'Clarice' Star Rebecca Breeds Has Figured Out How to Avoid Nightmares

Here's her entire sleep routine. Take notes.

'Clarice' Star Rebecca Breeds Has Figured Out How to Avoid Nightmares

Rebecca Breeds—the star of CBS's newest drama, Clarice—typically works 16 hour days, sometimes starting as early as 5 A.M. Today, she's in the middle of a rare day off, but she's certainly not taking it easy. “No, I’ve gone over both our finale scripts, went for a run, been for a COVID test and now I’m doing press. But, I am on the couch, so it’s lovely.”

The Australia native says that working on the Silence of the Lambs spin-off series sometimes makes it hard to unwind, and if you've seen even one of the show's episodes, you can understand why. “Some days you don’t really switch off,” she says. “Clarice is so in the zone, she just lives for her job, and I feel like that’s what I’ve been doing while I’ve been playing her. It’s a funny parallel.”

Breeds wouldn't trade it for the world—she says even while portraying Clarice's trauma, she's having the best time working on the show. “We all just have so much fun, and I find it so satisfying to watch the episodes when they air. I get nervous [for her], but I'm so proud of the work we're doing.”

That includes the work Breeds is doing to make sure she stays strong and healthy. She follows the same routine each night, which includes preparing for the next day by making her morning smoothie at night and packing her work bag. “I am not an early bird,” she says with a laugh. 

The 33-year-old also relies on an elaborate skincare routine, which she says has actually been one of the perks of the job. “When I got the role, I was like, 'That's it, I'm investing in stuff I know I'm going to love and use!' It's your face, after all. It's worth it!”

Here, Breeds walks us through how she falls asleep, from the candle that sets the mood to the “magic potions” that transform her skin. 

I always have low-lighting. When I get home, I only turn on the lamp lights. Growing up, I remember going to bed for me was always such a punishment because I’d hear my two older brothers laughing downstairs, and I was like, “Why do I have to go to bed just ‘cause I’m the youngest?” But now I view getting ready for bed and going to sleep as a way to nurture and take care of myself. 

My skin care routine is a part of how I wind down and puts me in the right headspace. Thankfully Clarice doesn’t wear a lot of makeup; she’s super natch, which I love. But still, you’ve got that foundation layer on, so one of the first things I do when I come home is wash my face. Most cleansers would dry out my face until I found this company called Oumere. The founder is a science genius and she has a product called Oil of Dissolution Theory that I use to take my makeup off, and it doesn’t strip my face of oils. It leaves it really soft and dewy, and it's really gentle. I then use a microfiber cloth called Erase Your Face with lots of hot water to gently press down on my face and get the makeup off. 

Oumere Oil Dissolution Theory Cleanser

Erase Your Face Reusable Makeup Removing Cloth

Then I use Oumere's No. 9 to exfoliate. It's so good, my makeup artist was like, “What have you done? Your skin is like butter, it’s amazing!” So, yeah, No. 9 is a little piece of magic. 

Oumere No. 9 Daily Liquid Exfoliant

Then I use La Mer's The Treatment Lotion, which helps make my face super nice and dewy. It’s a serum and it's jam-packed with antioxidants. That’s my base layer and then that helps maximize the efficacy of the products I use after that. It’s an investment, but it lasts a really long time. Then I use the Oumere UV-R because I have hyperpigmentation on my face from sun damage, and it's packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and whatever other magic she puts in there!

La Mer The Treatment Lotion

Oumere UV-R Serum

Then I move on to Oumere's eye serum since the skin around my eyes gets so dry. To help it absorb, I use Trees and Flower's Roll It Away Eye Massage over it. It's a metal ball applicator that massages essential oils in your skin. It's so refreshing, it's like a nice little kiss for your eyeballs. 

Oumere The Eye Serum

Trees and Flowers Roll It Away Eye Massage

Then I move on to my favorite facial moisturizing serum, Oumere's Bioluminelle. It soaks in so quickly, it doesn’t leave you feeling slimy, which I really like. You just have to make sure you shake it really well.

Oumere Serum Bioluminelle

Dr. Dennis Gross's face steamer, which I thought looked like a really elaborate breast pump! But now I’m obsessed with it. It hydrates your face and opens up your pores so everything I apply on my face after absorbs better. Also, it just feels like a face hug. I use it every night for about three to five minutes once my face is clean and before I start my regimen. Then I use my Kora Organics Gua Sha Rose Quartz Heart and give my jaw and face a little massage. I always keep it in the fridge, which helps combat puffiness when I apply it to my face. 

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Pro Facial Steamer

Kora Organics Gua Sha Rose Quartz Heart

One of my cast mates, Devyn Tyler, bought me a Harlem Candle, and they are the absolute bomb. So, whilst I’m doing my nighttime skincare routine, I light my little Harlem Candle and make a little self-love environment. The one I've currently got is Love, which has hints of rose and sandalwood. 

Harlem Candle Co. Love Candle

I always drink tea. I have fallen in love with camomile tea with vanilla and honey. It just feels calming and cuddly. 

Twinings of London Camomile, Honey & Vanilla Herbal Tea

Dr. Hauschka's Rose Nurturing Body Cream. It is my favorite hand cream I’ve ever used. You can use it on your body, but I love using it as a hand cream because it actually absorbs without feeling too slippery. Plus, it smells divine. 

Dr. Hauschka Rose Nurturing Body Cream

When I get into bed, I have a daily journal called 365 Science of the Mind: A Year of Daily Wisdom from Ernest Holmes, who I found through a friend. A lot of these teachings are the foundations of AA and any kind of rehabilitation and healing. The wisdom [in this book] are always really aspirational and encouraging. 

365 Science of Mind: A Year of Daily Wisdom

I’ve lived in a lot of cold climates and I found a J.Crew red plaid pajama set that has long sleeves, long pants. It's just classic, cozy, winter pajamas, and I love plaid. 

I have a purple robe that my brother gave me. It looks like a grandma robe, but I love it. It's a brand called Peter Alexander, which is really big in Australia, and they're fantastic. I call it my weekend uniform.

I don't have to get up early in the morning. If I know I have like a 4 A.M. wake up call, then I find it hard to sleep because I'm anxious about the early wake up call, which is the worst thing! But when I'm when I'm struggling to fall asleep, Louise Hay has a bunch of affirmation quotes and one of them is just “all is well in my world,” so whenever I'm having the anxieties, I repeat that over and over again. That way you create calm in yourself, because whatever it is, you’ll figure it out tomorrow after you've had a great night's sleep. You won't be able to sleep if you spend all that worrying about it. 

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour West Coast editor. You can follow her on Instagram at @jessicaradloff14. 

This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Jessica Radloff