A well-rested sleep is an essential step towards waking up and feeling energized, but did you know if you get quality ‘zzzs’, you will also wake up prettier?
“Get your beauty sleep” you might have heard of this phrase that people often say to women. But is beauty sleep scientifically justified? If it is, then what exactly is beauty sleep? And how does it work its wonders?
We have busy schedules and deadlines that take away the 7-8 hours of our sleep (that is usually recommended). Let’s talk in detail about why we should fight for at least 7 hours or more of solid sleep.
What is beauty sleep?
A lot about our face and mood depends on the night’s sleep we had. Just as simple as that, when you get a proper night’s sleep, you wake up refreshed and your skin acquires a natural glow from within. For healthy skin, it is vital to sleep for 7-9 hours. When you don’t sleep enough, cortisol, a stress hormone is released in your body. This may cause inflammation, which can then lead to an increase in skin conditions like acne and psoriasis.
The downside of poor sleep
Most women are aware of the things they will see when they look in the mirror the next day after a late-night: dark circles, puffy eyes, and a dull washed out complexion. However, these are usually temporary conditions and with a smart skincare regimen and some good rest, your skin can look as good as new again.
After weeks of sleep deprivation, you may start to see more wrinkles and fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and saggier skin. In addition to that, your skin becomes more susceptible to moisture loss and your skin may heal slowly from sunburns.
What happens to your skin while you sleep?
The temperature of your skin changes: Our skin gets warmer when we sleep, making it slightly less dry. That is why dermatologists recommend a heavier cream at night, especially in colder weather.
Note: If you have oily skin, you don’t need to apply heavy creams at night, as it can aggravate acne.
Calms mind to prevent breakouts: While you are asleep, the levels of cortisol (stress hormones) go down, thus reducing the chances of inflammation that causes acne. Also, a good night’s sleep relaxes puffiness around your eyes. Hence a proper sleep relaxes your skin, and you feel refreshed after waking up.
Your skin’s cells renew themselves: “Sleep is essential for repairing the skin,” Debra Jaliman, M.D., a New York City dermatologist and author of Skin Rules. While you sleep, especially post-midnight, your skin’s cells get busy – the cells divide themselves and in turn repair the skin. So if you are awake at that time, this process might get affected thus the quality of your skin will deteriorate as well.
Your skin may lose water: All the functions and processes in the body slow down while you sleep, this causes epidermal water loss too. Meaning? Your skin and body lose water. To replenish this loss, it is important to use a moisturizer that keeps your skin hydrated throughout the night.
Your anti-aging cream will be more effective: Now you have a clear idea that your skin renews itself as you sleep. This will help the anti-aging products to get absorbed thoroughly into the skin. Most of the anti-aging products contain Retinol, and it is less effective during the day as the sun breaks down its core ingredients making your skin sensitive.
Your skin is protected from eco damage: When you sleep, there is no change in the surrounding temperature, (unlike the time when you step in and out of air-conditioned spaces), no skin damaging actions like: Sun’s UV rays, pollution fumes, cigarette smoke, and no make-up on your skin. A sound sleep with the right skincare regime applied gives your skin a chance to recover from these external influences.
Things to keep in mind to have a sound sleep:
- Wake up and go to bed at the same time every day
- Sleep in a dark and quiet room
- Keep your bedroom cool
- Coffee, before you sleep, is a no-no. Instead of coffee, opt for a cup of chamomile tea or lavender tea which will help induce sleep
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol
- Apply an overnight moisturizer with hyaluronic acid
- Follow your night skincare regime
- Keep a glass of water on your nightstand
- Do not go to sleep immediately after any meal
- Avoid heavy exercises before sleep
- Try to get Beauty sleep: 7-8 hours of sleep
- Don’t try and focus on things you could have said 5 years ago… 😉
Conclusion
It is extremely important to get the requisite amount of sleep every night. Sleeping well and enough is also good for your overall health as it aids in the transfer of nutrients in the body and reduces stress levels.
Keep this in mind: Apart from regular grooming, there is a necessity for proper sleep for the perfect functioning of our body.
If you are suffering from insomnia, you must reach out to a doctor before it takes a serious toll on your overall health.