What is Beauty Sleep? 12 Benefits of Beauty Sleep

You’ve heard it before: “Get your beauty sleep!” But is beauty sleep a real thing? Can poor sleep hygiene really affect your skin condition? Let's find out.

What Is Beauty Sleep?

Beauty sleep is a term to describe the restorative and reparative effect that sleep has on our skin, hair, and overall appearance. Is it real, though?

You might have heard the term "beauty sleep" from your parents or grandparents. And while it may sound like something out of a fairy tale, there is actually some science behind the term. There is plenty of evidence to support the positive effects of sleeping on your skin and hair.

How Better Sleep Leads To Better Looks

Depending on your circadian rhythm, or your body’s natural sleep cycle, you spend a few hours in a deep sleep each night. During this period, your brain goes into recovery mode, sending hormones all over your body to stimulate growth and repair.

According to scientists, the majority of the human growth hormone (HGH) is released when you sleep, and sleep deprivation can reduce the amount of HGH produced by the body. This hormone is said to play a major role in cell repair, growth, body composition, weight loss, and injury recovery.

The effects of sleep deprivation on physical appearance are well studied. One experimental study found that sleep-deprived people appear less healthy and less attractive to untrained observers than when they are well-rested.

How Many Hours Of Beauty Sleep Do You Need?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults should get between seven to nine hours of quality sleep every night. The key phrase is quality sleep. Insufficient sleep can only do so much for your skin health.

One thing to note is that how much beauty rest each person needs still depends on their sleep cycle. Some people need to sleep before midnight to get the best quality of sleep, while others have later sleep times.

12 Benefits Of Beauty Sleep

So, what exactly can beauty sleep do for your, well, beauty?

1. Fewer Breakouts

Sleep deprivation leads to a weakened immune system. When your immune system isn't at its best, it can't do its job to get rid of acne-causing bacteria.

2. Glowing Skin

Skin problems like acne, eczema, and rosacea are exacerbated by the overproduction of stress hormones like cortisol. Getting enough sleep helps prevent the excess release of cortisol, especially at night. After a restful sleep cycle, your cortisol levels should remain low, so you can wake up with a clear, glowing complexion.

3. Fewer Fine Lines And Wrinkles Combats

A good night’s sleep can prevent signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles that develop around your eyes and mouth. Research has shown that people who get consistent, restful nights of sleep have lower SCINEXA scores, meaning that they exhibit fewer aging signs.

This all boils down to your skin's collagen production, which becomes more efficient the better your sleep condition.

4. Better Circulation

Studies suggest that blood flow increases when you’re in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep is a deep sleep stage that can improve your memory, immune system, and cell regeneration, among other things. When your body naturally boosts blood flow during sleep, your body, skin, and hair benefit, too.

5. Reduced Eye Bags And Dark Circles

Lack of sleep is a common cause of puffiness and dark circles because it makes blood vessels dilate under the skin. When this happens under the thin skin near the eyes, it’s easy to see dark circles and puffiness.

6. Healthier Hair

Increased stress levels and poor sleep quality are both linked to hair loss. On top of this, proper sleep has been found to rejuvenate hair quality, as increased blood flow during sleep brings more nutrients and oxygen to your hair follicles. So, if you want thicker, fuller, healthier hair, avoid staying up late for several consecutive nights.

7. Faster Healing

Think of sleep as a healing accelerator for your body. Your body can heal while you’re awake, but once you fall into a deep sleep, its healing abilities speed up and become more effective. The longer you’re in a deep sleep, the more refreshed you’ll feel in the morning.

8. Get The Full Effects Of Skin Products

There’s a reason night creams are designed to use at night: the moisturizer and other ingredients in them usually work better when you sleep! Because of the body’s nightly healing processes and improved blood flow, your skincare products could work more effectively when you get adequate sleep.

9. Boosted Immune System

Just like your skin needs rest to replenish itself as you sleep, your immune system does, too. Your immune system releases cytokines to help you sleep, which is critical as you fight illnesses. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body can’t produce enough cytokines to give you restful sleep and work against infection.

10. Weight Loss

If losing weight is something you struggle with, a lack of sleep could be the culprit. Research has consistently shown a link between sleep loss and weight gain.

11. More Energy And Better Mood

Sleep has miraculous effects on your overall health and energy, which can naturally make you more appealing to those around you. You’ll feel better about yourself too, and confidence is always a beautiful thing.

12. Higher Self-Esteem

When you're well-rested, have clearer skin, healthier hair, and fewer fine lines, you're naturally more inclined to feel good about yourself!

How To Get More Beauty Sleep

If you want all of the above-mentioned beauty benefits and more, consider the following tips:

1. Find A Comfortable Mattress

Sleeping on a bad mattress doesn't just affect the quality of your sleep, it can lead to more stress, anxiety, and signs of premature aging.

All Purple mattresses feature a unique Hyper-Elastic Polymer comfort later called the Purple Grid. This design allows each mattress to be breathable while still providing enough support and responsiveness to make sleeping comfortable.

2. Choose The Right Pillow

These days, you can find anti-aging, anti-sleep-crease pillows that reduce the number of fine lines caused by sleeping with your face pressed to a pillow.

If you're prone to allergies, it's also important to find a hypoallergenic pillow that can help reduce eye and face puffiness caused by exposure to allergens.

3. Follow A Nighttime Routine

If you want to get more deep sleep, it's imperative that you set and follow a bedtime routine. Following a routine helps us physically and mentally transition into sleep mode, allowing for a more restful night of sleep.

Some recommended rituals include:

• Avoiding electronics at least an hour before going to bed;
• Setting the ideal sleep temperature in your bedroom;
• Taking a warm, relaxing bath or shower;
• Reading;
• Praying or meditating.

4. Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

Sleep hygiene is the process of setting a regular routine for yourself to help you get proper sleep and feel well-rested in the morning. But beyond following your nightly rituals, you should also be consistent when it comes to your sleeping schedule and the amount of sleep you get each night.

5. Stay Hydrated

Water is essential for staving off dehydration and regulating your body's temperature while you're asleep. If you want to up your hydration game, don't just stick to the recommended eight to ten glasses of water a day. Also, stock up on water-rich foods like tomatoes, cucumber, watermelon, zucchini, strawberries, and kale.

6. Make Your Room More Conducive To Sleeping

As mentioned, if you want to sleep better, you need to set a nightly routine that puts you in the mood for sleeping.

One of the most important parts of an effective nightly routine is ambient temperature and lighting. The ideal bedtime temperature for adults is between 60 to 72° F.

How To Get Your Beauty Sleep

Now that you know the benefits of beauty sleep, how can you make sure you’re getting enough? Set healthy habits, keep your routine consistent, and prioritize your sleep schedule and sleep hygiene. Soon enough, you'll be reaping the beauty benefits of a good night's sleep.