Sleep is very important to your body. It is often said that sleep recharges the body’s engine so it can perform optimally when awake. Although many people acknowledge that sleep is crucial to their health, they hardly ever take it seriously, and don’t get adequate sleep.
We are all a little guilty of not taking the quality of our sleep serious or simply not getting enough of it. Whether the reason is because our bedtime routine isn’t mindful enough or the stresses of the day are keeping us staring the cet th In short, we’re an overstimulated, under-rested bunch.
This lack of quality sleep can adversely affect your skin and facial health. Thus it’s essential to do our best to catch those all-important 8 hours each and every night. To make you understand the importance of sleep to you, here are 8 reasons why good sleep is so good for your skin.
1. ROLE OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE IN SLEEP
In the first few hours of sleep, your pituitary gland releases Human Growth Hormone (HGH), which helps your skin repair itself from the stresses and damage of the day. This nightly skin tune-up acts as a reset for your skin, guaranteeing a more glowing complexion in the morning.
2. MELATONIN AS AN ANTIOXIDANT
Melatonin is not just the hormone that makes you sleepy, it also has some pretty potent antioxidant abilities. As such, melatonin can help your skin deal with some of those free radicals created throughout the day, and that damages the skin.
3. CORTISOL LEVELS REDUCES AND DECREASES INFLAMMATION
Cortisol is your stress hormone, and while it is important to give you that pep which helps you tackle the rigours of the day, you need it to reduce to a low level at night, while you sleep. Sleeping is an effective way to combat stress by drastically reducing cortisol levels.
At night, while you sleep, your cortisol level reduces and that helps minimize the overall inflammation in your body as well as providing deep tension relief to the muscles of your face. Also, inflammation can manifest on your face in ways like red, irritated, or blotchy skin, thus, letting your cortisol settle down at night is a good thing.
4. MOISTURE LEVELS IN THE BODY BALANCES WHILE YOU SLEEP
Sleeping adequately at night can help your body regulate and redistribute the body and skin’s water content, including making sure your face is optimally hydrated. If you’ve ever had a bout of sleeplessness, you may have noticed that your skin became dull, lacklustre, or dry. Get enough sleep daily to prevent this.
5. BLOOD FLOW IMPROVES WHEN YOU SLEEP AND REST WELL
Your body needs adequate supply of blood to deliver all necessary oxygen and nutrients to the area, including your face. When you sleep, the blood vessels in your face dilate, which allows more blood flow than during the day. And, it’s this enhanced blood flow that helps you look fresh and rosy in the morning.
6. AVOID DARK CIRCLES UNDER EYES
When you do not get adeqaute sleep, the blood vessels under the thin skin of the eye can expand and cause fluid to linger, causing your eyes to have that well known, much-feared darkened or puffy appearance.
Get enough sleep to prevent eye bags, keep well hydrated, and if possible, sleep with your head slightly elevated to reduce extra fluid pooling under the eyes.
7. MORE COLLAGEN IS PRODUCED IN THE SKIN
Collagen is an imperative skin component that gives skin its elasticity and bounce, meaning that the more collagen you have in your skin, the fewer wrinkles you’ll see forming. While you are sleeping, your skin increases the production of those youthful collagen fibres. What’s more, reducing the stress on your skin by getting quality sleep can help prevent the breakdown of your existing collagen.
8. FASTER SKIN CELL GROWTH WHEN YOU ARE SLEEPING
Rapid skin cell growth is an excellent way to keep your complexion looking fresh and bright. It happens to be one of the main targets in skincare products ranging from retinoids to exfoliants and even chemical peels.
You can help your body have a quicker skin cell growth and turnover by simply getting high-quality shut-eye on the regular and also by using gentle moisturizers and serums with glow-promoting ingredients like vitamins, hyaluronic acid, or retinoids (if wrinkles or acne are a problem), which are great nightly add on to up your beauty sleep game.
Oh, you thought this thing was over?
Here’s a little extra for you; our 10 top tips help you get a healthy amount of sleep daily.
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- Use satin silk or satin pillowcases and sheets to sleep
- Elevate your head and try to sleep on your back
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol before bed
- Make sure the room is completely dark at night
- Drink plenty of water before bed
- Minimize the use of electronic devices before bed or use a blue light filter
- Take a warm bath or shower at night
- Aim for getting 7-9 hours at night
- Go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day
- Wash your face before bed and apply high-quality skincare products
