We think it’s pretty safe to assume that the majority of our population has heard of the phrase, “beauty sleep”. Most of us understand the general idea that getting enough zzz’s is essential for optimal health for our brains and bodies. Without the right amount of sleep, our focus is foggy, our speech is sloppy, and our bodies are burnt out. But why is sleep so important for your skin?
ANTI-AGING BENEFITS
During the first three hours of sleep, your body releases Human Growth Hormone (HGH). HGH is incredibly important, since it is responsible for the maintenance of youthful skin. Without the release of HGH, your skin wouldn’t be able to repair itself from daily damage that it receives. A lack of sleep also leads to lower pH levels in your skin, which prevents it from being able to produce sufficient amounts of moisture. Without enough moisture, your skin becomes drier (which also makes wrinkles more visible) and less able to effectively protect itself from environmental stressors, thus leading to symptoms of premature aging. (Studies show that those receiving only 5 hours of sleep a night can lead to twice the amount of wrinkles than those who get 7 hours. Yikes!)
ANTIOXIDANT BOOST RELAXATION & RECOVERY
During the middle two hours of sleep, Melatonin makes its appearance. We all recognize Melatonin as the name on the bottle we reach for when we can’t sleep. But while it is responsible for our sleep/wake cycles, it’s also an effective antioxidant against free radicals, which contribute to your skin aging quickly.
RELAXATION & RECOVERY
During the final two hours of sleep, your body enters REM, the active stage in our sleep where dreaming occurs. During REM, your body experiences a decrease of Cortisol, the stress hormone. (Yay!) During these hours, the temperature of your skin drops to its lowest point, your muscles relax, and your body experiences its deepest form of rest and total recovery.
Did you know that it’s impossible to “catch up” on sleep? You can never get back lost sleep. So, instead of hustling throughout the week and over-sleeping on the weekend, do yourself a favor and make the necessary adjustments for your brain, body, and skin for a real beauty sleep.
Want to add a boost to your beauty sleep?
Use Serenity essential oil blend on pulse points, in a diffuser, or dropped into a warm bath at bed time to relieve tension, calm emotion, and relax your body and mind for a deeper rest.
Use the Lotus Detoxifying Overnight Treatment to supercharge your skin, fight against drying environmental stressors, and wake up with a soft, glowing complexion.
