5 Ways To Get Your Best Beauty Sleep!
There are a lot of things in our lives that we have in excess — shoes, nail polishes, an appreciation for truly spectacular vintage finds on eBay — but sleep is not one of them. Sadly enough, we're not alone: According to a recent poll by the National Sleep Foundation, a whopping 63% of Americans say they are not getting enough sleep during the week. While being sleep-deprived is bad enough for your career/social life/general well-being, it also takes a massive toll on your skin. "Sleep helps you regenerate your body," says Dr. Matthew Edlund, one of the country's foremost authorities on sleep and rest. "In a few weeks, you are basically replacing and regenerating your entire body. Studies have shown that people who sleep better, look better."That's all well and good, but how are you supposed to nail down those elusive ZZZs? To help you end those sleepless nights (and quash all those unhelpful "gee, you look tired," comments from your co-workers), we asked a team of experts to give us their snooze-worthy (literally) tips to help you get your best beauty sleep, so you wake up looking — and feeling — gorgeous.
1). Learn How To Rest Before You Sleep
According to Dr. Edlund, it's not just about the amount of sleep you are getting, it's also about the quality of it. On average, Dr. Edlund says most people wake up about 15-20 times during the course of the night, but don't realize they are awake. If you don't power down mentally and physically before you go to bed, that number can double or triple. The more deep, uninterrupted sleep you get, the more refreshed and well-rested you will be, so it's crucial to make every effort to get your best sleep BEFORE you actually go to bed.
To prepare yourself for this restorative sleep, Dr. Edlund recommends doing a series of de-stimulating exercises for your mind and body. "Take 30 minutes before bedtime to calm down," he says. "Do some breathing exercises to relax your body and meditate to put yourself in a state of mental rest." He also suggests practicing paradoxical relaxation: Actively focus on one muscle group at a time. Don't tense or move those muscles, just think about them, one by one, and your body will slowly begin to relax.
Photo: Via Victoria's Secret
Next
- 1 of 3
in NYC