Snooze your way to stunning skin

Ever stayed up a bit too late binge watching your favourite show on Netflix or scrolling through Instagram? You might have noticed that when you do, you wake up the next morning looking tired. That’s right, ‘beauty sleep’ is a real thing, and when you’re juggling work, kids, life and everything in between, you might not be getting enough of it.

 

What’s the connection between sleep and the skin?

The hours you spend asleep every night do so much more than just replenish the energy you need to power through your day.

While you’re off in dreamland, many of your body’s systems are hard at work, supporting key physiological and cellular functions - including several of those involved in the health and appearance of your skin.

For example, sleep is a time when our skin’s blood flow naturally increases, collagen rebuilding occurs and normal cellular repair functions take place.

 

We’re all about that beauty sleep!

When you’re getting sufficient high-quality sleep, you wake up feeling fresh and ready to handle whatever life throws at you.

Your face shows the benefits of those precious hours of deep rest and cellular regeneration too. Research indicates that in contrast to being sleep deprived, a good night’s sleep supports the skin’s:

• Youthful appearance (as opposed to premature ageing)
• Hydration and elasticity
• Smoothness (Well-rested skin is better hydrated, so is less prone to scaling and shedding dead skin cells than tired skin)
• Barrier functions, which support the skin’s moisture levels
• Radiance, translucency and healthy pigmentation (including under the eyes)
• Blood flow – especially around the eyes

And as an added bonus, when we sleep well, we tend to be more personally satisfied with how we look – and that’s always a good thing!

 

So, how much beauty sleep do we need?

Everyone’s individual need for sleep varies, but as a rule of thumb, aim for between seven and nine hours of high-quality sleep each night to help support your skin’s healthy appearance and glow.

Your lifestyle and your sleeping environment both contribute to your ability to get the deep, restful sleep that you and your skin crave. So, to support your ability to drift off, try these tips:

• Dedicate the time before bed to restful, peaceful activities, like reading or listening to gentle music
• Create a quiet, dark and relaxing space in your bedroom
• Ditch the late-night scroll and switch off your mobile devices a couple of hours before bed. It pays to leave them in another room so the light they emit doesn’t disrupt your sleeping patterns
• Make sure you’re getting enough magnesium from foods like sunflower seeds, leafy green veggies, whole grains and legumes. Magnesium is important for sleep because it supports the body’s secretion of the hormone melatonin, which in turn drives our sleep-wake cycles
• Avoid stimulating beverages like coffee, tea and energy drinks, and instead try a relaxing, caffeine-free herbal cuppa (we’ve got plenty of delicious options for you to try here)
• Stick to a regular routine so your body and mind know when it’s time to unwind and prepare for sleep. Ideally, make sure you’re tucked up in bed by midnight. That’s when your body ramps up its production of common types of skin cells in order to renew the skin

Read on to learn more about supporting your skin’s health and hydration to help you look and feel incredible.

Always read the label. Use only as directed. Vitamin and mineral supplements must not replace a balanced diet.