Sleep: the cheapest, most effective beauty treatment

Studies show that teenagers need between 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night, every night.

Without sleep, we'd die. Without normal sleep, the human body is unable to live normally. It is during sleep that the body rejuvenates itself.

A lack of sleep has been shown to negatively affect a person's ability to learn. Additional studies have also shown sleep to be one of the most effective beauty treatments no matter what your age – helping you to look healthier and more attractive to others.   

Other benefits from getting the proper amount of sleep is an increased ability to concentrate, being less prone depression, increasing your sense of well being, and protecting yourself against illness like colds and flues. So you see, it pays to get your proper sleep. But doing so may take a little bit of planning and effort.

Preparing yourself for a good night's sleep

• Get up and go to bed every day at approximately the same time, even on the weekends – the body craves a regular sleeping time.
• Turn off that screen! – TVs, computers, mobile phones and gaming consoles: turn them off. Looking at and being distracted by screens is the number one reason why teenagers have difficulty falling asleep.
• Eat your last meal of the day at least three hours before bedtime.
• Avoid caffeine in the evenings – for example, in tea, coffee and soft drinks.
Other things you can try:
• Take a warm bath before bed – maybe even treat yourself to a bubble bath. This can help you relax.
• Drink a glass of herbal tea or warm milk with honey.
• Get regular exercise in the day, to help you sleep at night.
• Write your thoughts down in a journal. Getting your worries out of your head and onto paper may help you quiet your mind just enough to get some rest. If you are jotting down your thoughts just before bed, do so on paper because a computer or mobile phone screen may hamper your ability to get to sleep.