Sleeping Beauty Bath
The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day.
-Hippocrates
A client asked me recently, " If you had one thing to recommend for my skin what would it be? "Get your ‘beauty sleep’” I responded.
I'm seeing too many women extremely sleep deprived, resulting in exhaustion, undermining their creativity and judgement. In addition it is damaging to health leading to greater risk of heart cardiovascular disease weight gain and depression. Sleep quality and healthy, youthful skin are deeply linked. Sleep is just as important as nutrition, exercise and your product regimen when it comes to improving your skin. It allows your body to rest and restore energy, while at the same time playing a major role in your skins appearance. Sleep deprivation is linked to aging your skin prematurely – in extreme cases leaving you looking a decade older. When you don’t get enough sleep, lots of chemical changes take place that affect your skin health.
Poor quality sleep can dramatically impair skin function and integrity leading to dehydration and will particular affect collagen production. Collagen is the ‘scaffolding' of the skin (and other body tissues), helping to maintain its firmness. It also protects against UV damage and bacterial infection, seals in moisture, improves elasticity and preserves its youthful, healthy appearance. Sleep loss also causes the body to release too little human growth hormone. When we’re young, we need human growth hormone to help us grow. But as we age, it helps increase muscle mass, thicken skin and strengthen bones. It also triggers an inflammatory response to the skin causing conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It can also exacerbate both atopic dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis.
Many people don't get the ideal amount of sleep they need and become chronically sleep-deprived and think they can 'catch up' on sleep. When you're overtired or overstimulated, the simplest way to relax and de-stress and send yourself off to a restful sleep is with an emotional soothing bath! Sink into a bathtub full of healing and renewal and watch the years and stress fade away from the face and body.
Sleeping Beauty Bath Recipe
2 Cups of Epsom Salt
1 Cup of Dead Sea Salt
5 Drops of Marjoram (Don't overuse marjoram, it's a sedative and can cause drowsiness...be safe in the tub) *Don't use if pregnant
5 Drops of Sandalwood
10 Drops of Lavender
1 Handful of chamomile flowers or chamomile tea if you can't get the fresh herbs
Optional but effective 8-10 pellets of homeopathic chamomile 30x in the bathwater
Remember this great article in the Huffington Post? The horrifying effects of sleep deprivation - What sleep loss will do to you The Huffington Post, and Cindi Leive, publisher of Glamour – sleep deprivation is one of the most crucial issues today’s women face.