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You’ve probably heard the term “beauty sleep.” It comes from the idea that if we get a good night’s sleep, we look and feel fresher, happier, more relaxed, and generally better. After an early night, we wake up with bright eyes and glowing skin. After a late-night, or poor-quality sleep, we have dark circles under our eyes, our skin is dull, and we feel tired and sluggish. We do look better after a good night’s sleep.
We’re also less likely to pile on the concealer if we feel fresh and bright, keeping our pores clear and giving our skin a chance to breathe. One good night’s sleep can give you a boost; regularly sleeping well can have a long-term effect on how you look and feel. It can even improve your health and wellbeing.
Unfortunately, it isn’t always that simple. We don’t just go to bed, fall asleep, and wake up beautiful. The quality of sleep is as important as the duration, and your skincare routine is crucial. Let’s take a look at some tips to help you to get your beauty sleep.
Get Some Sleep
The first ingredient of successful beauty sleep has got to be the sleep itself; without it, you’ve got no chance. But, it’s often harder than it seems. So many of us struggle to get to sleep. We lie awake, counting down the hours until we need to wake up, worrying about how little sleep we are going to get and how we’ll feel the next day. Even if we can fall asleep, we toss and turn all night, in and out of sleep, worrying about the day ahead, and all of the extra stresses that we have to deal with. Here are some tips to help you improve your sleep health.
Turn the TV Off
Nowadays, most of us are guilty of sitting watching TV, scrolling through social media, and playing games on our phone right up until bedtime. You might even do all three at the same time, or brush your teeth, get into bed, and then have a final scroll through Instagram. Then, we wonder why we can’t sleep.
There’s some evidence to suggest that the blue light emitted by phones and other screens affects our ability to fall asleep. But, even without this, the content that we view stimulates our minds, making it hard to switch off and fall to sleep.
Instead of using screens for as long as possible, switch off for an hour or so before you get into bed. Read a book, talk to your partner, or find other alternative ways to relax, and you may find it much easier to turn off.
Practice Yoga
Yoga is a fantastic way to relax, ease stress and tension, and to boost your circulation. All of these things can make sleep easier. You might prefer to practice first thing in the morning to prepare yourself for the day, but, even then, it can be a great idea to perform a few simple stretches before getting in bed to let the day go and prepare both your body and mind for sleep.
Move More
Sometimes we simply can’t sleep because while our minds are tired and in need of a break, our bodies are still filled with energy. If you are regularly struggling to fall asleep or to stay asleep, try to move more. Cardio exercises like running can be great, but even a long walk after dinner will be a big help.
Invest in a Supportive Mattress
If you are having a hard time sleeping and you are waking up achy and tired, it could be a sign that you need to replace your mattress. Most modern mattresses will last for ten years if they are well cared for. But this isn’t definite. If your back or shoulders ache, and you’ve tried turning or flipping your mattress, it might be time to replace it.
Get into a Routine
We love routines. They help us to manage our busy and stressful lives. Routines make everything easier, and our bodies respond to them. If you always eat at the same time and avoid snacking in between meals, you will start to get hungry at the same time. If you go to bed and get up at the same time, you’ll start feeling ready for sleep.
Use Essential Oils
Lavender and chamomile can be helpful when trying to get to sleep. Spray a little on your pillow, or try lighting candles, or rubbing oils on your temples for the best effects.
Turn the Heat Down
We’re used to sleeping wrapped up in blankets. It makes us feel safe and comfortable and helps us to relax. When it’s hot, sleeping becomes difficult. Turning the thermostat down and opening a window can make sleep easier to find.
Tie Your Hair Up
If you’ve got long hair and you are waking up often, it may be as simple as your hair getting caught and tugging as you roll over. Tie your hair up, and you might sleep more peacefully.
Find Ways to Reduce Your Stress Levels
Why can’t you sleep? Are you worried about something? Anxious? Are you stressed out? Confront your emotions, think about how you feel, speak to someone about your worries, practice yoga, and deep breathing techniques to reduce your stress.
Limit How You Use Your Bedroom
Sometimes, we can’t sleep because our bedrooms have become a multifunctional and confusing space. If you work in your room or watch TV in there, try to stop. Use it only for sleeping, and your mind will start to make the association that when you are in your bedroom, you are going to sleep.
Have a Glass of Water
Coffee, tea, wine, and other alcoholic or caffeinated drinks can all boost your energy levels and your blood pressure, making it hard to fall asleep. Try drinking less alcohol, and limit caffeine after dinner. Instead, have a glass of water before bed.
Take Your Makeup Off
If you want to wake up feeling beautiful, you need to give your skin a break, as well as the rest of you. Make sure you cleanse thoroughly, taking your makeup off, and giving your skin a chance to breathe during the night. If you find that cleansing wakes you up, and makes falling to sleep harder, move your routine. Cleanse earlier in the evening, if it suits you. Just make sure you don’t forget.
Should You Use A Toner?
Toners are very common in evening skincare routines. But do you need one? Toners were introduced when cleansers and makeup contained chemicals, to help you to rebalance the PH of your skin. If you use natural products, you may not need to tone. Generally speaking, limiting the different ingredients that you introduce to your routine is a great way to keep your skin youthful and bright. Trying to use the same brands where possible can also help.
Use a Derma Roller
Exfoliation is crucial if you want clear, healthy skin. How often you do it depends on your skin tone and health. If you are prone to oil and blackheads, you may need to exfoliate more often than someone with clear, bright skin. Many people find that microneedling is far more effective than other exfoliating treatments.
While some people prefer to exfoliate in the mornings, doing it before bed can be a better choice. You’ve taken your makeup off anyway, and microneedling can lead to slight redness, which will go down while you are asleep.
Use Products for Your Skin
We don’t all have the same skin. You might not even have the same skin for your whole life. It changes as you age, and as your hormone levels fluctuate. You may have oily skin at the start of the month, and dry by the end. We’re all different. So, while it’s a great idea to learn more about products, and read tips, it’s more important that you understand your own skin and its needs, but also the ways that it may change as you age.
Moisturize
Exfoliators, serums, anti-aging creams, and other products are great. But, if there are two essentials that your evening skincare routine needs, it’s cleanser and moisturizer. No matter how busy you are, or what other products you chose to use, or to skip, never forget the moisturizer.
Change Your Diet
Your diet affects the quality of your beauty sleep in two ways. Eat too much sugar, eat late at night, or eat the wrong things, and you will find it hard to sleep. Eat greasy foods, and you will have oily skin. Changing your diet will both help you to sleep and improve your skin tone. Try to avoid sugar, especially late at night, eat dinner earlier, and swap greasy foods for healthier meals.
Change Your Bedding More Often
No matter how well you cleanse, you’ll never be totally clean all of the time. We create grease, and our hair expels oils. In the night, these rub off onto our pillows and our bedding. Wash your more often for better skin.
Not all of these tips will work for everyone. But, there’s no harm in trying. If you want to get the best beauty sleep, focus on a positive evening routine, and an early night.
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