Sleep Your Way to Younger Looking Skin

Nighttime is the right time to take years off your face. "Hormonal changes boost blood flow to the skin, brightening it overnight," says Melvin Elson, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt School of Nursing. Skin temps are higher, too, so age-fighting potions seep deeper for better results. And even though you're resting, your skin is hard at work. Studies show that cell turnover is 8 times faster at night, softening wrinkles.

On the flip side, as anyone who's pulled an all-nighter can attest, the consequences — pasty-looking skin and dark circles — aren't pretty. "Even worse, not getting the recommended 8 hours increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which may slow collagen production, promoting wrinkles," says Jyotsna Sahni, MD, a sleep medicine doctor at Canyon Ranch in Tucson. To maximize your beauty sleep, follow this routine nightly to wake up with the complexion of your dreams.

Wash Your Face         -      Scroll Down for More Details about Mario Badescu Products

You should always remove your makeup and be particularly careful around the delicate eye are. Use a special cleanser for eye makeup removal such as: Mario Badescu Eye Make-up Remover Cream (2 oz.)

Removing make-up, oil, and other impurities helps keep pores tight and skin blemish free. Anti-aging treatments can also penetrate deeper on a clean surface. For dry skin, look for a creamy cleanser such as Mario Badescu Cleansing Milk With Carnation and Rice Oil (16 oz.) ($20) For acne-prone or oily skin, a gel formula such as Mario Badescu Botanical Facial Gel (16 oz.) ($20) If your skin is sensitive, wait 10 minutes after cleansing before applying anti-agers.

Rejuvenate with a Retinoid 

These Vitamin-A derivatives are key to youthful-looking skin. "But because exposure to sunlight can deactivate their potency, it's best to apply retinoids at night," says Patricia Farris, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine. Start by using an OTC retinol-containing cream or lotion every other night until skin becomes acclimated to the side effects. Try Neutrogena Tone Correcting Concentrated Serum Night from Ageless Intensives ($22; drugstores) or La Roche-Posay Biomedic Retinol Cream 15 ($52; drugstores). For more improvement, try Rx Renova, atralin, or Refissa, a newly available retinoid in a moisturizing base.

Dot Undereyes with Vitamin K Cream

In a 2003 study by Elson, women who applied an undereye cream containing vitamin K and retinol every night for 12 weeks saw their dark circles improve 33%. Try NeoStrata Bionic Eye Cream ($50; skinstore.com) or Murad Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15 ($67; sephora.com). Like retinol, vitamin K is sensitive to ultraviolet light and should be used only at night. BONUS: The retinol helps ease crow's feet.

Apply a Mega-Moisturizer

Due to a nighttime increase in temperature and water loss, extra hydration is a must, says Jenny Kim, MD, PhD, an associate professor of medicine and dermatology at the UCLA School of Medicine. For best results, look for a cream with the superhydrators hyaluronic acid or glycerin, which attract water to skin. The extra dose of softening also makes wrinkles less noticeable in the morning. Try Mario Badescu Hydrating Moisturizer With Biocare and Hyaluronic Acid (2 oz.) ($20) or MD Skincare Maximum Moisture Treatment ($54; mdskincare.com).

THE NIGHT STUFF

Find the newest anti-aging creams to rejuvenate your skin while you sleep at prevention.com/nightcream.

4 Sleep Tricks for Amazing Skin

1. Sleep On Your Back

Lying on your stomach or on the same side every night can etch permanent sleep lines into your skin, says Patricia Farris, MD. If you can't adjust, switch to a satin pillowcase; the silky texture prevents crinkles.

2. Raise Your Head

Stack a few pillows beneath your head to avoid puffy eyes. "If you keep your head above your heart, fluid won't accumulate in your face," says Farris.

3. Invest In A Humidifier  

Dry, hot air sucks moisture from skin. A humidifier puts water in the air, for soft and supple skin.

4. Get Deeper Slumber

Use the bedroom for sleep and sex only — doing so trains your mind to associate your bed with getting Zzzs. Avoid caffeine and exercise for 3 to 5 hours before bedtime, and limit alcohol at night; each can keep you from solid slumber. Make sure your room is dark and cool (the ideal temp for sleep is 65°F). To transition into sleep mode, don't watch TV or go online for an hour before turning in.

