A good night’s sleep is critical for beauty. There are many reasons why it’s called “beauty sleep.”
I’ve stated previously that good nutrition is the first rule of beauty. Well then, good or adequate and restful sleep is the second rule of beauty.
Your body repairs itself and recovers while you sleep, and that leads to a long list of benefits for your well-being and beauty. Ideally, it is important to get enough quality sleep -- 7 to 9 hours of restful, undisrupted-- each night. It may be that if you are consistently sleeping only 6 hours or less each night, how you look may be affected!
Here are some of the things that occur during sleep as they relate to your appearance.
1. Skin makes new collagen when you sleep, which prevents sagging and makes skin less likely to wrinkle. Reduced nightly sleep can lead to twice as many fine lines. It also leaves skin drier, which can make lines more visible and may make skin more sensitive.
2. Your body boosts blood flow to the skin during sleep, which means you wake to a healthy glow. Sleep deprivation causes a decrease in blood flow to the skin surrounding your face, and this may leave your complexion looking dull or ashen.
3. Less gravitational effect on skin and fluid. Getting enough quality sleep reduces puffy eyes and dark circles.
4. Hair loss, breakage, damage, and even growth can all be negatively affected by lack of sleep. Hair follicles receive oxygen, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from blood circulation. Since blood flow decreases when sleep is inadequate, the hair cells are not nourished, weaken, and it have difficulty growing. Lack of quality sleep can also lead to more stress which causes an increase in the hormone cortisol. High stress and cortisol levels can cause you to lose hair.
5. Being short on sleep can cause the corners of your mouth to droop, making you look sadder than you do after a good night’s rest.
6. With fatigue from lack of sleep, your facial expressions change in subtle and consistent ways. You can frown and furrow your brows more. Some signs of sleep deprivation such as dark circles and dull, sagging skin can also signal to others that you’re exhausted. And people who don't get enough quality sleep are also seen as less healthy.
7. Some people believe that your skin care products may work synergistically during restful sleep. Internally, since blood flow is enhanced during the body’s repair and recovery state, the ingredients in your products may benefit from this effect. Also, externally, skin tends to become dry overnight, particularly if you sleep with forced heat or air. Applying a thicker moisturizer or balm before bedtime may help to prevent TEWL while you sleep.
You can stay woke but also be sure to get your beauty sleep!