Journal

Is ‘beauty sleep’ a real thing? Yes! Beauty Sleep is a real thing. Sleep is essential for healthy skin and normal functioning of the entire body starting from the brain, heart to kidneys, and skin. Allow me to explain. 

There are three aspects to beauty sleep

Quantity: Health experts recommend a 7-9 hours uninterrupted daily sleep for adults

Quality: Here are some characteristics of beauty sleep hygiene: 

1. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and at a comfortable temperature
2. Avoid using electronic devices with a screen such as smartphones for at least half an hour before your sleep
3. Avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol just before sleeping
4. Aromatherapy, deep breathing, listening to soothing music, or a combination of these could also assist with calming the mind, disconnecting from work
5. Get some exercise. Physical activity during the day can help sleep easily later at night

Timing: Sleep experts recommend that you go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning

What are the benefits of beauty sleep for healthy skin?

Good sleep hygiene helps prevent the following:

Pre-Mature Ageing: Most Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is released during sleep. This hormone triggers the production of collagen, which in turn makes the skin elastic and tight. Thus, if you are not sleeping enough, the skin is not able to make enough new collagen to replace old collagen, overtime causing fine lines and wrinkles

Acne: Certain hormones are released majorly during sleep while others are not secreted while we slumber, and thus sleeping helps maintain optimal levels of different hormones. Lack of beauty sleep makes you more susceptible to stress, increasing cortisol (stress hormone) level in your body, increasing oil production in the skin, and acne breakouts. 

Dark Circles: While some people genetically have dark circles around their eyes due to a higher melanin concentration. Sleep deprivation causes blood vessels around the eye to dilate (expand), and dilated vessels with more blood flowing through them darken the skin tone in the area

Dullness: If you don’t sleep enough, the skin is deprived of nutrients and oxygen as other organs such as the brain get priority. As a result, the skin receives less nourishment and ends up looking dull.

What do you do if you are not able to get beauty sleep regularly? 

Today, many of us do not get enough sleep due to a busy lifestyle, frequent long-haul flights, etc. Less sleep means less time for repair and restoration, which can cause premature aging and other skin concerns. Here are a few things you can do to compensate for lack of beauty sleep:

1. Ensure quality of sleep if you cannot control the quantity of sleep
2. Healthier lifestyle: Eat healthy, stay hydrated, avoid smoking, and regular workout to reduce stress 
3. Follow a disciplined skin care regime that includes daily (am & pm) cleansing, soothing, (am) sun protection, and weekly exfoliation.
4. Supplement skincare with better-ageing products that help in the regeneration process and offset the adverse effect of lack of sleep on your skin
5. Dab a few drops of Aminu’s Nourishing Sleep Oil on your face before going to sleep. It will help you reduce anxiety, calm your senses, sleep better, and at the same time help rejuvenate your skin

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this journal are those of the authors and are for information purposes only and not medical advice. Further, they do not reflect the opinions or views of Aminu Wellness Pvt Ltd or any of its directors. Any content provided by the author(s) are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone, or anything.