Are you getting enough beauty sleep?
A lack of sleep is proven to cause premature skin ageing…and not just because we are constantly rubbing our eyes! We should really aim to have 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.
Tiredness increases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on our face, with the dark circles under our eyes standing out more and our skin can look pale.
When we close our eyes and switch the lights off at night our bodies automatically go into repair mode. If we don’t get enough sleep, over a period of time our bodies become less able to ‘bounce back’ from ‘everyday life’. Stress, exercise, aesthetic treatments, sun damage or long exhausting days at the office start to affect our bodies to the detriment, without the restorative restful periods to counteract them.
Now for the science…
Our sleeping body releases a growth hormone, which rebuilds and repairs tissue in our bones, muscles and in our skin.
Proteins in our body are vital for cell growth and repair; they are broken down at a slower rate when we sleep than in the day, which gives our body the time it needs to repair itself.
Lack of sleep can affect the outer layer of the dermis (skin). The main function of this layer is to protect our skin from external aggressors and lock in moisture, keeping our skin safe, hydrated and happy. If there is lack of moisture within the skin it can cause uneven skin tone, blemishes, dry skin and facial lines and wrinkles can become more obvious.
Recommended night time anti-ageing products:
SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E – This is an antioxidant night serum. It helps to reinforce skin’s natural night-time renewal process, improving the appearance of skin density, radiance and elasticity.
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3/0.5 – If you are new to retinol products, start using Retinol 0.3 and apply once every 2-3rd night, then gradually build up to more frequent applications.
SkinCeuticals A.G.E Interrupter – Prevents further loss of elasticity and firmness within the skin. Apply night and day.
Medik8 Retinol 3TR Night Serum – Apply every 3-4th night, then gradually increase use.
Agera Mag C Peptide Serum – Antioxidant rich serum which increases collagen and elastin production.
NeoStrata Renewal Cream – Improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and skin clarity.
Tips for healthy skin and a good nights sleep...
- Avoid drinking caffeine after 3pm
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid sugary foods and don’t go to bed on a full stomach
- Drink lots of water throughout the day
- Try to sleep on your back and avoid sleeping on the same side of your face every night, believe it or not, this can cause asymmetrical wrinkles to form….never a good look!
- Remove any make up and cleanse your face thoroughly before you go to bed
- Apply a night time skin treatment product