Melatrol Natural Sleep Aid

A few days ago I gave you some information about  Melatonin  and how supplements can be used to help out when the body doesn't produce enough of its own. Many readers were interested in trying melatonin, but had many questions about  Melatrol, the natural sleep aid I mentioned in that post.



Today I want to share some of the frequently asked questions (and answers) about this popular sleep supplement.

Question 1:

What makes Melatrol Natural Sleep Aid different from other products?

Answer:

It's a unique formula... Melatrol contains ages-old herbal ingredients, along with melatonin, 5-HTP and GABA. These ingredients work with your body to promote a restful night's sleep.

Question 2:

Are there any side effects?

Answer:

The ingredients in Melatrol are generally safe, with only mild side effects. If you are taking blood-thinning medication or MAOs, you should consult with your health care provider before using Melatrol Natural Sleep Aid.

Question 3:

How will I feel the next day after taking Melatrol?

Answer:

You'll feel great. Melatrol's ingredients don't give you a tired, 'hung-over' feeling the next day. For the first few days, use caution driving and operating machinery -- just to find out how Melatrol affects your body.

Question 4:

Why can't I sleep normally?

Answer:

There are many reasons for being wakeful during the night. Worry, anxiety, stress, or a major crisis in your life will contribute to inability to sleep. Melatrol's special formula was designed with these issues in mind.

Question 5:

Can I use Melatrol while I'm pregnant or nursing my baby?

Answer:

Do not take any supplements or medications without first discussing them with your health care provider.

Question 6:

Is Melatrol Natural Sleep Aid habit-forming?

Answer:

You will not become dependent on Melatrol to get to sleep. In fact, Melatrol will help your body
re-establish it's own natural rhythm.

You can learn more about Melatrol here:






I hope that answers any questions you may have had about this melatonin-based sleep supplement.

Television and Your Sleep

I going to tell you something that you might not want to hear.

But if you want to get rid of your insomnia and start sleeping again you need to hear this.

I know you would rather hear it straight so that's what I'm going to do.

I know watching favorite television shows or a really great movie is a lot of people's idea of how to unwind and relax after a long day. After getting home and having dinner they look forward to a night of entertainment.

Which is great until it's time to go to bed.

After a few hours of watching television, a lot of people are left restless and unable to fall asleep when they finally go to bed.

The next few hours may be spent tossing and turning and getting little or no sleep.

This is what happens when you watch something exciting or thrilling on TV... your adrenaline gets pumped up, making it difficult to calm down to the point where sleep comes easily. Your mind is also spinning with thoughts and quieting them down can be very difficult. Especially if you've just watched something that was too exciting or upsetting.

This is a very common source of insomnia that no one ever thinks about. You just don't think of insomnia as being caused by what you do in the evening. It's much easier and more common to blame work issues or other worries.

While other types of stresses can certainly contribute to sleeplessness, going to bed with a stimulated mind caused by television viewing choices happens more often than you think.

That's because television has a direct affect on your emotions.

If you just watched a great horror movie right before bed, your heart has been racing and your mind has been stimulated to the point where falling sleep right away may be almost impossible.

If you think your TV viewing habits may be causing your sleep problems, finding a new activity before bedtime may be the answer to getting a good nights sleep. Here are some great alternatives you can try:

1. Read a book or a magazine.
Read something interesting but that will also help you relax.

2. Play a board or card game with your family.
Spending time with loved ones is a perfect way to wind down your day.

3. Take a warm bath.
Immersing your body in a tub full of warm water helps to relax your muscles and soothes your body.

4. Take a walk.
Just don't do strenuous exercise - it can keep you awake as well!

Spend your time before bed doing something relaxing that allows you to calm down and prepare your body for a full night's rest. Stimulating activities are better left to earlier in the day when you want - and need - to be wide awake.

In Jenelle Jordyn's book "Natural Sleep Made Simple", she discusses numerous ways you can transition into a more "sleep-friendly" state at the end of each day.

By combining one or more of her simple strategies, you could be sleeping better each night and wake up with more energy each morning.

Grab your copy here:   "Natural Sleep made Simple"
 
If you really don't want to miss your favorite crimes dramas or that awesome horror flick, try taping them and watch them on a lazy, rainy Saturday afternoon. Besides, that way you can zip through the commercials!