentist in New York, recommends Crest Night Effects, an over-the-counter whitening system, which he found to be very effective. Night Effects slowly releases its whitening ingredient onto your teeth to remove stains and loosen stain-causing buildup. Another great find is GoSmile PM Toothpaste, which whitens the teeth and calms the senses with valerian root.

Did You Know?

According to James B. Maas, Ph.D., a professor at Cornell University and author of Power Sleep (HarperCollins):

* The average American adult gets six hours and 57 minutes of sleep a night, while experts say the minimum required for a good night's sleep is eight and a quarter.

* People who sleep six hours or less are more prone to have hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity and other health problems.

* To get a good night's rest you should avoid alcohol within three hours of bedtime and caffeine after 2:00 P.M.--MARSHA AUGUSTIN

Tips for Catching Your ZZZ's

* If you occasionally have trouble falling asleep, start a nighttime ritual--like stretching or drinking a cup of herbal tea, such as valerian root or chamomile--advises Anstella Robinson, M.D., of the Sleep Disorders Clinic of Stanford University Medical Center in California. "These rituals signal the body to wind down."

* Don't underestimate the power of certain scents. Valerie Bennis, an aromatherapist in New York City developed a mixture of lavender, marjoram, cedarwood and ylang-ylang essential oils for clients who suffered from sleep disorders. It was so popular that Bennis went on to develop a line of products, Essence of Vali A Bedtime Ritual, to help people sleep. Try these too: L'Eau d'Issey Soothing Night Fragrance, Clarins Eau Tranquility Spray and The Healing Garden ZZZ Theraphy Good Night Kiss Body Mist with chamomile. Sounds can induce sleep as well. Try a relaxation tape like Natural Music for Sleep by Harmonix Ensemble (amazon.com).

* If you like milk, drink a warm glass before bedtime. It relaxes the body and makes sleep come easier. Also check out over-the-counter remedies, such as valerian, a popular herb known to induce relaxation.

Three beauty experts share their favorite bedtime treatments

Michelle Batta, owner of Francis Jerome, an upscale beauty shop in Philadelphia: "St. Barth's Avocado Oil is great for chemically treated hair. I warm the bottle under hot running water, then drench my hair in it after shampooing. I wrap my hair in a towel or cover it with a plastic cap before bed. And N.V. Perricone Alpha Lipoic Acid Evening Facial Emollient With DMAE really softens fine lines."

Shayne Hart, managing director of The Studio at Fred Segal, a chichi apothecary in Santa Monica, California: "Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel smooths fine lines. I spray Shiseido Relaxing Fragrance on my body--and my linens."

Linda Roberts, founder, Therapy Systems, and owner of Private Edition, a cosmetic specialty boutique in Nashville: "I love Blisslabs Glamour Gloves and their Glamour Glove Gel. When I want to go glove-free, I use an exfoliating body cream with glycolic acid on my hands and feet."

BODY BEAUTIFUL

WANT TO WAKE UP WITH SOFT AND RADIANT SKIN? TRY A FEW OF THESE:

Nivea Body Renewal Night Creme, claims to have vitamins that feed and strengthen your skin.

DDF Glycolic Body Lotion, 12.5% exfoliates dry skin while it moisturizes.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Lotion helps prevent body breakouts.

Avon Anew Retroactive Age Reversal Body Lotion promises to improve the skin's texture and clarity.

Hands Down

Jan Arnold, creator and owner of the Creative Nail Design spa nail line, developed a regimen to smooth and soothe hands and nails while she sleeps: She starts with an emollient oil to lubricate her cuticles. (We like Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil.) She then massages her hands with warm water and an exfoliating treatment. (Try Lather Peppermint Skin Polish With Jojoba Beads.) Once she pats her hands dry, she puts another drop of oil on each nail, followed by Creative Nail Design Solar Butter, which is extremely hydrating and not too greasy.

Elbow Room

No matter how many lotions and oils we slather on, our elbows, knees and heels are still often resistant to softening. So you may have to go a bit deeper to smooth these rough areas. You can try Z. Bigatti's Re-Storation Satin Elbow, Knee and Heel Treatment, which exfoliates with glycolic acid and lightens dark areas. Bedtime bonus: Doris Day, a dermatologist in New York, says, "Glycolic properties work best at night when not competing with the sun. But they can make the skin more sensitive to the sun, so sun protection is a must."

Ankles "Being on your feet all day can cause a pooling of blood at the ankles, which can appear as swelling," Day says. If you have this problem, it's a good idea to lie down and elevate your legs above heart level for 10 to 15 minutes. But before you do, smooth on something soothing like Anna-Lisa Refreshing Foot Gel with menthol and camphor.

Feet First

Whether you've got cracked heels, ragged cuticles or just plain tired feet, give your tootsies some bedtime coddling. Julie Serquinia, owner of the Paint Shop, a nail boutique in Los Angeles, recommends you focus on your feet at night. When she has the time, she loves to exfoliate her feet in the bath or shower. We like Dr. Scholl's Pedicure Essentials Exfoliating Foot Scrub. Serquinia uses Bag Balm (a product developed to keep cow udders from cracking, now sold for general use at most drugstores) because, she says, "It's great for cracked heels and more penetrating than petroleum. I also use Creative Nail Design Solar Oil around the cuticles on nails and toes."

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