Gwyneth Paltrow never fails to wow fans with her radiant, youthful complexion, and now the star has revealed her ultimate beauty secret – a great night's sleep! The 44-year-old has revealed that just like her clean eating routine, she follows 'clean sleeping'.
"Sleep plays such a powerful role in determining your appetite and energy levels that I believe it should be your first priority - even before you think about your diet," she wrote in her new book Goop Clean Beauty. "The lifestyle I lead is based not just on clean eating, but also on clean sleeping: at least seven or eight hours of good, quality sleep - and ideally even 10."
Gwyneth Paltrow has shared her clean sleeping routine
The Shakespeare in Love actress revealed that she has also reaped the benefits of quality sleep as she ages: "That’s because the body repairs itself and detoxifies overnight, and it’s this process - happening efficiently - that allows you to look your best the next day. But as menopause approaches, changes in hormones can lead to troubled sleep."
She added: "It might be night sweats, or thoughts rushing through your mind, but the undulating hormonal cocktail of midlife commonly leaves women sleep-deprived and stumbling through the day like a zombie."
The star has also shared some of her top tips if you're looking to improve the quality of your sleep – and the experts have put her theories to the test…
Experts put Gwyneth's tips to the test
Gwyneth's tip: The Iron Man star suggests banning bedtime snacks and making sure you've finished dinner by 8pm, with a fasting window until 8am when you have breakfast.What the experts say: "Ensure you are eating little and often during the day to keep your blood sugar steady," says Dr Marilyn Glenville, author of Natural Alternatives to Sugar. "This will ensure that the hormone cortisol will start to wind down when you go to bed, as it is supposed to do. Try and avoid large meals and too much hard-to-digest food for three to four hours before going to bed."
Gwyneth's tip: The mother-of-two recommends a head or foot massage to destress.What the experts say: A bath with aromatherapy oils can be just as great (and more budget-friendly!). "Try using aromatherapy oils such as bergamot, lavender, roman chamomile and marjoram in a warm bath, just before bed," says Marilyn. "A few drops of lavender oil on your pillow at bedtime can also help.”
Gwyneth's tip: Gwyneth revealed she uses copper-infused pillows, which reportedly boost the skin's collagen and elastin levels, as well as being proven to have antibacterial qualities.What the experts say: You can boost your collagen levels by making small changes to your diet. "You may have read that collagen is necessary for good skin health but did you know that Vitamin C contributes to the collagen formation?" says Shona Wilkinson, nutritionist at SuperfoodUK.com. "Vitamin C is necessary to help rebuild the collagen and is often found in face creams. So don’t forget to get your Vitamin C for healthy looking skin.”
Gwyneth's tip: The American beauty suggests making your bedroom a technology-free zone, including laptops, phones, TVs.What the experts say: "Establish the mood of the room that you sleep in, making it a calm and relaxing environment," says Shona. "This includes the colour of the walls, bed linen and décor and avoiding very bright, stimulating colours. Make sure you keep work out of the bedroom, as well as distractions like mobile phones, computers."