Friday 4 April 2014

Survival kit for insomniacs

The best beauty advise in the world is to make sure that you get enough sleep since not only do you rest and heal your body and mind when you sleep, but the skin regenerates and it's during the night that your skin is most recipient to treatments. Some people don't need a lot of sleep to still function properly, but I'm not one of those people and if I don't get my required 16 hrs of sleep (no wait... that's koalas...) I'm cranky, can't focus, feel almost hung over even though I haven't touched a drop of alcohol (honestly!) and I'm so peckish I could eat a cardboard box, if I don't have any yummy goodies at home. Getting back into a healthy sleeping pattern can be difficult and it takes time, but today I'll show you some products that have helped me through those horrible times of sleeplessness.

Some common advise when you find it difficult to fall asleep is to avoid tv, laptops, alcohol and food a few hrs before bedtime and to take a hot relaxing bath. For me it works best having a nice long soak with aromatic scents, and traditionally scents like lavender and camomile are supposed to work really well to relax you. Lately I've been using St. Grape Exotic Pink Bath Salts which are made from Himalayan salt. The bath salts have a lovely sweet, and light lavender scent with a menthol punch to it and the salts are wonderful for softening up your muscles and detoxing your body at the same time as they make the skin feel very soft and nourished, which is great since the last thing I want to do after a relaxing bath is to start moisturising.
Just in case I don't manage to get a lovely night's sleep I'll also apply the Gatineau Age Benefit Ultra-Regenerating Nigh Elixir (£90) that at least makes my skin look like it's rested. The formula is a very intense anti-ageing treatment for night use only that revitalises the skin by targeting fine lines and wrinkles. The texture is lovely and silky with a slight glowing tint to it and it has a lovely clean and fresh smell. You only need a small pump of the serum to cover your face, and when you wake up in the morning the skin looks smooth, radiant and energised as if you had had a really good night's sleep. When it's eventually time to go to bed to try and fall asleep I'll spray Avon's Planet Spa Sleep Serenity Pillow Mist (£1.30) which is an aromatic and light scent with camomile and lavender over the bed clothes and in the room to make the bedroom a nice, peaceful and relaxing space. I also use the Avon's Planet Spa Sleep Serenity Balm (£0.90) on my pulse points - so on my wrists, on my neck and on my temples, although the balm smells a lot less of lavender than the pillow mist and I mainly pick up on the very subtle and harmonious scent of camomile that should help to send me to the land of nod.
Hopefully the bath and the relaxing lavender and camomile scent is enough to help me relax and get a good few hrs sleep, however if in the morning I haven't managed to get what I need and I'm feeling and looking tired I'll use The Body Shop Elderflower Unperfumed Eye Gel (£7) on the eye area. It's a fabulous eye gel that cools and soothes the eye area, and the elderflower helps to get rid of the build up of fluids under the eyes that cause dark rings. I keep mine in the fridge to enhance that refreshing sensation when you apply it and within a few minutes you should see how the eyes look less puffy and those pesky dark circles starting to fade. The last must have product for insomniacs is Dermalogica's Total Eye Care (£37) which I've mentioned a few times before, but it's such a great product that it deserves to be mentioned often. It has a light consistency that hydrates and smoothes out the eye area and since it has a slight tint to it and light reflecting particles, it works like an under eye concealer, making you look much more bright, fresh and rested. What do you use to help you fall asleep and do you have any tips on how to at least fake 8 hrs sleep?

36 comments:

  1. Ooh like you I need my sleep unfortunately that rarely happens living on 7/6 hours sleep. That's what happens when you live with an insomniac. Your tips on getting a good nights sleep are very welcome Lucy x

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    1. Pain in the neck isn't it!!! I hope some of them will help you relax or at least feel more fresh in the morning :o). Xx

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  2. Great tips! I definitely have difficulty getting to bed & I'm sure that stimulation caused by electronics does not help! I've heard that shutting off computers and TVs a half hour before bed can make a big difference. xo Kelly http://msdioraddict.blogspot.com/

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    1. Yes me too - although I also find that when I've got too much on my mind, the TV will help to distract and relax me... can't win! :o). Xx

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  3. It's a fantastic, I really need to try them!
    Xxx

    Carolina

    www.theworldc.com

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  4. Replies
    1. It's amazing and store it in the fridge for even better effect :o). Xx

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  5. When I had sleeping problems only if I get to bed with 2 hours earlier I managed to stop thinking at 10-11 pm.
    About women and not only Blog

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    1. I know that feeling - it's very stressful knowing that it's only 5 hrs left to get up - 4 hrs... 3 hrs... etc :o/ Xx

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  6. The elderflower undereye cream is amazing! I have just finished my latest pot and I am definitely going to reprurchase this asap!!

    Laura from Maquillage Magic

    maquillagemagic.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. I'm so glad you like it too - it's an amazing product and still you rarely see it mentioned in Blogiverse?! :o). Xx

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  7. My sister Holly should read this!!! She's an insomniac and she only falls asleep when the tv is on! Yeah I know how bad that is. I have to check out the elderflower eye cream :D
    Happy Friday Charlotte!

    xx Mira

    www.glamdevils.com

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    1. It's terrible when bad patches like that mess up your sleep - I hope it gets better for her... :o). Xx

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  8. Very helpful post! the Body Shop eye cream is in my wishlist! :)

    FeelBella

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    1. It's wonderful, I don't think you'll be disappointed :o). Xx

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  9. really great advice!

    Irene
    www.thedailylace.com

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  10. Great tips dear :) xoxo

    www.beautyfrontline.com

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  11. I love sleeping. I have a great relationship with my bed. I could sleep for a whole 24 hours if I wanted to! But, once my sleep is disrupted, in addition to being irritable, I just can't sleep anymore! That lasts for weeks and even months!
    Thanks so much, Charlotte for sharing these products and tips :)

    Love from India!
    Relationships.College.Love

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    1. It's horrible when that happens... :o/ Xx

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  12. I find it hard to switch off but my boyfriend is even worse! I'd love to try some decent bath salts. :)

    Tara x

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    1. These are lovely and relaxing, maybe even the boyfriend would like them :o). Xx

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    1. Thank you so much Adriana - that's really lovely of you :o). Xx

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  14. Looks like there are some new products i'll be trying soon! Great post!
    www.styleandbeautyforless.co.uk

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    1. Thank you so much for the lovely comment :o). Xx

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  15. Those are some great tips! I always end up getting late to bad! ;) xo

    http://stylesensemoments.blogspot.com/

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    1. It's difficult to break a habit or a bad circle, but hopefully some of these might help :o). Xx

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  16. Great picks. The under eye gel i have that one, works like wonders!

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  17. I really want to try some St. Grape products; have you tried any others? I have the Avon pillow mist which is really lovely to use and I also have The Body Shop's elderflower eye gel which I find is lovely to cool and soothe tired, stingy eyes. And thanks for the keeping in the fridge tip! :) xxx
    The Jolly Fashionista

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    1. I've also tried the massage oil, the foot scrub and the bath scrub. The bath scrub is definitely my favorite - it has an amazing texture and makes the skin incredibly smooth :o). Xx

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  18. I need all these products in my life, since I just pulled off an all nighter. and work night shift! Thanks for posting!

    http://www.cindyslittleblackbook.com

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    1. :o) - I hope you get a good days sleep then! Xx

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  19. Your life seems so relaxing :)

    http://www.evithefashionista.blogspot.ca/

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