I know you might have heard about getting your beauty sleep and the huge impact that it has on your health and beauty.  Almost every single person I come in contact with expresses their concern about having clear, radiant skin, and are in the search for finding preventive treatments that will help them not get wrinkles and age gracefully, look and feel beautiful FOREVER.

In most magazines we read about the miracle cream, serum or product that can provide us with the results that we are looking for. The media is also now talking about foods that can provide the results most people are looking for as well when it comes to health and beauty; yet, there’s this essential thing that almost no one talks about: The Importance of Getting a Good Night Sleep.

In my treatment room I started talking about this key subject when my clients would tell me they don’t wash their face at night. I would explain that washing your face at night is even more important to wash your face in the morning. Why? Our cells repair themselves while we sleep.  Sleep is a restorative time for all our body systems. This is when the body has time to utilize those energy units into repairing our most essential organs, and that includes cells in our skin as well.  Our skin releases metabolic impurities while we sleep, since it is the largest organ of detoxification. If you go to bed with your face full of pollutants and dirt, plus make up, the repair is going to be very poor and your desires for clear and radiant skin would go down the drain. In fact, you know what you look like when you’ve pulled an all-nighter and skipped your beauty sleep. Your eyes are droopy and puffy, your hair is limp and your skin is dull. You feel 20 years older. Guess what? Your body may think you are!

 4 Reasons why you want to get your Beauty Sleep:

* Growth hormones peak during deep sleep and contribute to cell and tissue repair. Restless, intermittent sleep can interrupt that process.

* Also, collagen production is accelerated during sleep, and collagen helps keep moisture in our skin. When your skin is dehydrated, it looks less youthful and supple, more dull and dry.

* By lacking sleep we suppress the immune system’s ability to stay strong. This doesn’t just mean you’re more likely to catch a cold. Your skin is affected too, and you may be more likely to get rashes like psoriasis or eczema.

* Sleep is also restorative to our cognitive and emotional function. We need adequate sleep to stay relaxed and beautiful, inside and out.

10 Habits that can support a good night sleep:

*Avoid TV or snacking at least an hour before sleep time

* Write down what you need to do for the next day before going to bed, that will allow a quiet mind

* Spray or apply a few drops of lavender essential oil to your pillow. The soothing scent of lavender will help you feel calm and relaxed

* Take a warm bath with Epson salt and chamomile and lavender essential oils. If you don’t have time for a bath, a warm shower will do it

* Read a book that inspires you in bed, it is very soothing and relaxing

* Lower or dim the lights in the bedroom

* Use a scented eye pillow on your eyes as you are trying to fall asleep. I keep mine in a ziplock bag in the freezer. This is especially good if you suffer from puffy eyes or you had a big cry therapy session that day

* If you wake up to the bathroom at night, make sure to stop drinking liquids after 8pm and if you get thirsty just have a few sips of water

* Avoid caffeine in foods and drinks as soon as the clock strikes noon. Caffeine interferes with the deeper stages of sleep, so even small amounts found in chocolate and decaffeinated coffee may impact your rest.

* Gratitude exercise, this is something I do every night. Write down at least 5 things that you are grateful for on a journal or notebook. By focusing on the positive you will invite peace and loving energies into your night’s sleep

I really hope you can try any of these techniques, they have been proven to support a calm and relaxing night’s sleep which ultimately will make you more beautiful, more productive in your next day and feeling content and happy.

To your beauty always,

Paula