Ways to Get Your Best Beauty Sleep Before Your Next Event
The days and weeks leading up to a big event can be extremely stressful. No matter if it’s your wedding or a social fundraiser, you want every little thing to be perfect, and trying to cope with this pressure - whether internal or external - can feel overwhelming. Unfortunately, the stress that precedes a big event can end up taking its toll on your ability to get a good night’s sleep and, consequently, your health and wellness.
Beauty sleep - it’s for real
We’ve all grown up hearing about “beauty sleep,” but have you ever considered why or how this term came into social awareness? Well, the easiest answer is because sleep truly is a crucial factor in your beauty - specifically, your body’s ability to maintain a youthful and healthy look.
See, sleep is not simply rest for the body - it is a restorative process that heals the mind and body from the traumas of each day. While we sleep, our body works overtime to repair itself on a cellular level and, without enough sleep, your appearance will pay the price.
The link between sleep health and appearance has been documented in numerous clinical studies. Numerous processes occur during sleep that maintain the health of our skin. For example, collagen is one of the key structural proteins necessary for keeping skin looking plump, youthful, and wrinkle-free - and it is produced during sleep. Several of the clinical studies conducted on sleep and beauty have consistently found that sleep loss damages the skin’s ability to function properly on a cellular level, which can lead to rapid aging and deterioration of skin. Overall, it is recommended that you receive 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to help to maintain the skin’s natural defenses against aging and free radicals.
Tips to maintain the optimal amount of beauty rest
Your skin’s number one job is to protect you - so why not do everything in your power to repay the favor? The following tips will help you get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night and keep that fountain of youth flowing:
Pick a bedtime and stick to it. Going to bed too late or at random times every night will cause chaos within your body’s internal clock.
Incorporate meditation into your nighttime routine. Meditation lowers blood pressure, reduces anxiety, and results in a state of tranquility - all enabling the practitioner to drift into a deep sleep.
Experiment with essential oils and aromatherapy. Essential oils have been found to have stress-relieving and mood-boosting properties. In addition, there are several essential oils that can be diffused or applied to promote sleep, such as lavender, cedarwood, chamomile, and lemon balm.
Nix the lights. Light is a leading reason people can’t achieve a restful night’s sleep. Purchase a comfortable sleep mask and light-blocking curtains to stop light from creeping in and ruining your sleep.
Shut off any blue light emitting electronics 1 hour before bed. Aside from lights creeping into your sleep, you should also be concerned with the type of lights your eyes are absorbing before bed. Nighttime exposure to blue light disrupts the body's circadian rhythm, therefore altering our body’s natural clock. We recommend that you shut off all electronic screens at least 60 minutes before bedtime.
Try acupuncture. Acupuncture is a main component in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and an excellent way to find relief from stress, chronic pain, and sleep problems. Studies have shown that the ancient practice can increase melatonin production and promote longer, more restful sleep.
You’re not alone - we all want to look our best for the big events life throws our way. While the stress of trying to host one of these events can take its toll on both your health and appearance, it doesn’t mean you have to suffer. So, what is the easiest way to completely eliminate the stress of event planning? Simply bring in an experienced professional like Samantha Joy to take over that never ending to-do list and allow you to enjoy your perfect celebration.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christine Huegel is a writer for the MA Sleep Institute - a leading site for sleep health and products - covering a variety of topics on ways to get your best sleep to ultimately live your best days. As someone who loves to travel, and spends more time on a plane than in a car, she has mastered the art of comfort and sleep from any time zone. When Christine isn’t advocating for sleep health, she writes on holistic health, wellness, and fitness.