Sleep is essential to keep you physically and mentally healthy. A good rest has always been called beauty sleep. If you want beautiful sleep exercise every day. Even 20 minutes of walking can help keep stress hormones from interfering with your sleep. Avoid large meals just before bedtime. An active digestive system can disrupt sleep. Minimize light, noise and temperature extremes. Don’t read, watch television or work in bed. Use the bed only to sleep. This helps prevent you from developing sleep disorders. Avoid caffeine, nicotine or other stimulants within four hours of bedtime. Regulate blood sugar levels. Eating regularly will avoid swings in blood sugar levels. Do not eat too many carbohydrates like breads or pastas, especially in the evening. Avoid foods that you may be sensitive to. It is good for beauty sleep.
Use a moisturizer after bathing: Seal in the moisture that the topmost layer of your skin has absorbed with a hydrating body lotion or cream. Because you’re going to bed–not pulling on a silk blouse or cashmere sweater–you can try a body cream that’s richer than you would feel comfortable wearing during the day, such as Nivea Body Renewal Night Cream. Just before bed is a perfect time to slather your feet–especially dry heels–with a healing, hydrating cream such as Aveeno Intense Relief Foot Cream And a sweep of Sally Hansen Beyond Perfect Healing Cuticle Oil on your nails will keep the cuticles soft and prevent tears. For a final moisturizing touch, massage your hands with Dove Regenerating Hand Cream
Some cosmetic products are susceptible to sunlight and you consequently get more out of them if you use them before bed. Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E will stay active on your skin longer if you apply them at night.
Avoid caffeine, nicotine or other stimulants within four hours of bedtime.
If you have trouble getting sleep, avoid the temptation of swallowing a sleeping pill. These pills do not induce a relaxed and natural sleep. After an unnatural and forced sleep, you get up feeling most unfresh and headachy. More than just that, it does terrible things to your looks.
If daily stress is affecting your sleep patterns, try a relaxation meditation. Many commercial tapes and CDs are available that combine soothing music, nature sounds and a gentle spoken narrative that guides you through a process of visualizing yourself in some peaceful and serene environment where all your cares are washed away, leaving you refreshed and relaxed.
When looking for an herbal preparation to help you sleep, look for herbs which are ‘nervines’ or ‘sedatives’; nervines calm and tone the nervous systems, while sedatives are stronger in their effects on the nerves. If muscle tension is a factor in your insomnia, look for herbs that are ‘antispasmodic’. Herbs can have one, none, or all of these properties.
Getting a good night’s rest refreshes the body, mind and attitude. It is as vital to our health as good food and exercise. The phrase “beauty rest” is more than a quaint idea, it is a fundamental task in the quest for external and internal beauty.
It is important, therefore, to obtain an adequate amount of sleep each night, since sleep also helps the body metabolize free radicals, which are thought to accelerate aging and cancerous growths.