The Power of Beauty Sleep

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What do you see in the mirror when you wake up? Are you unhappy with the dark undereye circles and sunken eyes after a poor night’s sleep? Sleep is incredibly important for physical appearance and has been described as “a fountain of youth that we dive into every night.” So how does regularly getting eight hours of sleep make us feel more attractive?

Physical Signs of Inadequate Sleep

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• Wrinkles: At night, your skin grows fresh cells to replace the old, worn-out ones. If you miss out on sleep or sleep poorly, your cells don’t have time to regenerate and your skin may gain a few wrinkles or sag the next morning.

• Eyebags: They may be the most obvious signs that you didn’t get enough sleep last night. Lack of sleep causes your blood vessels to expand. The dark, unhealthy eye-circles are the result of blood pooling under them.

• Acne: Sleep deprivation is considered one of the three main acne triggers. This may be due to how sleeplessness disrupts your hormones and unsettles the chemical balance in your skin that wards off pimples. Old skin cells, which are not replaced by new ones due to lack of sleep, will also clog your pores.

• Dry Skin: This occurs because the body will be unable to produce extra perspiration on our skin and keep its pH levels balanced when we do not get adequate sleep.

• An Unhappier Expression: One 2017 study found that people with signs of fatigue after two days of sleep deprivation were judged to look sadder and less attractive than well-rested subjects.

Nature’s Natural Facelift:

Beauty Sleep and Physical Attractiveness

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• Your skin will be clearer and more luminous. Sleeping longer for a few days allows your skin to bounce back and create a more even skin tone. This is because sleep is the best way to produce collagen- which prevents sagging- and regain skin elasticity.

• You will look bright and awake. (There’s a lower chance of getting eyebags or bloodshot eyes if you sleep enough.)

• You may face fewer acne breakouts and even reduced blemishes or acne scars.

• You will wake up with a better mood that lasts throughout the day. Studies have shown that sleep satisfaction has a large influence on your energy levels.

Catch Up on Your Beauty Sleep

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Needless to say not everyone can get those 6.5 to 9 hours adults require every night. Here’s how to make the best use of our time at night, perhaps also to look like we’ve had the luxury of a good night’s rest:

• Use beauty products at night: As you age, it becomes more important to take care of your skin. What better time for your skin to absorb nutrients, vitamins and hormones from skincare products than at night? That may be the only time when our skin is free from makeup and sunscreen that clogs pores, as well as the sweat from being in the hot sun. Don’t forget to wash your face to minimise the risk of breakouts.

• Don’t forget to moisturize: Sleeping dehydrates our skin, especially if you sleep in a low-humidity environment. Thicker creams are recommended to help our skin as we sleep. Some people even apply a sleeping face mask and keep a humidifier next to their bed.

• Change your sheets regularly: Most people should watch their sheets once per week. Sleeping on bed-sheets and pillowcases that are clean of dirt and dead skin-cells is not only more comfortable, but reduces the bacteria that can disrupt your skin’s ecosystem.

• Sleep on your back: While everyone’s sleeping position is different, you may get wrinkles on your face and chest as a result of sleeping on your stomach or sides. Sleeping on your back keeps your skin looking smooth.