Sleep: Skincare’s Secret Weapon

7 Steps to Better Sleep

Written by: Sheila Olson

You religiously moisturize, cleanse, and nourish your skin using organic skincare products like Bee Veda balms and face masks. However, no amount of balm or cleansers can counter the skin-wrecking effects of poor sleep.

It's true: Clocking fewer than seven hours of sleep per night limits the time your skin has to repair and restore itself. The result is a duller, drier complexion, more wrinkles, and reduced elasticity (not to mention the dreaded dark circles). If that weren't bad enough, sleep deprivation also makes people look sadder and rate themselves as less attractive.

7 Steps to Better Sleep

Sleep deprivation is easy enough to solve if you're staying up late out of bedtime procrastination. But what if you're struggling to get your beauty rest? If you know you need seven to nine hours of sleep a night but can't seem to get it, try these steps.

1. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier

Don't expect to erase dysfunctional sleep habits overnight. Shift your sleep gradually by going to bed 15 minutes earlier each night until you've reached your ideal bedtime.

2. Skip the nightcap

Alcohol may be sedating, but that doesn't necessarily translate to better sleep. Avoiding alcohol three hours before bedtime improves REM sleep. While we're on the topic of liquids, it may be time to cut out that afternoon coffee as well.

Drop the temperature

Body temperature plays a central role in your circadian rhythm. Kick off your socks and dial the thermostat down to 65 degrees before going to bed. If night sweats wake you up, avoid memory foam and try a temperature-regulating mattress pad for help sleeping through the night.

Keep it dark

If you've developed the bad habit of using your smartphone or watching TV before bed, you're not alone. However, late-night entertainment habits may be wrecking your sleep. While blue light glasses get a lot of hype, Gunnar.com states that you'll reap the best results if you turn your devices off and wear a sleep mask at night.

Try a sleepcast

You've heard of podcasts. But what about sleepcasts? Sleepcasts include music, meditations, guided visualizations, and other soothing sounds to help you doze off. You won't want to wear headphones to bed so get yourself a smart bedroom speaker with a built-in sleep timer like the Apple HomePod or Amazon Echo.

Understand your sleep

If you're sleeping through the night but still waking up with your mind foggy and skin sallow, wear a fitness tracker to see what's happening while you snooze. While a sleep tracker won't solve your sleep problems, it will help you identify patterns and decide if it's time to talk to a doctor.

7. Get into a routine

Now that you know the basics of better sleep, it's time to put them together into a soothing sleep routine. Your bedtime routine is also a chance to give your skin an extra boost. For the dewiest complexion, remove dirt, oil, and makeup and wash your face with a gentle cleanser before applying your favorite moisturizers and body balms from Bee Veda.

More Ways to Boost Your Skin and Your Sleep

Now you know why sleep is important for your complexion, but giving your skin time to rest and repair isn't the only way that better sleep benefits skincare. Here are five more things you can do to improve both your sleep and your skin.

• Quit smoking.

• Stay hydrated.

• Exercise regularly.

• Eat a balanced diet.

• Sleep on your back.

The secret to better skin is simpler than you think: take care of yourself! When you sleep well, treat your body right, and nourish your skin with natural skincare from Bee Veda, you let the glowing, vibrant human underneath shine through. As you start your self-care journey, make sure you're taking care of all of YOU— because health is more than skin deep!

Embracing Daily Self-Care for Better Overall Health

Article written by: Carla Lopez

What does your self-care program look like? Things like skin care and exercise can be keys to looking and feeling your best. However, one self-care task can’t make you healthy by itself, which is why it’s so important to balance your regimen with other forms of self-care. A well-rounded program will not only keep you from burning out, but it will also help you to achieve optimal overall health. 

Bee Veda wants you to be happy and healthy, so read on for some practical advice on how to incorporate self-care into your daily routine.

Find a Workout You Enjoy

Most people don’t exercise just for the fun of it; instead, they exercise because it produces results and improves their lives. However, if your motivation to work out comes solely from the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of fitness, even that motivation will run out eventually. It’s essential that you find an exercise type or routine that you enjoy; that way, your commitment won’t be dependent only on the results. 

There are endless movements, styles, and regimens of exercise that will serve you well. And if you figure out what kind(s) you like doing, you’ll be setting yourself up for a consistent and long-lasting routine that keeps the benefits coming. If you like running, for example, try running indoors and outdoors to decide which you like best. 

Feed Yourself the Right Fuel

Nutrition is the fuel our bodies run on throughout our everyday lives. When you feed yourself nutrient-rich foods, you set yourself up to thrive — not just survive. Not only will it help you feel significantly better each day, but it will also better your chances for long-lasting physical, mental, and emotional health and overall well-being. Plus, good food choices can influence how you look, and not just weight-wise. Your skin is greatly influenced by what you consume, so aim for healthful options like seeds, berries and leafy greens.

