Sleep is easily one of my favorite activities. I try to get at least 8 hours a day, and lately I’ve noticed how many ways there are to use these eight hours to my advantage. We are literally just laying down for eight hours. Think of all the natural and organic beauty possibilities! Let’s take a look.
Note: For best effect, oils should be cold pressed, organic, unrefined and hexane free.
1. Coconut Oil Hair Mask
Do you want soft, shiny, delicious smelling hair? Of course you do. Coconut oil is an incredible natural and cost-effective way to improve your nighttime routine. It’s antibacterial, so it’s incredible for dandruff or other infections helping hair stay healthy. It has proteins other oils don’t, and it has incredible moisturizing properties. Want to make the most out of your eight hours? Before bed, brush your hair and work coconut oil into the ends to help breakage, or cover completely for an all over hair mask. Wrap your hair in a towel (you don’t want oil on your pillow!) and rinse out in the shower in the morning. You’ll have beautiful hair without using chemicals, preservatives or toxins!
2. Castor Oil For Long Lashes
There are about a million uses for castor oil. It’s a lot thicker than some other oils (like coconut oil), but has some incredible moisturizing properties. It is commonly used for hair growth and helping the digestive system as it has high laxative properties. You can also use this lovely oil to rid yourself of warts or skin tags by leaving it on overnight with a band-aid. However, I use this miracle oil to grow my lashes. I don’t have long or thick lashes, and instead of spending a fortune on that perfect mascara; I opted for castor oil. Before bed, take a Q-Tip and brush castor oil onto your lashes. You can even rub some around your brow to help thicken your brows. You can also use this oil as a night eye cream. It helps take away black circles and you will wake up with a lovely glow!
3. Shea Butter For Moisturizing
The best part about Shea Butter is that is has a property that coconut oil and castor oil don’t. While oils are super great for moisturizing, they can potentially be pore clogging. However, shea butter doesn’t clog pores! It’s roots are in Africa, and has been used for millennia to treat rashes, skin irritations, stretch marks, scars and other skin conditions. Personally, with the cold winters and harsh winds, I use this butter on my hands and leave it overnight. I wake up with silky smooth hands and beautiful cuticles. You can also mix shea butter with coconut oil, add some essential oils, whip it up and voila; your own body butter.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
This vinegar isn’t only used for salads! Apple Cider Vinegar is just bursting with awesome stuff. It can be used as a cold rinse (after you condition your hair in the shower) to leave your hair super shiny and get rid of dandruff. It can be used as a toner (diluted with water) because it has incredible exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties. Acetic acid (the main ingredient) in Apple Cider Vinegar can also remove buildup from styling products and balance the pH levels of your hair. Dilute with water, apply to scalp and leave on overnight.
5. Tea Tree Oil
Have you noticed how many skin care products feature tea tree oil as an acne fighting remedy? Well there is a reason for that. It contains natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that helps reduce inflammation. It can penetrate sebaceous glands to unclog and disinfect pores while also preventing future breakouts by destroying acne causing bacteria. Do you have a pesky zit you want to get rid of by morning? Take a Q-tip and apply to the trouble area. You’ll be amazed at how well it works.
Why just lay on a mattress for eight hours when you can improve your hair, skin and nails even while you sleep! Once you start some of these regimes, you’ll be shocked you never did it before. Your face and hands absorb more toxins and chemicals than the rest of your body so we need to be careful in what we are putting on our skin and into our bodies! With such easy DIY hair masks, facial toners, moisturizers from nature’s gifts, it’s a wonder why we would vouch for toxin, chemical, isolated and dangerous products.
Featured image via Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels
