Latest news with #morningroutine
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
The Hatch Alarm Clock Makes My Nights Better and Mornings Easier
If you struggle to get up on time in the morning and want to optimize your sleep, it might be time to switch to a smarter alarm clock. Since I started using the Hatch Restore 3, morning and night routines are much easier, and I regret waiting this long to get one. This alarm clock runs $170, so it's definitely an investment. But for me the price was worth it to get a product that enhances my mornings, improves my sleep at night and sets the tone for each day. The Hatch Restore 3 is far from those alarm apps on your phone. It's a small oasis of tranquility. It gently wakes you up with a simulated sunrise and soothing sounds. This device is a sound machine, a sunrise alarm clock and a nighttime routine saver all in one. Since I started using the Hatch Restore 3, my room has become phone-free at night, and boy, have I noticed a difference in my energy levels when I wake up. Read more: Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks How I use the Hatch Restore 3 Hatch/CNET Using this sunrise alarm clock is straightforward. You connect your device to the Hatch Sleep app. From there, choose when to wake up with your preferred sound and light setting. You can choose from 13 different alarm sounds, ranging from meditative flutes to morning birds to ocean shores, and four different light hue settings, from dark pink to bright orange and yellow. You can also create a custom sunrise light. At its full price of $170, the Hatch Restore 3 isn't cheap. But whether you're seeking to enhance your morning routine or looking for a unique gift for a loved one, this alarm clock is a great investment in quality sleep. Read more: The Ideal Environment for the Best Sleep Ever
The Sun
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I tried going to bed as ugly as possible to wake up more beautiful – my partner thought I was mad but this item worked
THEY call it 'beauty sleep,' but let's be honest - just because I've clocked in a solid eight hours doesn't mean I wake up looking fresh-faced. And some days more than others it certainly takes a bit of work on my puffy eyes and messy hair before I look presentable for the world. And sometimes there just isn't time for a miracle, if I'm rushing to work or I'm late out the house. But could TikTokers have the ultimate clever solution to help my predicament? One of the booming beauty trends that has over 100million views is the 'morning shed' - and it looks baffling from first glance. The #morningshed trend is about maximising beauty sleep by applying multiple beauty products before bed, then "shedding" them in the morning to reveal a fresher, more flawless complexion. TikTokers such as @victoriasamson and @eringetty7 alone have racked up millions of views showing their step-by-step routine, which include putting hair in overnight, heatless curlers and sleeping in a collagen mask. While the nighttime get-up may look silly to some, I was willing to put it to the test to see if it could be the short cut I was craving for looking fresher, faster. MY TEST 10 After ordering all my products online, I began my nighttime beauty prep with slightly damp hair and a set of heatless curlers, which cost just £2.25 from Shein. I wrapped my hair around the soft band, hoping to wake up with effortless waves. Next, I applied a £12 lip stain by Sacheu, which promised a naturally rosy tint by morning once wiped off. Then came the viral face mask that's been making the rounds on TikTok—part of the ever-growing Korean skincare craze. This ChicNana Bio Collagen Face Mask, costing £7.99 for four, is designed to be worn overnight; it goes on visible but gradually turns clear as it absorbs into your skin. As a side-sleeper, I was skeptical it would stay put, but I gave it a try. I followed that with a dab of castor oil on my lashes—meant to strengthen and promote growth over time. No overnight miracles expected there, but worth a shot. Then came the slightly absurd-looking £3.99 chin strap from Amazon, promising to 'sculpt jawlines' and 'prevent sagging skin.' I looked absolutely unhinged by this point—but I wasn't done. Finally, I applied the £14.99 SunnieSide Skin Beauty Sleep Tape —a mouth tape that claims to improve sleep, support jawline definition, and lock in overnight lip treatments. 10 10 As I climbed into bed, my partner audibly gasped and joked that I looked like King Baldwin from Kingdom of Heaven. I couldn't even argue, I did look terrifying. Despite feeling ridiculous and unsure I'd manage to drift off at all, I actually slept through the night without any issues. THE RESULT 10 10 I woke up hoping I'd somehow transformed into a Disney princess overnight—but reality, as always, had other plans. My chin strap had wandered off sometime during the night, and my lip stain had smudged across my face—probably thanks to the moisture from the sheet mask (which, miraculously, had stayed in place and left my skin feeling surprisingly fresh). The mouth tape held firm too, and even better, it completely silenced my partner's snoring—thanks to the strip I'd 'generously' applied to him in solidarity. I was honestly amazed, and safe to say, he'll be wearing one every night from now on. The real triumph, though, was my hair. It had curled perfectly overnight, leaving it bouncy and ready to go—no styling required. I was least impressed with the lip stain, which had left my lips dry, so I gave them a boost with my Silk'n Lumilips LED Lip Mask, which is designed to visibly plump and brightens lips and the surrounding area. A quick swipe of mascara, and I was ready to head out the door, feeling put-together with barely any effort at all - in the morning at least. WHAT DO EXPERTS SAY? But what should we really be doing for our skincare routine, and is the 'morning shed' too over the top? Shubhi Grover, Head of Consumer and Beauty at Sapience Communications, told Fabulous: "I believe there's a fine line between a ritual and a routine. "While elaborate morning shed routines may look visually impressive on TikTok, much of the real skin and hair work actually happens overnight, when the body is in recovery mode. 'Your evening routine should be intentional and not overwhelming, as most of us make that mistake. 'A few high-quality, well-formulated products tailored to your skin or hair type can go further than a 12-step ritual you won't sustain. 'I recommend focusing on hydration, barrier repair, and scalp care at night, to wake up glowing without the excessive morning 'undoing.'' CONCLUSION While the full nighttime beauty routine was fun to try, I'll be honest—it's a bit too time-consuming to keep up with every single night. That said, there are definitely a few steps I'll be sticking with. The heatless curlers are an easy win—no heat damage, and I wake up with soft, bouncy waves. The overnight face mask left my skin feeling fresh and hydrated, so that's staying in rotation too.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
We Spent 24 Hours With Bambah Founder Maha Abdul Rasheed
From early rituals to late-night reflection, Bambah's Egyptian founder, who has expanded her fashion line into homeware, takes us through her day I am a super early riser. I wake up around 4:30AM most days. I love the early hours; there's a sense of clarity and stillness. I leave my blinds slightly open so the sun gradually wakes me. The first thing I do is pray Fajr and drink two glasses of water. I then head out for a 30-minute walk with my German Shepherd Ares. Once I'm back home, I start my morning routine. I begin by dry brushing my skin to exfoliate. After that, I jump into the shower, using my favourite body wash, Aesop Geranium Leaf. I apply natural musk oil that I get from Egypt, as it provides a fresh, clean scent (strong perfumes often give me headaches). Next, I brush my teeth, scrape my tongue, and cleanse my face with Beauty of Joseon facial wash. I use organic rose water as a toner, followed by a Vitamin C serum from BioMedical Emporium. To finish, I moisturise with Sisley and apply SPF50. Part of my routine consists of taking a few drops of black seed oil, followed by a warm drink of lemon water mixed with apple cider vinegar and a homemade ginger-turmeric immunity shot. I enjoy both dressing up and dressing down. Vintage pieces are a passion of mine, and I constantly look for ways to mix and match different shapes, styles, and textures. I prefer not to put too much effort into fashion and tend to shy away from perfection. I love outfits that make a strong statement about the wearer's personality or mood; to me, it's more about standing out than blending in. Ultimately, I believe there should be no strict rules when it comes to fashion, and I usually don't follow trends. I have a soft spot for ruffles, bows, and polka dots, and I prefer minimal make-up, messy hair, and comfortable jeans. I enjoy adding accessories like simple gold hoop earrings, red nail polish, and sunglasses. I aim to get ready in five to 10 minutes. I find inspiration in Caroline de Maigret and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy; chic yet effortless. They are women who dress for themselves. 6AM, I check my emails and messages. 8AM I always aim for a savoury breakfast that's high in protein. Most days, I have eggs with avocado on toast, topped with goat labneh and za'atar. On other days, I enjoy overnight oats, chia pudding with blueberries, and almond butter. I live with my parents, Ahmed and Azza, as well as my dog and my two cats, Asal and Tahina. Every morning, we typically meet at our local coffee shop. They have their coffee while I sip on hot water. We chat for a while before starting our days. 9AM I have a morning class, rotating between Pilates, barre, Synkro, and yoga throughout the week. I'm currently carrying a Chanel 22 bag filled with a scarf, grip socks for Pilates, sunscreen, dates, a power bank, and lip products. After class, I treat myself to a cup of matcha before heading to the office. 11AM I dedicate my mornings to creative direction and deep work, which often feels like organised chaos. It's loud and filled with mood boards, fabric swatches, and samples. I love the creative freedom that comes with working with fabrics, creating mood boards, and watching ideas come to life. However, I really dislike administrative work. 1PM I take a packed lunch to work. It often consists of a warm salad, grilled protein, or a Mediterranean dish. I strive to eat natural, clean, home-cooked meals. When I feel like indulging, I bake desserts that are free of refined sugar. Sometimes, I have lunch with my team, while other days I eat with my family, who work next door. We are a small, close-knit team of about 15 people, and we may lunch together and brainstorm. Afternoons are filled with meetings. Ares comes to work with me, and at 3PM we go out for some fresh air. 4-5PM Evenings typically involve preparing dinner. Occasionally, I go out with friends; I prefer early dinners since I don't like to eat or stay up late. I also enjoy hosting intimate gatherings at home. We gather around the table in the garden with candles, enjoying good conversation. 