Tag: Beauty sleep

They don’t call it “beauty sleep” for nothing, and when Prince Charming happened upon Sleeping Beauty and fell instantly in love, it was probably because her skin was looking radiant thanks to being so well-rested.

Getting seven to eight hours’ sleep regularly really will improve the appearance of your skin.

Research has confirmed that insufficient or poor-quality sleep contributes to more rapid ageing by:

• Reducing the skin’s elasticity
• Increasing the appearance of fine lines
• Causing bags to form under the eyes
• Stimulating appetite thereby causing weight gain
• Speeding up the thinning of hair
• Contributing to acne break outs; and
• Slowing the healing process for other skin-related issues.

So if seven hours of good quality sleep is the difference between looking like a beautiful princess or a wicked old hag, how can you make sure you’re getting enough?

There are many tips for getting a good night’s sleep.
Some of my favourites include:

• Set a regular bedtime and stick to it
• Get plenty of natural sunlight during the day by opening the curtains and having lunch or taking a stroll in the sunshine. This will help keep your body clock (yes, it’s a real thing) healthy, just don’t forget to slip, slop, slap!
• Avoid blue lights from electronics in the evening. Blue light from televisions, computers and smartphones tricks your body clock into thinking it’s daytime. You can install apps on your phone to block blue light and try to avoid television and computers for at least two hours before your bedtime.
• Avoid caffeine late in the day. Caffeine in coffee, tea and energy drinks stimulates your nervous system making it hard to relax into sleep. Caffeine can stay elevated in your blood for up to eight hours, so it’s good to avoid it after lunchtime.
• Optimise your sleeping environment by limiting external noise and light; keeping the temperature at a comfortable level; reducing clutter so your mind can rest; and making sure your bed, pillow and mattress are comfortable.
• Relax before bed with meditation, massage, a hot bath or shower, quiet reading time or a few deep breaths. These can all help to prepare your mind for rest.
• Exercise regularly. Some studies have found that exercise can almost halve the time it takes to fall asleep and improve sleep quality by 30 per cent. Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime, or it can have the opposite effect.

Creating a consistent bedtime routine with a combination of these methods will help you get to sleep sooner and ensure your skin lives happily ever after.

But if you need a fairy godmother, remember our friendly team is here to help address any of your skin concerns.