Beauty Sleep is a real thing! Lack of sleep directly impacts the way in which our skin looks with symptoms such as:
- hanging eyelids
- swollen eyes
- dark under eye circles
- paler skin
- more wrinkles and fine lines
- droopy corners of the mouth
So why is beauty sleep so important?
Our skin functions as an important barrier from external stressors such as environmental toxins and sun-induced DNA damage. It has now been determined that skin function and appearance is also impacted by sleep quality, which is vital to the growth and renewal of the body’s immune and physiological systems.
During various studies, poor quality sleepers showed increased signs of intrinsic skin ageing including fine lines, uneven pigmentation and slackening of skin and reduced elasticity. Recovery from sunburn was more sluggish and erythema (redness) remained much higher, which indicates that inflammation is not completely resolved. Transepidermal Water Loss is also significantly higher in those who don’t get enough sleep – meaning that the skins’ barrier is not repairing enough to keep moisture in.
Good quality sleepers recover far more efficiently from stressors to the skin, so that the skin is able to repair itself from external and internal damage while you sleep.
So how many hours should our Beauty Sleep be?
8 to 9 hours a night of uninterrupted sleep is the sweet spot, but on average, most people report only getting between 6 and 7 hours per night and this is not taking into account those on shift work or those with young children, who may only get as little as 2 or 3 uninterrupted hours.
What else can you do?
If you fall into the category of a poor quality sleeper and you have no way of becoming a good quality sleeper (due to work or care giving) then here are a couple of things that you can do to get the most out of your limited amount of sleep:
- Wash your face before bed. Cleansing each night to remove makeup and the days grime will ensure that pore clogging irritants are removed and you are not causing damage overnight. Follow with nutrient rich serums and moisturisers.
- Stay hydrated. Making sure you have had adequate amounts of water throughout the day and before sleep will ensure that your skin is not dehydrated.
- Sleep on your back. If you are a side sleeper, you will most likely notice that one side of your face appears ‘wrinklier’ than the other. I read that Brad Pitt tapes tennis balls to his sides to prevent him from rolling. Is it true? – I don’t know, but he is super hot, so perhaps… You can also use a silk pillow instead of cotton. This makes a huge difference to the wrinkles forming overnight. You’ll also find it’s great for your hair breakage and reduces sweat and bacteria build up.
- Don’t sleep in the sun!! Pretty obvious why, but other than waking up looking like a cooked lobster, the sun can cause irreversible damage.
Use a sleep mask. These are a perfect option to keep your moisture in and feeding your skin while you sleep. Aspects Probiotic Sleep Mask is packed full of antioxidant nutrients that will feed and nourish and Osmosis MD’ Tropical Mango Barrier Repair Mask will restore your protective barrier while deeply hydrating. We also love CosMedix Rescue Balm and Osmosis MDs’ Remedy. Apply one of these before bed to maximise your skin’s recovery.
Use a sleep mask.
Still not sure?
Do you need more help or would like personalised advice? Book now for your consultation with a skin care advisor. Offering information on what skin care products are best for you. Check out our range of in-clinic services today.
Otherwise fill in the Online Skin Consultation. Our skin care advisor will happily help you. Choosing the right treatments and products for your skin type or concern.
Check out our latest Specials!
Leave a Reply