7PM is dinner time. My favourite meal is grilled sea bass with roasted vegetables. After dinner, Ares and I take a walk before returning home to shower and join my parents in the living room for some fruit and a bit of TV. 9:30PM My nightly routine begins with supplements; magnesium, a castor oil patch, and lavender oil, as sleep is critical to me. I am a light sleeper so my room has to be calm and pitch black. All Imagery Supplied
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
3 Times It's Healthier to Sleep Than Work Out, According to a Trainer
We set our morning alarms with the best of intentions. Exercise, make a healthy breakfast, take a shower, and then you're off. But when the alarm actually goes off, it's often a different story. On mornings where you're struggling even to get out from under the covers, is it healthy to make yourself to hit the gym? For days you do want to move your body a little, the Start TODAY app offers workout plans with a range of intensity levels led by best-in-class trainers. But it's not always the best move to force yourself to workout, says Stephanie Mansour, a certified personal trainer and Start TODAY fitness contributor. There are three scenarios in particular when she recommends people opt for sleep over sweat. It might feel like you're just being lazy by sleeping in rather than working out. But the truth is that sleep is just as crucial for your health as physical activity. And, Mansour says, there are a few specific scenarios when it's actually better for you to get that extra time in bed than it would be to force yourself to wake up for exercise: First, you should prioritize sleep over working out if you're not already working out regularly — especially if you're also not naturally a morning person. Second, if you're currently sleep deprived, focus on getting those quality hours of sleep in first. You can worry about working out once you're better rested. And finally, if you're super stressed out, forcing yourself out of bed to get your morning workout in isn't going to help, Mansour says. If you do still want to get some type of movement in, Mansour's 7-Day Morning Stretch Challenge in the Start TODAY app is a nice compromise, with gentle stretches designed to warm up the body and give you an energy boost. In all of these cases, you may have good intentions to get your physical activity out of the way first thing in the morning. But your body needs something else: rest. In the first scenario, you'd be forcing yourself to wake up and work out in a way that's against your usual behavior pattern. That's not likely to make you work out regularly in the morning, Mansour says. And for that reason, making yourself get out of bed is more likely to sabotage your good intentions about getting physically active. If you're working out on a sleep deficit, "your workouts just won't be as effective when you're dragging," Mansour says. And sleep deprivation make it that much harder to eat well and stick to a fitness plan. Here, sleep should be your first priority. If you're having a hard time winding down at night, Mansour designed a 1-Week Bedtime Stretch Routine to help you de-stress and fall asleep more easily. And, for those who are dealing with high stress levels, making yourself wake up early isn't going to help. "Yes, exercise helps combat stress," Mansour says. "But forcing yourself out of bed to do a HIIT routine won't do you any favors when you're going through a particularly stressful period." Rather than fighting your body to get a burn in first thing in the morning, pay attention to what your body needs from you right now. If you're new to working out, try to incorporate movement into your day in a more natural way, like taking a walk after dinner or hitting the gym after work, Mansour says. Or consider squeezing in a 5-minute strength or cardio workout using the Start TODAY app when you have time. And, when your stress levels are particularly high, she recommends opting for gentle forms of activity, such as a restorative yoga routine or walking. You can increase the mental health benefits of your walk by turning it into a moving meditation with one of the 50-plus walking podcasts in the Start TODAY app. Finally, for the sleep-deprived among us, tackle that problem first. Take a look at your nighttime sleep hygiene and bedtime habits, and go from there. TODAY's Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more. This article was originally published on
Bloomberg
15-07-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
Scientists Probe Caffeine's Hidden Benefits
Hey, it's Tim in Munich, where I'm feeling rather virtuous right now about my morning coffee habit. But first ... If you're like me, you climb out of bed each morning feeling like a zombie -- until you slug back that first cup of coffee.
