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Can you sleep your skin younger?

March 16th, 2022

In a perfect world, you would sleep 8 to 10 hours a night and wake up looking refreshed with youthful, smooth glowing skin. But in reality, a large percentage of people are lucky to get 6 hours of sleep and they wear that deficit on their faces. Why is sleep so important for our skin and can you sleep your skin younger?

“What I’d give for a solid night’s sleep.”

A solid night’s sleep is essential for good health and skin, when you sleep at night, your skin cells die and renew themselves, they rejuvenate. 

Sleep is a human necessity and a lack of it can leave you reaching out for beauty products to hide puffy eyes and dark circles. A lack of sleep can be the reason for a bad day and it can affect so many areas of your life, did you get enough beauty sleep last night or did you wake up looking like you haven’t slept a wink? 

Can you sleep your skin younger?

To some degree, you can sleep your skin younger, with a healthy diet and lifestyle combined with a really good night’s sleep it is possible to look younger than your years. But let’s be clear, no matter what you do, the ageing process doesn’t allow you to look 21 every day forever. Having said that, some people do spend a lot of money on treatments such as plastic surgery or fillers to stay looking young. With all our modern technology, who knows what the anti-ageing future will bring?

During the night our faces switch from battle survival mode to repair mode.

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and your face is exposed to irritants outdoors and indoors such as pollution, UVAs, radiation and microbes. You can’t hide from pollution, you can try to limit your exposure and you can take precautions but at the end of the day, your face is fighting an ongoing battle. As we age, that battle gets more intense and challenging.

Your basic beauty commandments

Dr Anjali, a top consultant dermatologist explains, “When it comes to your skin, getting enough sleep is one of your basic beauty commandments. Sleep is a fundamental human requirement. Experimental studies have demonstrated that lack of sleep can make individuals look less healthy, less attractive and more tired. Studies aside, it’s not rocket science to see that sleep deprivation can worsen under-eye circles and cause sallow, dull skin.” 

“There is fascinating scientific work from the year 2000 onwards which demonstrates that skin cells have their internal clock in addition to the brain’s master clock,” says Dr Anjali. “The skin’s circadian rhythm affects nearly all of its functions. This includes skin hydration and water loss, oil or sebum production, blood flow, skin cell division and barrier function. These processes do not proceed at the same rate during the day and show peaks and troughs of activity,” Dr Anjali explained.

She continued, “As the skin’s barrier is more permeable at night and whilst we sleep, now is also the time to think about targeted treatments for your skin,” says Dr Anjali. “This is the time to apply your treatment for stubborn spots, brightening agents for pigmentation and retinoids for anti-ageing,” she says.

An adult’s skin regenerates every 28-42 days, from age 50 it can take up to 84 days. 

Oil production in the skin peaks in the early afternoon and is at its lowest at night, skin is at its driest during that time and as you age the dead skin cells can build up, that’s why it’s common for the elderly to have really dry skin. An adult’s skin regenerates every 28-42 days, from age 50 it can take up to 84 days.

What can you do If a good night’s sleep is unachievable?

Sleep deprivation can be a killer – in this modern, fast-paced digital world it can be difficult to get a good solid night’s sleep. There are common factors that prevent us from getting the Zs that we need like mental and physical health issues and challenges. Parenting, debt, poverty, responsibilities, diet, lifestyle and stimulation from electronic devices. 

If a good night’s sleep is unachievable there are things you can do to help keep your skin looking younger than your years and wake up with a healthy glow.

Develop a good day and nighttime skincare routine using products with ingredients such as:

  • Hyaluronic acid helps the skin maintain moisture and assists in the tissue regeneration process involved in healing wounds. 
  • Vitamin C is an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory nutrient. It is known to improve skin tone and texture, hydrate the skin, and reduce signs of ageing. 
  • Vitamin A helps to speed up healing, prevents breakouts and supports the skin’s immune system promoting natural moisturising.
  • Vitamin B2 can help improve skin tone, make skin more radiant and balance natural oils, making these great vitamins for dry skin or acne.
  • Collagen is a protein and it is what keeps our skin from sagging, giving us that plump, youthful look.
  • Retinoids reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen. They also stimulate the production of new blood vessels which improves skin colour. 
  • Lactic acid increases cell turnover and helps eliminate accumulated dead skin cells on the epidermis, the top layer of the skin. 
  • Ceramides help create a barrier to prevent permeability. This locks moisture into your skin, which helps prevent dryness and irritation. 
  • Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that can serve to regulate the skin’s oil production, improve balanced hydration, subdue breakouts and minimize signs of ageing. 

Eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated. Fruit and vegetables contain powerful antioxidants that help to protect the skin from the cellular damage caused by free radicals. Water is vital to flush out impurities and improve the texture of the skin

Sleep on your back because the position is best for all-around prolonging youthful skin. Not only does it prevent wrinkles due to the lack of wrinkle-inducing friction it also stops the skin from feeling the pressure of your face pushing into the pillow

Use a humidifier in your bedroom. Using a humidifier regularly can help to restore the skin’s natural functions, helping to hydrate the skin and regulate underactive or overactive sebum production

Incorporate supplements into your diet and we recommend our products:

  • Youth Gems serum – a special peptide complex for around the eyes and mouth. It is designed to be used sparingly against the most noticeable skin ageing effects on the face and neck. Regular use of this skin & eye cream/serum will plump up those affected zones and aid in a fuller, more youthful appearance.
  • Youth Gems night cream – a night cream with peptides and ginseng extracts. It is designed to be applied to the face and hands. The unique formula provides resilience against skin ageing, helping to improve blood supply for a youthful glow and to create a more elastic, compliant skin condition. 

Don’t wait in the hope that you will be the next Sleeping Beauty who sleeps undisturbed for years and upon waking has youthful glowing skin and a Prince who is rich and offers you a great future. It’s not going to happen – so, you need to practice good self-care and look after your well-being. 

Links:

Dr Anjali https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/beauty-sleep-hacks#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWhen%20it%20comes%20to%20your,consultant%20dermatologist%2C%20Dr%20Anjali%20Mahto

Develop a good day and nighttime skincare routine

https://www.glamour.com/story/best-daily-skin-care-routine-morning-night

Eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated

https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/the-importance-of-hydration.html

Sleep on your back

https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/sleeping-on-your-back-how-to

Use a humidifier

https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/air-humidifier-benefits

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