The Benefits of Beauty Sleep

June 6, 2022

Last night, your heart rate, brain waves, and eye movements slowed.
Then your body temperature dropped, your eye movements stopped, and your heart rate and muscles continued to slow. Your brainwaves spiked briefly, but then settled down.
And at some point during the night, everything spiked a bit and you had a dream, you processed some information, and then you slipped into deep sleep.
Most importantly, during those 6-8 hours of sleep, your skin slipped into its reparative process.

• It made new collagen, which softens fine lines and wrinkles and prevents sagging.
• Your body boosted blood flow to your skin, and you woke up with a healthy glow.
• Your eyes had a chance to rest without the onslaught of screens and blue light, and the puffiness and dark circles lessened.

From age 13-18, we need 8-10 hours of sleep. Ages 18-60, 7 or more hours. Shorting yourself can cause the corners of your mouth to droop, your brow to furrow, and allow those dark circles and sagging eyelids to show your exhaustion. Your lips can also dry out from a bit of mouth breathing, causing them to appear tight and cracked.
Simply put, people who don’t get enough sleep appear less healthy than when they’re rested.

The Truth About Beauty Sleep

When you’re sleeping, your skin can focus on repairing itself since it isn’t constantly defending against free radical attacks and the sun. Blood flow is more consistent and your skin benefits.
Aside from getting the recommended hours of sleep, there are a couple of other things you can do to enhance sleep’s benefits.

1. Skin loses water when you sleep. Drink a glass of water before you go to bed and when you wake up in the morning. And of course, keep yourself hydrated during the day. This helps your complexion stay hydrated overnight.
2. Elevate your head with an extra pillow at night to reduce swelling.
3. Apply a nighttime moisturizer before bed–moisture levels naturally dip in the evening. TIP: Into the Blue Stress Less Moisturizer is formulated with Indian wild indigo, shown to help reduce stress on the skin.
4. Nighttime is the best time for your heavy hitter serums–like vitamin c, retinols, and glycolic acid. Give them all the beauty rest they need so you get the most bang for your buck. Consider: C the World Brightening Serum–antioxidant loaded!
5. Take care of your lips! A good lip balm or moisturizing lip mask ensures your lips stay moisturized overnight. WE LOVE: Overnight Trip Hydrating Lip Mask. Made with rich moringa butter from the moringa tree–also known as the miracle tree–this mask smooths and moisturizes dry lips overnight.

BIG TIP: Leave your electronics in another room. No screen time. No phone time. Just a cool, dark room. Your brain needs to slow down and your skin will reap the benefits!