As Global Healing explains, your gut health determines how you feel throughout the day, whether you’re happy or sad. Healthy foods that feed your gut good bacteria trigger the “happy” hormone serotonin, which can put you in a better mood. Add some probiotic foods like yogurt to your diet to boost the good bacteria in your gut, which can also keep your digestive and immune systems healthy.

If extra time in the grocery and kitchen is a little too inconvenient for your lifestyle right now, look into a healthy food delivery service in your city. These services can help make eating healthy easier by bringing proper portions of fresh food right to your doorstep. Moreover, they usually offer a wide variety of options so you can mix up the foods in your diet, which can keep things interesting and motivate you to continue your good eating habits.

Garbage In, Garbage Out?

What you eat isn’t the only type of consumption that affects your well-being. What you feed your mind deeply influences how you feel, and in our fast-paced world, many of us find we’re strongly tied to our devices. Too much screen time can contribute to stress and even depression. Look for ways to lessen screen time so that you are more present with family and friends. 

Also, think about the space in which you live and the way it influences how you feel. Do you need to do some decluttering? Address household tensions? Maybe even switch to natural cleaning products and do some scrubbing? Removing toxins from your life, whether in terms of toxic attitudes or toxic chemicals, will have you looking and feeling better. 

Your Biggest Organ

Working out is good for your whole body, but don’t neglect your biggest organ: your skin. Just like toxins inside your home are bad for how you feel, natural skin care products can make a big difference in the health of your skin, and subsequently your whole being. Bee Veda lines incorporate essential oils as well, so you have the ability to boost your self-care practice through scent as well. 

No one habit can bring you health and happiness. Look for ways to practice self-care so that you can improve and maintain your overall health and well-being. And be sure to make Bee Veda part of how you tend your largest organ. 

Making a Case for Organic Skincare Products – 5 Key Points

How many products do you apply on your skin religiously? Think of the items in your grooming regimen—including the lip balm, makeup, perfume, soap, deodorant, lotion, and body creams. A lot, right?

Now, how many ingredients are in those skincare/beauty products? Let me answer this for you…a study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) suggests that there are more than 126 unique ingredients in each of the 9 products we use on average every day. Even more concerning, the cosmetic industry is not held to the same standards as pharmaceuticals or other industries that deal with chemicals.

Rather than risk harm from synthetic chemicals such as phthalates, fragrances, parabens, and aluminum, consider organic skincare products. Going natural means moisturizing, exfoliating, toning, and cleansing your skin the way nature intended—and free from toxic chemicals or additives.

Besides, you are selective about what goes into your mouth—so why not what is applied on your skin? Your skin—being the largest organ in your body—deserves the love of mother nature. Read on for more on the benefits of adding organic skincare products to your grooming routine.

1.   Better for the Environment—Eco-Warriors, Assemble!

Using organic skin care products is a win-win scenario. Think about it; you leverage the healing/nourishing power of nature through the organic ingredients—and you, in turn, help support mother nature’s well-being.

The products are typically cruelty-free (i.e., not tested on unsuspecting animals) and they don’t undergo harsh manufacturing processes that release harmful waste and chemicals to the environment. Do the earth a solid—as it’s been doing for you all these years.

2.   Just as Effective

For a moment; approach your skincare products as food. In order to flourish and function properly, you need natural, nutrient-rich food ingredients, right? The same applies to your skincare regimen. Contrary to the message we’ve been led to believe organic skin care products are just as effective as their drugstore counterparts—if not more.

Carrier oils in these natural products include potent ingredients such as coconut oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, beeswax, shea butter and a host of essential oils/additive with well-researched therapeutic benefits. Additionally, these organic ingredients are less likely to cause irritation, inflammations, or allergic reactions.

3.   Cut Down on the Chemical Load

Contrary to common assumptions, the products you apply on your skin have implications beyond what you can actually see. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whatever you apply on your skin is absorbed into your system in a number of different pathways. Long story short, only let the good stuff in and keep an eye on the ingredients in your grooming kit.

4.   Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle

Using organic skin care products is like a gateway to a better, healthier, and more fulfilling life of appreciating nature. You become more conscious of the world around you; what you eat; how you dispose of waste, and the sourcing of other products that you use. This collectively helps foster a healthier planet for us and future generations.

5.    Value for Money – Going Organic is Worth Every Penny

Contrary to common assumptions, you don’t necessarily have to splurge for organic skincare products. Nowadays it’s easy to find organic rejuvenating face masks, oil rollers, and balms for the same price point as their chemical-laden, mass-produced counterparts.

“We must make organic the conventional choice and not the exception available only to the rich and educated.”

—Maria Rodale

Plus, sometimes cost has little to do with the price tag and more to do with the value a product brings. You’ll appreciate the long-term therapeutic effects from the use of high-quality ingredients sourced from nature herself. You’re worth it and so is your skin – go Organic!