Evening ritual for healthy skin (Image: iStock)
Soft and elastic skin without acne scars and rashes is everyone's dream. And to achieve this, almost all of us follow various rituals and routines throughout the day. We do everything from cleansing your skin to applying expensive products to covering your face every time you go out. At the same time, we often forget about healthy foods. If you search the internet or talk to beauty experts, you will find that they recommend a healthy diet to nourish your skin from within. But such a discussion does not cover the evening rituals you should follow. You read that right! Like drinking water throughout the day and eating enough fruits, you should also maintain a good sleep routine. And it's more than just your daily CTM (Cleanse-Tone-Moisturize) routine: it includes healthy eating, good sleep, and more.
What does a balanced diet at night have to do with skin health?
The idea is to create a situation that creates restful sleep. According to WebMD, your skin uses your sleep hours to heal and repair, leaving you feeling refreshed and radiant. When you sleep, blood flow to your skin cells increases, helping them breathe and help your skin get the most nutrients it needs.
It also helps reduce acne and slows down the aging process of the skin. And eating a healthy meal at night will help you get a good night's sleep.
Also read: Having trouble sleeping at night? 5 things you might be doing wrong
Sleep Ritual for Healthy Skin: 5 Dos and Don'ts Before Sleeping:
1. Healthy Dinner:
It is important to eat lightly at night. But that doesn't mean you have to force yourself to starve. "It's important to prepare a nutrient-dense dinner so you're full, get as much nutrition as possible at bedtime, and most importantly, avoid midnight snacks," says nutritionist Simrun Chopra. Click here for tips on a healthy dinner routine.
2. Drink enough water:
As mentioned earlier, your skin heals while you sleep. So experts recommend drinking enough water before going to bed so that the skin stays naturally hydrated. Besides, drinking water helps flush out toxins, calms nerves and improves sleep quality.
3. Drink Haldidukh or any drink in the evening:
Drinking turmeric milk is part of our evening routine. I wonder why? It's true, this hot drink helps you calm your mind and enjoy a good night's sleep. Additionally, according to Healing Foods by DK Publishing, turmeric contains curcumin, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight acne and keep your skin clear. Click here for a healthy nightcap recipe.
4. Avoid eating in the middle of the night:
According to Sleepfoundation.org, eating in the middle of the night can lead to a phenomenon called night eating syndrome. And it greatly affects our weight and the quality of our sleep. They also note that people with night eating syndrome may have poor sleep quality and sleep less overall. This can further disrupt your skin's natural healing process.
5. Avoid alcohol, nicotine and caffeine:
Sleepfoundation.org also explains that nicotine and sleep don't mix well. Studies have shown that nicotine impairs sleep quality and affects our health in several ways. The same goes for caffeine and alcohol. These drinks prevent our nerves from relaxing, which further disrupts sleep. Alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine also contribute to the build-up of toxins in the skin, which over time lead to acne, breakouts, and even fine lines and wrinkles.
Follow this healthy eating routine along with your daily sleep ritual and wake up every day with soft, supple skin.
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