Top 10 Truths About Beauty Sleep and How they Work

We invest a lot of time – and sometimes a lot of money – into trying to look our best. From when we are teenagers and trying out all of the remedies to get rid of blackheads and battle acne, to contemporary adulthood when we invest in everything from face and body moisturizers to hair root care products, and of course various makeup products. However, there is one thing that holds an almost infinite amount of beauty care secrets and is without a doubt the most effective part of a successful beauty routine. And it is absolutely free! It’s called sleep. Are you getting enough of it? If not, here are 10 reasons why you should be getting your beauty sleep and how it actually works.

1. Glowing Complexion

Have you noticed that when you miss out on sleep, your skin begins to look dull? That’s because a lack of sleep will actually cause your blood vessels to dilate, slowing the blood flow to your skin. This partly causes those dark circles and robs your face of that healthy glow that it should have.

2. Collagen Production

Your body produces collagen when you sleep, which is responsible for skin elasticity, tightness, and helps to maintain a plump skin appearance with optimal moisture. Without collagen, skin, hair, and nails all begin to look flat and dull, and skin begins to sag.

3. Skin Regeneration

Your body produces Human Growth Hormone (HGH) when you sleep; for children, it helps them grow, and for adults and children alike, this allows your body to regenerate cells and heal itself. Damage to your skin from pollution and UV radiation is healed during sleep, which makes skin look younger and more refreshed.

4. Tense facial muscles relax

Getting enough sleep can reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles that are caused by tension held in the facial muscles. That being said, if you are sleeping on your stomach with your face crushed into the pillow, then that can cause fine lines and wrinkles too. It’s best to sleep with a pillow constructed to improve circulation; for example, a memory foam pillow by Eve is part of a range of products designed to aid every type of sleeper, even stomach sleepers.

5. Reduces Cortisol levels

Cortisol is a stress hormone produced throughout the day, but if levels remain high then it causes inflammation in the body. This can damage your skin at a cellular level and inhibit the skin healing process, and inflammation under the skin will also make your face look puffy. Cortisol also thins your skin, and is responsible for the creation of stretch marks and skin discoloration.

6. Weight Control

The hormone ghrelin, which is responsible for making you hungry, and the hormone leptin, which tells you when you are full, are increased and reduced respectively through a lack of sleep. When you are sleep deprived, then, you will end up feeling hungry often and eating more than your body actually needs and can burn off, resulting in weight gain.

7. Skin Detox

Sleep is a time for your body to be able to remove toxins from your skin – like pollutants and bacteria. Your skin will often accumulate buildup and blockage in your pores when it can’t perform this function.

8. Lymphatic draining

When sleep deprived, your lymphatic system drains poorly, resulting in the fluid buildup that manifests as puffy eyes and those tell-tale signs of a bad night’s sleep: dark circles.

9. PH level balance

Lack of sleep also affects the moisture levels in your skin, depleting them so that your skin becomes dry and dull, losing that healthy glow. The drop in PH can also create redness, uneven skin tone and texture, and trigger breakouts.

10. Increased melatonin

Sleep actually increases your melatonin levels, which help to fight against age spots and fine lines and acts like an antioxidant.

So, the next time you consider skimping on sleep, keep in mind that you won’t just feel tired, you will be directly contributing to the skin problems that plague you, and to the aging of your skin as well. Start harnessing the benefits of beauty rest today!