Come to bed with me

My beauty sleep rituals….

There’s a very good reason that the phrase ‘Beauty Sleep’ exists, and the fact that is dropped left right and centre!

I don't know about you, but if there are benefits I can get from doing absolutely nothing (aka sleeping), I am very much here for it. Our skin’s cells and organs literally repair and heal themselves while we sleep, so obviously, that made me curious about what else I can do to optimise the time I am sleeping to result in the best complexion possible.

Our lives are so busy and the ‘hustle’ lifestyle is still glorified, and it comes at a cost. So many of us are on our devices in bed, scrolling on social media or right up until their body can no longer stay awake and fall asleep with it on them.

Your bedroom should be for two things. Firstly, sleep. Secondly, sex — which also has a plethora of benefits for beauty and wellness… whether alone or with a partner. So, it’s time to get horizontal, stat!

Disclaimer: I am obviously not perfect and there are days where I definitely don’t practice what I preach, so don’t beat yourself up as you start to change your routine and hit the inevitable road blocks. However, I now have the knowledge and systems in place to make it easier to get back into a good sleep routine when I need it most. I’ve listed below some ways to keep my sleep space sacred and maximise my night routine.

SLEEP STORY SECRETS….

SALT LAMPS FOR LIGHTING OR RED LIGHT BULBS

This has been a game changer! As soon as it gets dark, the lamps are turned on, and the soft red light instantly works to calm the nervous system and your body knows it’s getting close to sleep time. After the clock hits 9pm, I will try to put my phone down and only get light from the red lights in the bedroom, the benefits are endless for assisting the mind and body to start winding down.

Hot tip: We have also put one in the bathroom. After a HUGE day, I highly recommend having a shower in a salt lamp lite bathroom… it’s amazing.

CHAMOMILE TEA + DARK CHOCOLATE

Chamomile tea has a mild sedative effect that is great for inducing sleep. After you fall asleep, chamomile can help to improve sleep quality so that you wake up rested and refreshed and has also been shown to help sleep problems associated with depression and other mental health issues. I also love peppermint tea at night time as well, with the added bonus of being great if you need assistance with digestion from the day.

Dark Chocolate with chamomile or peppermint tea is my favourite combination!! Anything over 70% Cocoa has so many health benefits, including magnesium! It’s important to find brands that have ethical practices and are low in sugar. Alter Eco is my absolute favourite, it is ethically sourced, no bad ingredients, tastes great and low in sugar.

MAGNESIUM + EFA/DHA (Essential Fatty Acids)

There is no secret that magnesium is a key mineral to help relax the body and assist in a good nights sleep. My current favourite is INTU Wellness sleep renewal powder which also contains marine collagen for added skin benefits. The most absorbable formulation is Magnesium Citrate so easy for digestion, however another one to look out for sleep assistance is magnesium glycinate.

Essential Fatty Acids - think all your good fats in one capsule, look for clean and nutrient dense formulations where the EFA is high, Biocieutcal’s Ultra Clean EFA/DHA is my go to and helped me so much during my eczema flare ups.

EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE

My skincare routine for nighttime is different to my morning skincare routine. First up, I always double cleanse to (literally) wash away the day. We are constantly in contact with pollution, environmental factors, makeup, sweat, blue light exposure - the list goes on! - so it’s important to make sure my face feels fresh and properly cleansed.

I love a rich serum and moisturiser to nourish my complexion. While we sleep is when we are healing and repairing so I always make sure the skincare I use has benefits to compliment this.

LEGS UP THE WALL + MEDITATE

Being a makeup artist, I spend a lot of time standing in one spot or driving to and from job locations, so it limits blood circulation to the legs. My step count is always so low on busy work days, so I know I need to get the blood flowing with either yoga or a walk when I get home. If it's late, I will do 10-20minutes with my legs up the wall and put on a meditation.

SEXUAL WELLNESS

Orgasms (either solo or with a partner) have a multitude of benefits. They’re scientifically proven to release the feel good hormones - oxytocin and prolactin. Not only do you get the added benefits of an instantly relaxed body and mind, it can also help boost your immune system, whilst reducing cortisol levels.  If you’re using lubricant during solo or partnered sex, always look for clean ingredients to protect the PH balance down below. LBDO is Australian made and owned and proudly uses a clean ingredient deck to look after your lady parts.

JOURNAL

As you get older, you start to learn a lot about life and end up knowing too much about a lot of things, and sometimes they’re things you’d rather not know about. Life has taught me, and likely you, that we can’t always know what to expect.

My thoughts used to inundate my brain as soon as I had a moment to think in bed. Now, I make it a habit to write down everything I am thinking and feeling, it removes it from my headspace so I can have a good sleep. If I am going through a hard time, I always make sure to write about some things I am grateful for as well to keep it balanced and remind me of beautiful areas of my life, as opposed to just the challenges.

READ

In the morning or during the day, I love to read something educational as my brain is ready to process and retain information. On the flip side, at night, I love a fiction book or true story when I am trying to un-wind. I never usually get through too many pages, as I often fall asleep not long after picking up a novel, which means it is super beneficial to switching my brain off after a big day.

BEAUTY SLEEP CO PILLOW

The “Selene” Pillow from local Brisbane brand, Beauty Sleep Co, has been apart of my sleep routine for over a year now and my face and hair have been loving it. The ergonomic design helps to smooth the skin and prevent creasing on your cheeks/face while you get your beauty sleep, it’s also amazing at keeping hair knot free. This pillow isn't made with silk either, so looking after the little guys (i.e. silk worms) along the way.

Happy Snoozing

Love G x