A good quality night’s sleep is essential for healthy skin. When you sleep your skin focuses on repairing itself. At night your skin isn’t defending itself from sun and free radicals. Your body boosts blood flow to the skin. This is one reason why you wake up with a healthy glow.
Benefits from a good night’s sleep:
Fewer wrinkles – Skin makes new collagen when you sleep which is part of the repair process. Collagen gives your skin more volume which means fewer wrinkles
Brighter complexion – Sleep can give you a brighter complexion. Your body circulates blood flow to the skin which means you wake up looking brighter and more radiant.
Brighter and Tighter Eyes –When blood is not flowing well it can collect under the eyes and cause dark circles. This becomes visible because the skin is so thin in this area. In some cases, discoloration under the eyes can be genetic and worsen if you are sleep deprived.
Heal Existing Skin Conditions – When you are sleep deprived your body makes more of the stress hormone cortisol. Higher levels of cortisol can lead to skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc. Cortisol can also break down collagen which leads to wrinkles
With all of this activity going on in your body during sleep, you can lose 25% more water overnight. Your skin also becomes slightly hotter and more acidic during sleep. This is why it is important to use your night creams.
Using stronger exfoliants in the evening, such as retinols or glycolic products can be very beneficial. It is important to use retinol at night because it can be broken down by sunlight which can cause irritation and make you more sensitive to sun damage. To minimize the risk of irritation you can alternate retinol and glycolic products. Mornings are a great time to apply your vitamin C serum to protect your skin from free radical elements. Always follow with sunscreen.
To get a better night of sleep, I recommend: 7-9 hours of quality sleep; keep a regular sleep schedule; avoid caffeine 4-6 hrs. before sleep; and avoid alcohol and heavy meals before bedtime. It is important to exercise daily and eat a healthy diet too.
Time to pour out the coffee and go to bed!
