If you look at the numbers, 1 in 3 adults in the US isn’t getting enough sleep, at least that’s what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found out. And really, it’s not surprising. We all are busy, trying to get it together with school, jobs, family, and hopefully some leisure.
After a long and exhausting day, it’s very tempting to swipe a wipe over your face, brush your teeth, and fall into bed. The last thing you want to do is spend too much time on prepping your skin for bed. But if you fall into this temptation, you could be missing a trick. Beauty sleep is no myth.
Sleep is literally like bathing in the fountain of youth. Some of the most important things happen with your skin while you’re asleep. A good night’s rest is essential for your skin to regenerate and repair itself.
So, it’s always a good idea to give your skin the extra nutrients it needs when it’s in repair mode. Also, some ingredients work more effectively in the dark, away from sunlight.
In the morning, you prep yourself for the day with your morning ritual. Just like your morning ritual, the evening ritual also doubles up as a way to wind down and relax. Instead of looking at what you need to do for bed as a “yet another task list”, turn it on its head and look at it like phases you go through to wind down.
That’s what’s about a habitual bedtime ritual. If you do the same relaxing thing every evening, you’re giving your body the signal it’s time to relax and get ready for slumber.
Thoroughly cleanse
It’s different for everyone, but I think the best time to start your skincare routine is as soon as you get home from work. Removing the makeup, sweat, and pollutions is essential, especially if you want the essences and moisturiser to do their work.
Never sleep with makeup. If you leave all the day’s makeup and grime, both will sit on your skin throughout the night and end up clogging your pores and trapping bacterial, oil, and other debris. The result is breakouts, but it can also dry your skin and make it age faster.
Apply heavier, more potent products
On the one hand, you can aid your skin in its recovery mode with more nutrient-rich products. On the other hand, your skin dries out in the night, and applying a moisturiser keeps it soft and well-hydrated.
It’s also the time to apply your vitamin A products since retinoids break down when hit by UV light. If you don’t like how a facial oil looks and feels on your skin during the day, it’s the perfect time. It will help replenish your skin lipids and improve your skin barrier health.
Other tips to get your beauty sleep
As you have a morning routine that prime you for the day, the evening routine readies your body for bed. Routines put your brains on autopilot, so that little or no willpower is needed. These nighttime habits will help you make sure your skin reaps the full benefits of a good night’s rest.
Prep for the next day
If your mind is still full of the next day and you find it hard to let go, why not prep for the next day? Plan, even better layout what you’re going to wear the next day, ready your bag and gym bag, or pack your lunch.
Compile your task list for the next day
If you have a clear sense of what your tomorrow looks like, it will set your mind at ease. You won’t toss and turn, thinking and worrying about your never-ending to-do list. You wrote it all down, so you can let go.
Write down 3 things that went well and 3 that did not
Acknowledge the things that went well or not helps you not to ruminate. Look at the things that went well and appreciate the progress you’re making.
The quick audit of the day also includes looking at the things that didn’t go as you wanted. If you take a step back, you might see what can be improved. And again, you’ve written it down, so you can let go and relax.
Yoga
After a long day may make you feel all stiff and creaky. Your shoulders are all tensed and your back cramping. A short yoga session to stretch your body will loosen your muscles and joints as well as let your body know it’s time to start to wind down.
Yoga is one of the best tips against insomnia. It centres and calms both your mind and body setting yourself up for rest. It also prevents you from waking up sore in the morning.
Meditation
There are many different forms of meditation. In the end, it allows your mind to find peace whenever you need it. So feel free to choose the form that works best for you. The trick is to find a quiet and comfortable spot, then close your eyes. You don’t necessarily need to sit in the lotus position, you can also meditate lying in med. This might even help you fall asleep quickly, but you may not be getting all the benefits of meditation like that.
De-Clutter
What do you feel when you see chaos and clutter? And what do you feel when you see a Zen garden? When your room is all cluttered, there seems to be no peace and quiet. Take a few minutes to tidy up your bedroom, so that you’ll feel calm and relaxed when you enter at night.
Keep a consistent sleep schedule
Plan for your days and night so that you get enough sleep. Some people get not only exhausted with too little sleep but also get grumpy, even mentally drained. Going to bed every night around the same time trains your body to establish a sleep rhythm. If you follow the same schedule each night, your body will get used to it and will automatically know when it’s time for slumber.
Develop your sleep ritual
It takes practice and consistency, so don’t worry if you don’t follow your ritual for the first few weeks. According to a study by the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes 66 days for a new behaviour to become a habit.
You can work your way backward to figure out how much time you need before you want to be in bed. Then you look at what activities you want to do and in which order. Having an evening routine helps your body to grow accustomed to a schedule and getting a good night’s sleep. Adequate sleep is essential for skin health and health overall.
If you’re tossing and turning due to stress or because you keep changing your sleep schedule, you may not get adequate sleep, and with this less time for skin regeneration.
Do you have your evening ritual? Let me know in the comments or send me an email, I’d love to hear from you.
