Ever wondered why your skin looks dry or feels flabby after a poor night’s sleep? Science shows the relationship between sleep hygiene and your skin’s health. From dark circles to acne breakouts, chronic lack of sleep hinders your ability to produce collagen, a necessary ingredient in healthy skin. 

But there is good news! A good night’s sleep is one of the best things you can add to your skincare routine. While fancy toners and overnight masks might be nice, getting 7-9 hours of sleep can transform your skin — no expensive products necessary.

Sleep helps keep your skin hydrated.

Research shows that a lack of sleep, especially chronic sleep deprivation, has a profound effect on skin hydration. If you are fatigued from not enough sleep, chances are your skin feels dry or uneven. This is because sleep promotes cell reparation, and a lack of sleep affects the pH and viscosity of your skin. 

If you are preparing for a few sleepless nights or are struggling with insomnia, they are a few measures you can take to keep your skin hydrated while sleeping less. Be sure to stay well hydrated, and keep a glass of water next to your bed. Additionally, try to clean your face prior to getting into bed and wash your pillow regularly. Dry skin is more susceptible to inflammation from dirty surfaces.

Sleep reduces puffiness and inflammation.

We’ve all been there – that first glance in the mirror and all you see are red and puffy eyes. Sleep deprivation affects blood flow, which can make your face feel flat and puffy. If you are looking for a quick solution, try using cold tea bags on your eyes to reduce puffiness or cold silverware. 

If stress is causing your lack of sleep, you are more likely to have problems with inflammation. Sleep lowers our cortisol levels, allowing our skin to regenerate by producing antioxidants, protecting us from UV rays. A lack of sleep can lead to inflammation, which can lead to breakouts. It’s another reason why it’s so important to understand the relationship between sleep hygiene and your skin’s health.

Sleep decreases wrinkle development.

Most of the effects of sleep deprivation on our skin are short-term, from puffy eyes to acne breakouts. But new research shows that chronic sleep deprivation can have lasting effects. Sleep plays a major role in balancing growth hormone levels. 

If you are not getting enough sleep, you could affect the collagen in your skin, which affects your skin’s elasticity. Broken-down tissues can cause wrinkles. Additionally, sleep is a vital part of healthy immune function. If you suffer from a lack of sleep, your body may struggle to detox from environmental toxins, like sun damage, which can cause long-term skin damage. 

Sleeping Beauty: Restful Skincare

Sleep has a major impact on your skin, and getting enough sleep can be the key piece to your skincare routine. Getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night will promote healthier skin, allowing your cells to regenerate and balancing growth hormones. Dry, puffy and inflamed skin are the most common side effects of a sleepless night or chronic sleep deprivation. 

While most effects, like puffy eyes, are short-term, skin deprivation is also shown to increase the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines in the long term. While there are certain steps you can take to prevent wrinkles, the most vital may be just getting a good night’s rest. Expensive products and supplements might not hurt, but if your body can’t repair itself during sleep, these other methods are significantly less effective.

A good night’s rest promotes healthy and hydrated skin. Sleeping beauty is now a proven phenomenon – we need sleep to take care of our skin! From acne breakouts to permanent wrinkles, sleep has a major impact on your skin. Getting enough rest is key to a healthy skincare routine.