How Beauty Sleep Effects Your Skin Care

We talk a lot about the best skin care practices and how everything should work towards a healthy lifestyle and greater philosophy of self-care. However, if you’re not getting enough sleep and complementing any daily skin care routine in tandem with proper rest every night then all those efforts will be for naught.

Sleep and skin care must work together to show the best results.

Sleep Benefits

The benefits of high-quality sleep are endless, especially when it comes to your overall daily health and the skin’s functions. When you sleep, your skin cells get to work on maintaining and revitalizing itself.

• lessens wrinkles: sleep acts as a natural anti-agent preventing visible signs of aging and fine lines.
• glows: sleep boosts your overall complexion and keeps your skin working properly.
• healthier skin: sleep further repairs and regenerates your skin cells.
• de-stress: sleep gives your skin a break from the daily stresses and exposure of your environment.

A good night’s sleep is really the final process in your skin care regimen as it allows products and any procedures to fully process during rest. Skin care is about balance and that balance is thrown off if you don’t get enough sleep.

Look Younger

Skin produces collagen as you sleep. This prevents sagging and wrinkles. Less sleep also leaves the skin drier and leads to more fine lines.

Dermalogical studies suggest cell mitosis (cell division renewing and repairing the skin) hits its peak between 11pm and midnight whether you are asleep or not. Ideally, your body is in rest mode to best process these activities.

Lack of sleep can really take a toll on your face causing swollen eyes, bags under your eyes, dark circles, saggy eyelids, paleness, and just generally signal an unpleasant demeanor on your face.

While You Sleep

Regular sleep lets your body properly recover from your day of activity. Your body does a lot of work on itself while you’re sleeping.

During sleep, blood flow is more consistent and helps the skin repair any damage experienced. Sleep also enhances any products or ingredients used or applied to the skin. This is why we recommended a second application of your skin care regimen before going to bed.

You can stay hydrated overnight by applying moisturizer and drinking plenty of water as you lose more water while you sleep.

In many ways, sleep is the only attainable fountain of youth we have. Any daily skin care routine and healthy lifestyle needs to complemented by regular nightly sleep (7-9 hours) for your body to work at its best.

No Rest for the Wicked

Conversely, prolonged lack of sleep can really wreak havoc on your longterm if not addressed. It makes any skin ailments you’re already dealing with worse.

As you are deprived of sleep, your body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol. Elevated levels of this hormone can cause heightened levels of inflammation and deteriorate your skin’s overall quality. It can start a vicious cycle leading to eczema, acne breakouts, and other skin maladies.

Making sure you get enough sleep and exercise do more for your skin than you may think. When you sleep, your body releases something called the human growth hormone. This hormone is responsible for cell turnover and collagen production, a protein that gives skin its suppleness and elasticity. Regular aerobic exercise will improve your circulation and leave you more glowing as a result.

Rest and a regular good night’s sleep does wonders for your whole body and your skin. Consistent quality sleep will let your skin’s natural functions process more smoothly. Sleep will also combat stress which can wreak havoc on your skin leading to breakouts. Also, try switching up positions to prevent sleep lines and wrinkles.

There’s a reason it’s called “beauty sleep”. Good sleep physically makes you look better and allows your body to properly absorb your skin care, so rest up.

Source: Everyday Health / WebMD