Nothing beats getting 8 hours of sleep, but these solutions can really help
Feeling run down from not getting quality, consistent sleep? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for adults under the age of 60, getting at least 7 hours of sleep is imperative. Quality of sleep makes a big difference as well. Ideally, your sleep should be quiet, dark, and with no interruptions. That said, we know that for many people, this can be a lofty goal. When getting good sleep isn’t an option, here are five ways to pick you (and your face!) up.
1. Drink more water
There’s truly no organ in the body that doesn’t depend on water—but one of the first places you might notice dehydration is in the skin. The Mayo Clinic recommends that men take in about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day, while women up to drink 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) per day. This keeps the skin looking fresh and hydrated while flushing out toxins and salt. It can also help prevent blemishes, as well as assist in maintaining your skin’s elasticity. Clear skin appears alert, fresh, and well-rested. It’s as simple as that. If you don’t like drinking just plain water, check out these ways to enhance its flavor naturally.
2. Soak up the sunshine
Anyone shopping for a new home will tell you—natural sunlight is very important! Natural light is a mood booster. By going outside or opening the curtains in the morning, the brain will slow its natural production of melanin, therefore making you feel more awake with a morning adrenaline boost. Your body will also better produce serotonin, which is later converted to melatonin when it’s time for bed. Additionally, research shows that getting an hour of sunlight every morning can enhance your quality of sleep while minimizing feelings of depression and anxiety. Just make sure you slather on the SPF!
3. Slowly sip some coffee
Love coffee but dread the crash and burn? If you drink coffee over a longer time period, its caffeine will be released into your system more slowly. It’s also worth mentioning that your body requires a bit of time to process the caffeine derived from a cup of coffee, so sipping slowly can help even out the amount of stimulation that you experience. Coffee makes you appear more awake because it is a vasoconstrictor, which means that it constricts the blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the skin and making the skin appear brighter overall.
4. Try cold tea bags
One great affordable option for reducing redness and dark circles around tired eyes can be found right in your kitchen cabinet—chilled tea bags. All you have to do is steep two bags of black, white, or green tea (all of which contain caffeine) as if you were preparing a cup of tea, then squeeze out the liquid from the bags. Allow the bags to cool down from being super hot, and then chill them in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. Once again, the caffeine tightens the blood vessels, which alleviates general puffiness. Green and black teas are also a great choice, as they contain antioxidants, such as flavonoids and tannins (we prefer green tea, as it has higher levels), which can bring down inflammation.
5. Use an eye cream or serum
One of the best ways to look more alert by targeting under-eye circles and puffiness? That would have to be an eye cream. Of course, our recommendation is LaserAway Beauty Eye Opener Multi-Corrective Eye Serum. It’s jam-packed with powerful ingredients to awaken the delicate skin around your eye area. Their groundbreaking Intelligent Delivery System features six powerful peptides that diminish the look of expression wrinkles and dark circles and supports natural collagen, revealing skin that appears firmer. This formula also contains a Duo-Hyaluronic Acid Complex and Olive Oil, both of which deliver time-released hydration to balance skin moisture. Lastly, antioxidant-rich algae extract soothes and protects skin from pollution and free radical damage. All in all, it’s easy to see why this innovative formula can make a real difference in your overall appearance.
Blair Smith is a lifestyle and beauty writer who currently resides (and will likely stay forever) in Brooklyn, New York.
