The Secret Power of Beauty Sleep for Your Inner Glow

October 07, 2023 by Forest Essentials

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Ever wondered why a good night’s sleep is often called “beauty sleep”? It’s because when you sleep well, you wake up with refreshed, glowing skin. Getting those essential 7-9 hours of rest isn’t just about feeling rejuvenated—it’s a crucial part of maintaining healthy, radiant skin.

As per Ayurveda, sleep is one of the most important ingredients for optimum beauty and well-being, and it emphasises the concept of rest and sound sleep in its Ratricharya, or the Rituals of the Night. In the modern era, where there’s a lot to do in a short amount of time, it leaves us deprived of this essential regime crucial to health and beauty.

According to Ayurveda, ‘beauty sleep’ isn’t just about getting the stipulated amount of rest. It also involves sleeping at the right times and maintaining a proper diet and daily routine.

The Science Behind Beauty Sleep

Sleep plays a key role in maintaining and repairing the entire body, from the brain to the immune system.

Many restorative processes occur during sleep, such as:

Increased production of the growth hormone, which plays an important role in maintaining age-defying benefits.
During sleep, cell production is doubled. This expedites skin repair from daytime damage.
Reduction of stress hormones and regulation of hormones.

What Happens When You Get Your Beauty Sleep Regularly?

Let’s explore the importance of beauty sleep and some beauty sleep benefits:

A Radiant and Glowing Complexion

The body boosts blood flow to the skin while you snooze, which means you wake to a healthy glow. Skimp on sleep and your skin will look dull.

Bright, Revived Eyes

Puffy eyes and dark circles are a few signs we see when we don’t sleep. Get enough shuteye and the puffiness under the eyes will reduce. Staying hydrated and elevating your head with an extra pillow at night can also help reduce puffiness.

Reduced Wrinkles and Fine lines

Our skin makes new collagen during your beauty sleep hours, which prevents sagging. This is part of the repair process. More collagen makes your skin plumper and less likely to wrinkle.

Healthier, Fuller Hair

Hair loss, breakage, damage, and even growth can all be affected by lack of sleep. Hair follicles gain nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from blood flow. Since blood flow decreases when we’re short on sleep, the hair gets less food, thereby affecting its health.

Ayurvedic Evening Rituals to Ensure Your Beauty Sleep

Getting enough sleep is the most important self-care practice if you want to maintain your beauty for a long time. According to Ayurveda, getting enough sleep is one of the three pillars of life that are essential for a healthy life. When we don’t rest properly, our Ojas, i.e., vital life force energy, get depleted, and our bodies don’t get enough time to recover and detoxify, which is essential to keeping that radiant complexion.

Here are some Ayurvedic evening rituals for your mind, body, and skin to have your beauty sleep game on point.

Include the ritual of Abhyanga

Abhyanga is a classic Ayurvedic self-massage practice that nourishes the skin, calms the nervous system, and purifies the lymphatic system. Make use of long, slow, gentle strokes and calming body oils enriched with herbal extracts to massage your body.

Indulge in a gentle foot massage

In addition to relieving daytime stress, foot massage at night can help promote sound sleep because the soles of your feet are crucial body absorption sites. Grounding essential oil-enriched oils, such as Forest Essentials’ Body Massage oils, are excellent for getting your beauty sleep.

De-stress with aromatherapy

You can use a concoction of essential oils to de-stress the mind and body. Forest Essentials’ Nidra Tranquil Sleep is a perfect potion of the essential oils of Sandalwood, Geranium, Nutmeg, and Lavender to induce restful sleep. Use on the pillow and neck before going to bed as a nightly beauty sleep ritual. You can also practice Aromatherapy with Forest Essentials’ Shanti Stress Relief Spray, which contains Lavender. The aroma of Lavender relieves anxiety and cures insomnia. It increases slow wave sleep, which refers to deep slumber where the heartbeat slows, and body muscles relax to give you a good night’s sleep. Add a few drops on a piece of cotton and place it under your pillow. You can even use an aromatherapy diffuser.

Taking a warm shower or bath before bed

A warm shower before bed has been shown to improve sleep quality and make it easier to fall asleep. As per Ayurveda, a warm shower balances the Vata dosha and induces a relaxation state in the body. Steam helps your skin produce collagen and improves circulation, which can help reduce wrinkles. So, if you take a warm bath or shower before you do your nightly skincare routine, there is a chance that you’ll sleep better while keeping your skin feeling healthy.

FAQS

How many hours is beauty sleep?

A minimum of 7-9 hours each night is the beauty sleep time.

Is beauty sleep an actual thing?

Yes, beauty sleep is an absolutely real thing. When we sleep, our skin is in recovery mode, therefore sleep is the most important time for skin as it begins to repair and regenerate. In fact, the regeneration process at night can be up to three times faster than during the day, so it is imperative to ensure you are getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night, if not more.

How can I improve my beauty sleep?

Apart from the above-mentioned Ayurvedic rituals to improve beauty sleep, you can follow the following beauty sleep tips:
Have a cup of Chamomile Tea before going to bed. It is a natural sleep inducer, and it is also known as sleepy time tea. It has stress-relieving properties and is known to relax your body and mind, helping you to sleep better. You can brew a cup and take it half an hour before sleeping.

Can sleep make you prettier?

Yes, sleep definitely helps you have healthier skin. Studies found that poor-quality sleepers showed increased signs of intrinsic skin ageing, such as fine lines, uneven pigmentation, and reduced elasticity.

Additionally, sleep plays a crucial role in any beauty regimen. While you sleep, your body heals and repairs itself, which has numerous positive effects on your skin. Hence, it’s important to diligently follow your beauty sleep time period for a healthier and more radiant complexion.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3001961

https://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c6614/rapid-responses

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377950593_Nidra_An_Ayurvedic_Perspective

https://www.ijhsr.org/IJHSR_Vol.9_Issue.1_Jan2019/36.pdf

Written By:

Forest Essentials Luxurious Ayurveda

India’s leading beauty brand with products offering a sensorial journey with the purest natural ingredients and traditional Ayurvedic formulations, bringing timeless beauty rituals to the forefront of your self-care routine.

Reviewed By:

Arjun Singh Senior Ayurveda Expert

Arjun is a marketing professional turned Ayurveda Expert. After the completion of his post-graduation in 2008, he started his journey in the beauty industry. He has since worked with several global luxury beauty brands including DIOR & Estee Lauder. With now more than 12 years of experience, he is driven by the idea of making Skin Care, ‘simple’ and ‘accessible’ for all and help clients transform their lifestyle and skin with solutions rooted in his extensive understanding of Ayurveda. A Senior Ayurveda Expert at Forest Essentials, he carefully curates Ayurvedic remedies and is continuously working towards bridging the gap between time-honoured skin care solutions and the modern consumer of the fast-paced world.

Disclaimer

The content provided in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.