Beauty Sleep

‘Time for some beauty sleep’.

Sometimes a little statement I make on the way to bed. I always thought it was because my mother said it. But it seems that the term 'beauty sleep' was first coined in about 1855 and those authors were not wrong in how the effect of a good sleep makes one more ‘beautiful’. Science is showing us how.

The Science

Tina Sundelin a researcher at Stockholm University undertook a study in how sleep affects our appearance. Your attractiveness is a physical expression of underlying biology that alters your chances of pair bonding (ie finding a sexual partner) and thus reproduction. The truth is not pretty.

In short after one night of short sleep the participants were rated as looking more fatigued, less healthy and significantly less attractive than the same person after 8 hours of full sleep. This ratifies the concept of ‘beauty sleep’.

As a beauty routine, taking sleep seriously may be the closest thing to dipping into to a fountain of youth.

Sleep is for rest, repair and recovery and the benefits of getting around a quality 8 hours every night are many. In fact, if you get less than 6 hours sleep every night, your appearance is going to be affected.

The Beauty Benefit Of Getting Enough Sleep.

1. Fewer Wrinkles – Collagen is made by the skin, while you sleep. Collagen prevents the skin sagging and is part of the repair process (done whilst sleep). Your skin looks more plump and has fewer wrinkles. By getting 5 hours of sleep a night, the fine lines are twice as noticeable as getting 7 hours sleep. The skin is drier too – the lines are more visible.

2. A Glowing Complexion – During sleep there is more blood flow to the skin. Without good sleep you can look drab, ashen or lifeless. Those once rosy cheeks look dull.

3. Brighter, Less Puffy Eyes – Puffy eyes are one of the first things we see after a rough night of sleep, or not enough sleep, due to the blood not flowing so well.

4. Healthier, Fuller Hair – Where the hair grows, in the follicle, in the scalp, there are nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are supplied from blood flow. During less blood blow (during less shut-eye) the hair is supplied with less food, it weakens and has difficulty in growing. And add to that the bodily stress that lack of sleep contributes to and there is more circulating cortisol (the stress hormone). This can result in hair loss.

5. Happier, Healthier Appearance - Being short on sleep can cause the corners of your mouth to droop, making you look sadder than you do after a good night’s rest as your facial expressions change subtly but consistently. We frown more too. Your skin changes tone and those saggy eyelids and bags under the eyes….. People who don’t get enough rest are also seen as less healthy than when they are rested.

6. Product Works Better – Instead of defending itself from the sun and other environmental molecules, the blood flow is more consistent and the skin is able to focus on repair, while you sleep. This means that those expensive products and creams will work better.

(Don’t forget to stay hydrated for plump and healthy looking skin as water is important in the repair and growth of skin).

Sleep is one of those relatively easy things to start in the evening. If you are only achieving 6 hours each night, start by going to bed maybe 30 minutes earlier than you would normally. Then a bit earlier until you are managing to accomplish 8 hours every night.

My day starts when I go to bed at night.

I can assist you in figuring out how to get better sleep, or more sleep. Send me a message and we can start upgrading your beauty routine straight away!

There is more to gain than beauty on the outside. There is mood management and health! Sleep is one of the most underrated activities that we do and our culture is making it less and less important. But the findings from science is firm: Sleep is incredibly important.