Fresh crisp linen sheets, with a fluffy down comforter, and an assortment of soft fluffy and memory foam pillows. Who wouldn't be drawn to this blissful scene? But unfortunately the majority of us do not get the sleep that our bodies need.
So we've all heard time and time again that we need to get that daily dosage, 8 hours, of sleep. But why do we need it? There are tons of health reasons, but I'm just going to focus on the beauty related reasons. By the end of this article hopefully you'll can't wait to get that much needed "beauty sleep."
First I think it is important to understand what exactly goes on while you are asleep, the different stages of sleep and what they mean to you. Instead of writing on and on for hours about the different stages of sleep and their psychological meanings, I found this lovely little summed up version of the three main stages of sleep our bodies undergo when we get that full eight hours.
(Don't we all wish we looked like that when we were sleeping? lol This image is from www.WilStop.info )
"First Three Hours
You get the deepest sleep of the night. Your body produces the most human growth hormone, which is crucial to skin and hair repair, during this time
Middle Two Hours
Deep sleep shortens and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep begins. Melatonin, a hormone that's also a skin-protecting antioxidant, increases.
Last Three Hours
This is when you get the most REM sleep. Your skin's temperature reaches its lowest point and your muscles relax, giving skin its deepest recovery."
This excerpt was taken (Originally published) from the September 2010 issue of FITNESS Magazine.
In essence above, its not called "beauty sleep" for nothing. That crucial eight hours we need every night allows are bodies to repair them selves. Think about it, sleeping is honestly the only time throughout the day when your body actually gets a chance to rest, both physically and mentally. Remember when you sleep you mind also gets a break to sort out and process all of that information it receives every day!
There are even more benefits to getting that daily dosage of sleep consistently every night, a consistent sleep pattern can lead to a more radiant complexion. "When you're tired, blood doesn't flow [as] efficiently" compared to when you are fully rested (Michael Breus, MD. Beauty Sleep.) Which leads to the outer surface of your skin having a somewhat dull appearance, wouldn't you rather get that extra hour or two of sleep and wake up with fresh looking, glowing, radiant skin?
During sleep your body produces a hormone that helps in the collagen production process! As we all know, collagen is what rich women all over the world pay big bucks to have fancy plastic surgeons inject into various parts of their body to tighten and plump. This constant creation of collagen over time leads to a younger looking complexion, and who doesn't want that? I've never in my life time heard a woman exclaim with joy that she's looking older!
Looking slimmer! Because of all of the processes that your body are constantly maintaining while you are fast asleep, your metabolic rate is higher and burning more calories! Your actually burning calories and water weight while you lay resting in a blissful slumber! Did you know there is actually research that tells us that inefficient sleep is actually a cause that prevents us from losing or maintaing our weight!
While you are asleep because your metabolism is still running and you are not replenishing your body with water, you can tend to lose moisture in your face. Have you ever woken up and felt like your skin was dryer? If so you probably skipped that daily night cream! Even you you have super oily skin you should never skip out on your moisturizer before you go to bed, your skin needs that extra hydration durning the night to help replenish itself to look healthier and more youthful!
If possible you should also try to find a nightly skin serum that suits your skin type, because your skin is replenishing itself every night why not help it out with the help of a products that can aid in anti aging, collagen production, moisturizing, the possibilities are endless.
Waking up with bags under your eyes is another common trouble among men and women alike, when you are sleeping and your body is lying horizontally all night, fluid can pile up underneath your eyes! There are some very simple tips that can help prevent this! Skipping salty foods after lunch and avoiding drinking large amounts of alcohol with dinner (stick to one glass of wine if need be.) Excess sodium and alcohol lead to extra fluid under skin while you sleep, if you can't avoid the salt try dabbing an eye cream, or eye roller ball (like the Garnier one, amiable at most drugstore) with caffeine in it. Caffeine helps to temporarily tighten the skin, which reduces the amount of water that can pile ip under your skin.
Take advantage of the time you have asleep, off of your tired feet! Whilst asleep why not treat your feet right? Right before you climb into bed lather up your feet with a foot cream that contains lactic acid or urea (both of these chemicals aid to exfoliating dead skin cells.)
Ever wake up with chapped lips? I seem to all the time, and I have finally, after years, discovered the secrets of how not to encounter this problem time and time again. Right before bed make it apart of your beauty regimen to apply a lip moisturizer that is packed with vitamins, Sally Hansen Cosmetics has a huge selection of all sorts of chopsticks with a plethora of different vitamins!
I haven't even covered half of the benefits sleep provides for your complexion, however I hope I have inspired you to go lay down to night with some sheer butter on your feet, some vitamin enhanced chap stick on your lips, and a good serum on your beautiful face!
Sweet Dreams! Good night and don't let the bed bugs bite!
(And if you're having trouble falling asleep I highly recommend you make your self a cup of apple chamomile tea or sleepy-time tea, both always make me immediately sleepy! That may just be a psychological thing, but its worth a shot, right?)
Magellan's Good Night Travel Sleep Mask Cocoa (I'm thinking of buying one of these sleep masks! Do any of you guys use them?)
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