“A day without a nap is like a cupcake without frosting” – Terri Guillemets
We’ve all been there- feeling exhausted and dragging because we couldn’t sleep well. Did you know, the average person needs anywhere between 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night? But we live in a world that’s stretched for time so our sleep is the first thing we compromise.
Sleep isn’t just about resting your body. It’s more complex. Even when we sleep, our brain is at work, keeping our body maintained and prepped for the day ahead.
Ever wondered what the word “beauty sleep” means? What on earth does napping have to do with beauty after all? Quite a lot, your dermatologist might tell you. Sleep is essential to repair your skin.
It depends on your perspective, however. We’ve been ingrained into thinking that there are a fixed set of rules that determine the beauty standard. What we forget is that the definition of beauty is a very fickle thing.
But both, beauty and sleep – are some of my favorites. And if I can achieve one by doing the other, I’m in!
Who doesn’t want to look good? I’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t wish they looked better than the present version of themselves. What’s stopping you from napping your way to a beautiful you?
What’s the Deal with Beauty Sleep?
Sleep is like the fountain of youth. Getting the required hours of sleep is more beneficial than we could possibly imagine. Just like our cells rush towards an injured area to repair any damage, our skin uses the hours during which we sleep to heal itself. After getting up from a good night’s sleep, you must have noticed yourself looking fresh as a Daisy. That, my friends, is what beauty sleep is all about.
When we doze off, our body and skin go into repair mode. Our stress hormones go down and our sleep hormones go up. In short, the night is when our skin recovers from all the beating it took during the day.
According to researchers, beauty sleep is very much a real thing. Studies show that people who get less sleep tend to appear less attractive to others. It would seem, the panda eyes and tired face are the culprits.
There are numerous benefits to getting adequate sleep. Turns out, along with keeping you energized and alert, your beauty sleep also contributes towards making you look good overall, complimenting the added benefits of your skincare routine.
Benefits of Beauty Sleep
Let’s look at what a few hours of shuteye can do for us apart from the fact that it lets you forget your cares for a while.
Brighter eyes
For the lucky few who didn’t inherit dark circles as part of the DNA scheme, you must have noticed getting dark circles when you were tired or had multiple sleepless nights in a row.
The skin under our eyes is very thin. When we’re running low on sleep, blood gets pooled under the eyes giving rise to puffy eyes and dark circles.
Getting adequate sleep, staying hydrated, and sleeping with your head elevated can effectively decrease their appearance over time.
Youthful and clear complexion
You must have noticed that your skin has this shine, almost like a glow when you’ve woken up after a good night’s sleep. Thank your sleep schedule for that. When we sleep, our body boosts the blood flow to the skin, making it appear more lively, well-rested, and glowing.
Which makes sleeping all the more important. Getting less than the required amount of sleep can have adverse effects, both on the mind and the body apart from making one look tired with a dull and lifeless complexion. Lack of sleep can also lead to stress which can aggravate the skin and cause it to break out.
Reduces signs of aging
Our skin produces new collagen when we sleep, which makes us less likely to get fine lines and wrinkles and prevents our skin from sagging. Not getting an adequate amount of sleep can potentially dry out our skin, making way for fine lines and wrinkles.
Makes you look happy and healthy
How many times have people around you remarked on your appearance? Mostly along the lines of – you look tired.
So, how do you “look” tired?
Did you know that your expressions change in subtle ways when you skimp on sleep – you tend to frown more, the corners of your mouth droop, and you get dark circles and puffy eyes. And, end up looking tired!
Skincare products work better
When your skin isn’t fighting against free radicals and other harmful environmental effects, it gets on with repairing itself mostly when you’re asleep. This helps the blood flow more consistently, which in turn helps the skin benefit from the skin-rejuvenating ingredients in your skincare products and your nighttime skincare routine.
Beauty Tips That Will Help You Get the Most Out of Your Sleep
Silk pillowcases
Silk is like heaven for the hair. It has a smooth texture and does not tangle, break hair or cause split ends. In addition to benefiting the hair, it is also pretty great for the skin as the material helps improve skin hydration and prevents fine lines and wrinkles.
Moisturize
Your skin care products work better at night so to avail maximum benefits, don’t skip this step. Use an anti-aging night cream with hyaluronic acid or Vitamin A before you sleep to counteract the appearance of fine lines and wake up with a fresh, dewy look.
Put on a humidifier
We’ve got our water intake during the day covered but what about nighttime when our skin and body need it the most? You can’t wake up multiple times during the night just to drink water.
One alternative is to switch on a humidifier during the night. This will ensure you stay hydrated even when you don’t drink your quota of aqua.
At the end of the day, getting quality sleep is vital for physical and mental well-being. In the words of Arianna Huffington – “Everything you do, you’ll do better with a good night’s sleep. Given the numerous benefits that beauty sleep offers, shouldn’t you consider sleeping on it?
