You worked too late, you partied too long, you ate too much of what you know you shouldn’t have.
Did you even remember to wash your face before you collapsed on your bed? And oh yeah! Does all that neglect ever show the next morning? And the morning after that?! Studies show that a few specific things and thoughts can improve your quality of life!
No worries – all it takes is a few simple steps (and maybe a little more effort) to make your skin feel and look, a whole lot better.
1. Get an Early Start
Make a habit of washing your face a few hours before bed. If you wait until you’re tired, you’re more likely to blow it off — allowing “toxins and dirt to stay on there all night,” says dermatologist Laurie Polis of N.Y.C. Another consequence? You miss the best time to treat your skin. “At night there’s more blood flow to the skin’s surface, and there’s nothing else on your face to interfere with absorption,” Polis says.
2. Sleep on Your Back
Lying on your stomach is bad for “beauty sleep.” The average head weighs 7 to 8 pounds — a lot of pressure to be putting on your face every night. In fact, many dermatologists say they can tell what side of the face people sleep on by the number of wrinkles there.
3. Get a Lift
Sleep with your head elevated on two pillows, or put the headrest area of your bed on 2- to 4-inch pieces of wood. Gravity helps lymph and blood flow so fluid won’t accumulate.
4. Save Money, Not Wrinkles
At night, there are a good number of people who worry about their finances, which not only keeps you up at night, worrying also ages you. So take care of what you can during the day, fill your day with being purposeful and…
… you’ll be able to sleep better at night.
5. Avoid Carb Face
To wake with defined cheekbones, eat a high-protein, low-sugar dinner (try salmon and asparagus, a natural diuretic). Skip the rice, pasta and potatoes. “When our diet’s high in glycemic carbohydrates, our features take on a soft, doughy appearance,” says Connecticut dermatologist Nicholas Perricone.
6. Wrap It Up
To minimize A.M. frizz, as well as hair loss, sleep on a satin pillowcase or put your hair in a silk scarf. “Those fabrics are much softer and less-moisture robbing than cotton,” says Harry Josh, a John Frieda stylist.
7. Expect the Best
Going to bed expecting that your day will be great the next day instead of dreading it, will not only help you sleep better, which will, in turn, help your skin, internal organs and weight loss, it will also help you live a more stress-free life.
Visit the BlackDoctor.org Womens Health center for more articles and tips.
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