Something that has been weighing on my mind lately is the concept of beauty sleep. I joked with a client recently about a quote I heard: “My bed is a magical place where I seem to remember everything I’m supposed to do.” While I actually don’t suffer from this problem, many people have sleepless nights due to racing minds. I’m guilty of not getting to sleep at a reasonable hour which takes its toll as well. Modern life comes with long to do lists that can take away from our shut-eye time, which prompted me to ask the question – how important is sleep is to our health and beauty?
How much is enough?
Getting by on just five to six hours of sleep doesn’t cut it. Seven to eight hours of sleep is optimal to prevent the long-term consequences of sleep deprivation which can affect memory, learning, creativity, productivity and emotional well being, in addition to our physical health. Every tissue in our body is affected by sleep – there is even a link between sleep deprivation and weight management according to this WELL BLOG article from the NY Times. It is common knowledge that sleep provides time for our skin to repair itself, but it is also a vital time for the brain to ‘clean up’ waste in the neural pathways to prevent cognitive disorders.
So there are many reasons beyond the surface for us to make a concerted effort to get enough sleep – and your skin will undoubtedly benefit.
On that note, we have compiled some key tips to help you get the most out of your beauty sleep:
Beauty sleep tips.
- prepare for sleep
If you’re suffering from sleepless nights, there are key things to do to set the stage for a better sleep. Turn off the t.v., close your lap top and put away your smart phone in order to avoid over-stimulation before your sleep. If your mind is racing, make a practice of journaling to get your thoughts out of your mind and onto paper. Meditation is a great practice to help clear your mind before bed AND it has proven ANTI-AGING benefits too.
- sleep on your back
As difficult as a habit as this may be for some people to cultivate, it can help to prevent the deepening of lines on the face – particularly on the side you habitually sleep on.
- switch to a silk pillow case
Cotton and polyester blends can tend to pull at the skin as we move in our sleep – and anyone of a certain age has had the unfortunate experience of waking up with fabric creases in their skin. Silk is more delicate, breathable and non-absorbent to 
to avoid these issues and benefit our skin and hair (say goodbye to frizz) while we sleep.
- get your skin extra clean
It is surprising how many people will omit a nightly skin cleanse – ironically, the most common reason just so happens to be fatigue. In this blog post, I share my thoughts on why this is such an important step for the health of the skin. One night of missed cleansing will not age you five years, but repeatedly skipping this step can lead to clogged pores and a missed opportunity to bring blood flow to the skin and deliver targeted repairing treatments. Collective Skin Care recommends: Dermalogica’s new precleanse wipes are an excellent tool for those who feel fatigue is preventing them from washing their face at night.
- self massage
This is something I recommend to my clients as a great anti-aging step to do at home. By spending just five minutes massaging the skin you can help to relax facial muscles which softens expression lines while improving circulation to flush out stagnant lymph and deoxgyenated blood. Read Elle Canada’s article on the 5 Benefits of Face Massage.
Just as with any goal we make to change habits, consistency is key. Try adjusting one thing at a time rather than attempting a complete overhaul which can be difficult to sustain. And if you need help with getting some extra sleep with anti-aging benefits – treat yourself to a facial!
