Camille Becerra’s Nighttime Routine Isn’t Complete Without a Lime Popsicle

We spend a third of our lives asleep—that means our bedroom is the most lived-in space in our homes. It’s the room where we start and end our days, and that’s why the rituals that happen there are extra-important. In The Wind Down, we’ll be exploring the nighttime routines of people we admire and taking their advice to make the moments just before bed feel our best. 

“My days are a little bit flipped,” says chef and food stylist Camille Becerra. She rolls out of bed at the crack of dawn to hit the markets as soon as they open. It’s only when she gets back that she takes a moment to slow down with a bath, coffee, and sips of tonic water before planning the rest of her day. 

Situated on the cusp of Chinatown on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Becerra’s open-layout loft blurs the lines between home and office. Currently on a hiatus from the restaurant world, the Navy and DeMaria alum spends her days there cooking and workshopping recipes. 

“I create a lot of different aromas and constantly have the oven on, which sets off a lot of gas emissions,” notes Becerra of her bold culinary conquests, like her current go-to, sweet rice served in lotus leaves. Think: fragrant hints of fresh ginger and cocktails of potent spices, all intermingling in one compact area. “Between the chilies and garlic smells, it’s really important for me to have my Dyson Pure Hot + Cool air purifier going at all times to capture those lingering odors and to circulate the purified air.”

At night Becerra, who shares her home with her teenage daughter, retreats to her personal nook, a respite from her makeshift workspace, for some true R&R. Here’s a peek at her bedtime routine. 

Skin care: My skin care is my most important nighttime ritual. The evening is when I take a moment to wash my face, apply toner, and moisturize before I go to sleep. The next morning, my skin feels and looks really great, and that puts me in a good mood. 

Aromatherapy: I’m really into incense—I’m currently burning copal. 

Bedding basics: I love my linen sheets—the colors vary from exclusively white to dark blue tones—and lots of comfy pillows. I sleep with two regular and one king. 

Plugged in: I keep my phone in my bedroom since it serves as my alarm clock in the morning. Sometimes I’ll listen to Oprah’s Master Class or watch The Wendy Williams Show on YouTube.

Late-night cravings: I’ll indulge in lime Popsicles and sparkling water with turmeric, lime, and pink peppercorn.

Pajama talk: I usually sleep in an extra-large soft T-shirt, a slip, or a classic two-piece pajama set.

Nightstand essentials: Hand lotion and lightweight reading glasses. I also like to keep my favorite books and magazines of the moment around. In my bedside nook, I always have candles; plants that add oxygen to my windowless room; and the Dyson Pure Cool Me personal purifying fan, which keeps me cool at night.

Next-day prep: I feed my sourdough starter and prep my cold brew and saffron water so they’re ready for the morning. If I have a job coming up, I’ll go through prep lists. I will typically get home anywhere between 10 and 11 p.m.—either from cooking at an event, attending one, or business or social dinners—and I’ll be in bed within the hour. 

Lights-out! 

Discover more cool nighttime routines: Y7 Yoga Founder Sarah Larson Levey Ends Each Day With 16 Ounces of Water (and a Good Binge-Watch) Makeup Artist Katie Jane Hughes Spends 3 Minutes on Her Nightly Skin Care This Ballet Dancer Falls Asleep to Reruns of The Office