Better Beauty Secrets Article:
Beauty Sleep
Beauty Sleep The health and beauty of a good night's sleep
by Cathy Gatson Sleeping is a necessity, not a luxury. A good night's sleep is just as crucial to maintaining wellness as is a healthy diet and proper exercise.
The Importance of Sleep Sleep is a restorative process. While we're sleeping, our brain is cycling through the 3 stages of sleep: light, deep and REM. Sleep restores, rejuvenates and energizes the body and brain. Our immune systems are recharged, cells grow and repair themselves, and our bodies conserve energy.
Dangers of Sleep Deprivation Unfortunately, to many sleep is not valued. In this "open all night" society we now live in, four out of ten Americans are trading much-needed sleep hours for longer hours at the office, gym, club and other activities which seem more important or interesting. What they may not realize is that lack of sleep takes a toll on our mental and physical well being. Studies performed by the National Sleep Foundation show that even minimal sleep loss has a profoundly detrimental impact on mood, cognition, performance, productivity, communication skills, accident rates and general health. For optimal functioning throughout the day, the average adult needs between seven to nine hours sleep a night. According to the NSF, the American adult population functions on about six and a half hours of sleep per night.
Don't Sleep? For some, lack of sleep is not a choice, but a condition. Millions of Americans suffer from insomnia. According to the NSF, a third of Americans are using over the counter or prescription sleep aids at night. If you suffer from insomnia, here are a few tips to help you get some shut eye: � Pray before bedtime. The bible tells us to "Cast your burden upon the Lord. Don't go to bed with a heavy load. Give it to God. Remember Joy comes in the morning" � Avoid caffeinated food and beverages like coffee, teas, soft drinks and chocolate 3 to 4 hours before bedtime. � Exercise regularly, but complete your workout at least three hours before bedtime. Keep your body calm. � Make sure your mattress is the right one for you. Flip your mattress over periodically. � Develop a bedtime ritual. Taking a warm bath 90 minutes before bedtime will relax your body and usually make you feel sleepy. � Make sure your bedroom is quiet and comfortable. � Have a cup of warm milk. � Play relaxing music. � Go to bed and wake up the same time every day. When your sleep cycle has a regular rhythm you will feel better.
Be a Sleeping Beauty A friend of mine once told me that a woman should present herself to her husband at bedtime like a present. Interesting?so I polled a few colleagues and found overall most husbands prefer their wives to be lingerie clad at bedtime. Nude came in a very close second and pajamas were considered very un-sexy. Wives preferred their hubbys wear only boxers to bed. Whatever your sleepwear preference, bedtime is the opportunity to prepare your mind and body for the rest it deserves. Here are a few more tips to help you sleep pretty: � Always remove your makeup and cleanse your face thoroughly before bed (Oil of Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin). Going to bed without washing your face not only leads to mascara-stained sheets (Andrea Eye Q's eye makeup remover pads $3.50+ voted best by Allure Magazines 1999) but the dirt picked up during the day can clog pores and lead to acne. � Brush and floss your teeth. � Vaseline works wonders on rough spots while you sleep. Try it on feet, elbows, and knees and dab a little on your lips too. � There are several night creams on the market now claiming to be more effective if applied at bedtime, here are a few to try: Lancome - Primoridale Intense Night Cream $41.50, Murad Perfecting Night Cream $41.50. If these prices are more than you normally spend then L'Oreal Age Perfect Night Cream and Oil of Olay ProVital night creams are available at Wal-Mart and Target. Prices range from $14 - $15. � If you wrap your hair in a scarf at bedtime, remember to wash it regularly. � Wear your fancy nighties to bed. Don't save them for a special occasion. You are a special occasion. � After your bath or shower ritual slather on a lotion that relaxes you and helps you fall asleep like Origins Night-a-mins moisture lotion or Calm to Your Senses Body Souflee. � Marilyn Monroe is said to only have worn Chanel No.5 to bed but if you prefer something a little lighter then Issey Miyake's L'Eau D'Issey Soothing Night Fragrance is a good pick.
Here's wishing you brighter days and more restful nights!
Cathy Gatson is a freelance writer and owner/operator of a hair and body salon located in Northern California.
Related Better Beauty News and Articles From ezinearticles.com
You've probably seen her at some point: the girl who casually saunters past you on a busy street and gets everybody's heads turning. It's not because she's a movie star or because she has movie star looks, and it's not because she is wearing an expensive designer dress, or flamboyant hair accessories. It's the beautiful hair that's so shiny that it almost beckons you to touch it!
The most popular kind of makeup these days is mineral makeup. Liquid makeup is out and mineral makeup is in.
Looking beautiful is an important thing for most women in the world because it is seen as an important consideration to make more men interested in them. In this case, it is advised for you to know some good things that can make you to look more beautiful in a good way. Also, those things will help you to be more beautiful naturally so you can make yourself look great for most people. This article will give you more information about those things so you will know what you must do.
Coloured hair is in need of extra protection if increased exposure to the sun is anticipated. If you keep your skin moisturised in the sun with SPF protection cream that shields your skin and protects it from UV rays, you also need to apply the same treatment for the hair. Especially if it is coloured.
Self tanning has become popular among individuals who long for darker complexions, without baking themselves in the sun. Self Tanning Spray is one kind of product that tanning experts recommend because it is easy to apply once the technique is mastered by the consumer. It is also quick-drying and ideal for hard to reach areas. Here are some suggestions on how to make your self tanning spray work for you.
Zinc PCA is one of the leading contributors in having healthy hair and scalp. It does this by naturally controlling sebum production. This can help clear up things from dandruff to hair loss.
With concerns about maintaining healthy skin, hair, nails and premature aging prevention, paying attention to internal and external beauty practices becomes more and more important. We all love it or would love it if people told us that we look younger than our age. In order to get these compliments, taking care of our skins becomes crucial. Here are 10 beauty tips and skincare tips to live by to get the most from your skin.
You may be surprised to know that a lot of men also wear makeup on a daily basis. Makeup for men is not only restricted to the kind of job they have such as actors, celebrities or transsexuals.
Hair For most people, hair is considered as an essential part of beauty. Many will try different products in the market just to make their hair look shiny and smooth.
Scene hair is a fun and creative way for teens to display individuality and style. Scene hair, which is also called "emo" by some, became quite popular in 2006 when a lot of "emo" music bands were established.
