Just as a good night’s rest is essential for physical and mental wellbeing, it can work wonders for your skin. Here are tips on how to reap the rewards for your complexion.
We know beauty doesn’t come from ‘‘miracle’’ creams. But a good night’s sleep can provide many benefits for your appearance. When your head hits the pillow, it’s not just your brain that starts with ‘‘housekeeping’’, your skin starts cleaning up too.
During the day your skin is protected from UV exposure and free radicals by external factors. Then as soon as the sun sets, your skin switches over to repair mode, says Yolandé Swanepoel, accreditation manager of Isa Carstens Academy. That’s when the day’s damage is patched up and processes such as cell renewal, collagen production and improved blood circulation give your skin a boost. But if you hit the hay too late, your skin doesn’t get to enjoy the full benefits of this valuable recovery period.
Your skin follows your body’s circadian rhythm, says Unine van Rooyen of skincare range Dermalogica. “If your circadian rhythm is healthy, your skin gets the message around nine o’clock in the evening to start releasing melatonin, the hormone that causes sleepiness. If you go to bed then, your skin reaches
its peak recovery time about two hours later.
Research shows that the creation of new skin cells is up to three times faster at night than during the day. Production of collagen is also faster, and improved blood circulation sees to it that more nutrients reach your skin and waste materials are carried off.
If you often get less than six hours’ sleep a night, you deprive your skin of the opportunity to normalise and detox. That leads to inflammation, puffiness and dark rings under your eyes, premature skin lines and wrinkles and a dull complexion. And it’s not just the number of hours that’s important – your sleep
quality counts too.
One of your body’s most important night-time functions, the release of growth hormones, happens mainly during the deep-sleep phase of your sleep cycle, says Dr Bradley Wagemaker, medical director of Lamelle Research Laboratories. These growth hormones send signals to your skin to rebuild its
structure so that lines are softened and your skin is firmer and more elastic. The less sleep you have, and the poorer its quality, the shorter your deep-sleep phase. This results in fine lines and wrinkles gradually becoming more visible and premature ageing of your skin, both inside and out.
Night-time is also when your skin products are best absorbed. “When the blood circulation to your skin increases, it raises the surface temperature. That causes your skin to become more permeable and the skincare products you’ve applied are better absorbed,” Dr Wagemaker says. Unfortunately, the same process also leads to more moisture escaping through your skin, so a rich cream with moisturising lipids is a night-time must.
• Cell-renewal speeds up for a brighter, glowing skin.
• Collagen production gets a boost, which slows the formation of lines and wrinkles.
• Improved blood circulation to your skin prevents puffiness and dark rings.
• The surface of your skin recovers, offering better
protection against moisture loss and external factors.
21:00 Melatonin, which prepares your body for sleep and recovery, is released. Apply your night-time skin products now.
23:00 – 04:00 The production of new skin cells and collagen is at its peak, and growth hormones are released. Your skin’s absorption of active ingredients is also at its best.
04:00 – 06:00 Your skin is now at its driest due to moisture loss during the night and is particularly sensitive to UV light. Apply your sunscreen as early as possible in the morning.
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