5 tips to get your beauty sleep
5 tips to get your beauty sleep
It’s called beauty sleep for a reason. Science has proven that seven to nine hours of rest a night impacts not only your energy levels and mood but your immune system, your weight control, and your skin.
Skin makes new collagen, to prevent sagging, when you sleep and blood flow is boosted. On the reverse side, it’s hard to appear glowing and gorgeous when you’re sleep- deprived.
Yet research by the Sleep Health Foundation shows nearly 60 per cent of people experience at least one symptom of insomnia three or more times a week. Try these tips for a better night’s sleep and a boost to your health and beauty.
leave on hour before bed stream free
We get it. It’s hard not to binge your favourite Netflix show. But smart devices, including your tv, emit blue light that can interfere with your sleep hormone melatonin. The best beauty strategy is to switch off screens an hour before bed and try reading, listening to music, or taking a warm shower or bath (add some lavender oil for extra chill-out power).
Check out these sleep apps too, that do everything from measure quality sleep to tell you a bedtime story, or help you dial down anxiety with relaxation techniques.
create your perfect sleep environment
Does your bedroom feel like a gorgeous cocoon, where you can relax and rejuvenate? Why not paint it a colour you love and invest in quality bed linen and a new, comfy pillow? A satin pillow slip is a great way to reduce skin wrinkling while you sleep.
House plants in your bedroom can also provide a nurturing connection with Nature, and keep the air in your bedroom fresh and clean. Try peace lilies, that thrive in dim light.
You’ll need a way to cool your bedroom in summer too – a fan, perhaps, if you don’t have an air conditioner. Your body temperature needs to drop for you to fall asleep with the best bedroom temperature around 19 degrees celsius. Investing in curtains or blinds that block out the light or a sleep mask can also increase beauty sleep.
have a bedtime ritual
Cleansing your face and applying a night cream or serum, as well as brushing your teeth, are ways to signal to your brain that you are winding down. Other pre-bedtime rituals can include a few yoga stretches, an affirmation that you say every night before bed or a delicious hot chocolate – marshmallows optional. Cherries are also a good pre-bedtime snack and, happily, soon in season.
get outside during the day
To keep your body’s natural clock or circadian rhythm in tune, it’s necessary to expose your body natural light during the day. It’s easy to forget that when we’re working from home and not even getting out for a commute. Schedule regular fresh air breaks to improve rest. Don’t forget your sunblock.
let go of stress
Besides sun exposure, nothing ages good looks faster than stress. It also takes a toll on our nervous and immune systems. Exercise, especially the aerobic kind, helps your body let go of stress and that’s perfect for beauty sleep.
Now it’s summertime that could include biking, walking, jogging, tennis, skating, swimming or even volleyball.
If you have a dog, taking them for an afternoon walk in the park is a good way to wind down from work and set the tone for relaxation.
Writing out your worries in a journal, or talking to a friend, are other ways to decompress. Be kind to yourself.
