How a good night's sleep is the secret to your best skin ever
The concept of beauty sleep isn't a myth. Science tells us that good sleep is essential for repairing, regenerating and restructuring the skin. "It's the foundation on which to build and maintain health, well-being and the best long-term way of guarding against stress and age-related diseases," advises co-founder of Cult Beauty, Alexia Inge. Mintel's Sleep Aids UK 2017 Report also reveals that 50 percent of us Brits struggle to sleep.
The minimum sleep time recommended for adults is seven hours, but only 32 percent of adults achieve this or over eight hours sleep a night (the optimum sleeping time). The correlation between good skin and sleep is ever-growing, and has driven many brands to develop products that work best when you are sleeping or are enhanced by a good night's sleep. It is proven that the cell rejuvenation process takes place when your body is resting, suggesting that your skin's luminosity is better post-rest. Here's why getting more shut eye could be the secret tip to your best skin yet.
Mood boosters
“During the day when it's light, our skin’s main job is to keep hydrated and protected,” explains Colette Haydon, founder and formulator of Lixirskin. At night when its dark and we’re sleeping, the skin is genetically programmed to switch into recovery mode; proving beauty sleep to be far more than a marketing tag.
Most of us will naturally experience different levels of sleepiness and alertness throughout the day. These patterns are caused by two body systems: 'sleep/wake homeostasis' and the 'circadian biological clock'. In layman's terms, homeostasis tells our body when we need sleep and our circadian clock regulates the timing of periods of sleepiness and wakefulness throughout the day. Considering your body's built-in circadian cycle with the the right evening regimen of skincare could leave you with better skin than before.
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However, before you go to sleep isn't the time to pile on lots of products and hope for the best - simplicity is key. Our skin cells have a limited amount of energy and like us they can’t do too many things at once. Using too many products and skincare ingredients will confuse your skin and cause it to become irritated and clogged. "It’s much better to ask the skin to do one job at a time and do it well," says Haydon.
It is also good to switch up your skincare choice of ingredients and products to keep your skin stimulated, avoiding the plateau effect where skin becomes unreactive to ingredients and products. "When you are in the deepest cycle of sleep, ‘delta wave’, your brain flushes itself with spinal fluid, washing away the metabolic waste of the day. This is one of the reasons why one feels so refreshed after a solid night’s sleep and why your skin looks better," says Inge.
Night-time skincare
Lixirskin Night Switch Retinol 1% 15ml, ￡28
Designed to work best when your skin is in repair mode, this concentrated refines texture, improves sun damage and boosts protein production to give density, volume, firmness and reduce wrinkle depth.
AERIN Rose Night Table Cream & Mask, ￡60
Infused with Aerin's exclusive rose extract, this super moisturising overnight treatment is a real treat for your skin. For added TLC, apply a generous amount over cleansed skin as a mask and rinse with warm water after 30 minutes.
Dior Hydra Life Jelly Sleeping Mask, ￡46.80
Infused with Anjou Mallow, a flower organically grown at the Dior gardens, this super ingredient will leave skin feeling plumped and soothed allowing you to wake up with a gorgeous glow.
Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial, ￡49
This skin transforming, serum-oil recreates the lifting, firming and skin perfecting benefits of a Skinesis facial but overnight. Awaken to smooth rejuvenated skin.
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, ￡38
This formula works by enhancing your skin’s natural night-time recovery process, making your skin work for you while you sleep. Infused with Lavender and Primrose oil, it's scent will also help lull you to sleep.
And to help you drift off...
Simply breathe in this aromatherapy blend of essential elixirs to release any worries and toxins built up in the day.
Deep Sleep Pillow Spray ￡18, by This Works
A superblend of lavender, vetivert and chamomile calm both mind and body, soothing you to sleep. It's no wonder this is a best-seller.
Rejuvenating Eye Mask ￡25 Iluminage Skin
This one of a kind eye mask is infused with copper oxide fibres, proven to smooth fine lines and wrinkles whilst acting as a soft comfort to your eyes allowing you to switch off and relax.
Relaxed Slash Tee ￡105, by Homebody
Did you know that having a cooling and comfortable fabric against your skin can help you sleep better? "Staying in is the new going out," says founder of Homebody, Beverley Calvert.
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