The Trick To Getting That Beauty Sleep This Winter

if you haven’t been getting that perfect REM sleep (the restorative part of our sleep cycle), here are some tips to achieve blissful beauty sleep.

By: Ashley Tiara Lilly

Imagine waking up in the morning feeling refreshed and well-rested. Your skin is clear, you’re in a good mood, and you’re having a great hair day. Between busy schedules, lots of work to do, distractions on the internet, and a worried mind, a good night’s rest can sometimes slip through our fingers. Before we know it, our alarm goes off and our morning feels less than dreamy. It can be hard to get a good night’s rest that will leave us looking and feeling our best. If you can relate to this groggy morning nightmare, have no fear! Here are sixteen tips to achieve that blissful beauty sleep:

1. Cancel the loud alarm. Your alarm needs to start off not so noisy and abrupt. If you schedule an alarm on your smart phone, check out the “Silk” ringtone on the iPhone or connect your smart phone to a music system so that it plays your Spotify list or favorite  radio station at the time you have to wake up.

2.  If you nap or if you have to wake up, wake up during your lightest sleep which occurs during the first 15-40 minutes of sleep.

3. In these dry winter nights, get a humidifier. It creates an environment that soothes dry skin and can relieve cold symptoms. 

Objecto H4 Hybrid Humidifier

4. Invest in a Silk Eye Mask. Get one that you can escape into, goes smoothly on your eyes, and blocks out the light.

5. Use a Silk Pillow Case. The soft material will help to keep your hair looking smooth and prevents breakage and is said to even prevent wrinkles. I have a friend that travels with a silk pillowcase religiously.

slip Silk Pillowcase, Queen

6. Remove the under garments and wear cotton, cashmere, a wool-silk blend, or bamboo pyjamas. Remove things that will cut off circulation, and choose sleepwear that feels good. This helps tremendously as what you wear can help regulate body temperature throughout the night. Fit matters: looser pajamas move easily when you sleep.

Hanro Woolen Silk Basic Long Sleeve Shirt

7. Freshen up and remove oil and makeup before you rest. Maybe you’ve come home late from a night out, or maybe you stayed up late to finish that assignment from work. It can be tempting to go to sleep with your makeup on, mascara and all. But removing your makeup is an important step toward beautiful, clear skin.

Simple Sensitive Skin Experts Eye Make-Up Remover Pads

8. Put on your moisturizer before bed. A good moisturizer is a key ingredient for healthy, beautiful skin. Having a good hydrating routine will keep your skin looking clear, fresh, and youthful.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream

9. Lip Balm. Keep a good lip balm on your nightstand so you can use it whenever you need it. Your smile will thank you.

Clinique Sweet Pots Sugar Scrub & Lip Balm

10. Wrap your hair in a scarf or at least tie it back. This will help your hair to stay neat while helping to keep your skin clear. If your hair is curly or needs help staying hydrated, moisturize it with a dab of olive oil or leave-in conditioner to keep it looking healthy and soft. A few drops of an essential oil can keep your nails moisturized as well.

Supershine Moisturizing Cream

11. Detox from TV and electronics, don’t look at your phone. We’ve all been there. You’re just about ready to go to bed when you decide to catch up on your emails. Before you know it, it’s 2am and you’ve been scrolling through Twitter for an hour looking at Trump memes. To avoid this internet trap, turn off your device an hour before bed. Don’t worry, those GIFs will still be there in the morning.

12. Get a Fitbit. See how you’re stacking up against your daily goals 24 hours a day. Track steps, distance, and calories burned; monitors your sleep and wakes you with a silent alarm. Access your stats wirelessly with computers and select mobile devices.

Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity and Sleep Band

13. Drink a glass of warm water before you go to bed. Drinking water before you go to bed will provide your body with water and the time to clear out your system of unwanted toxins. 

14. Download sleep tracking apps like Sleep Time to identify your sleeping patterns. Simply turn on the app and lay your phone face down on the side of your bed. As you sleep, Sleep Time will track your body movements to measure your different sleep phases. 

15.  Consider light, temperature, and smell to create the right sleep environment. Setting the thermostat to around 65 degrees Fahrenheit is good for sleep, studies have found.  Sleep with your favorite quilt, play relaxing music, start the fireplace, and spray a nighttime mist over your pillows. Read some poetry, write reflections in a journal, or meditate for a few moments. Find a nighttime ritual that leaves you feeling relaxed and with peace of mind.

Aura Cacia Essential Solutions Mist, Pillow Potion

16. Don’t forget your feet. The trick is to wear lightweight socks as warming your feet too much can cause your body to become too hot. Moisturizing before always helps.

Catching up on your beauty sleep isn’t always easy. But taking the time to pamper yourself, unplug, and create a peaceful environment can be worth it to wake up looking and feeling your best.

-ATL