Beauty Sleep for Beautiful Skin



In this fast paced life, we often miss out on one basic need of our beauty requirement – beauty sleep. Beauty Sleep is a term we have heard often and wondered if it’s a fact or just a myth? We might have heard this phrase from a celebrity or in jokes, but the truth is that Beauty Sleep is a real deal and we all need it. A good diet and lots of exercise is a must for a healthy body and beautiful skin, but did you know that sleep is a requisite too ? When you sleep, your body is getting more than just rest, your skin is actually repairing and healing itself!

beauty sleep
beauty sleep

There are 5 stages of sleep that a person has during one cycle of sleep –
Stage1– The lightest of sleep, it is a transition period between being awake and being asleep
Stage2– This is when the body temperature starts to drop and heart rate begins to lower. This lasts 20 minutes and here, the brain starts to produce rhythmic but rapid brain waves.
Stage3– This is a transition period between light sleep and deep slumber. It might be difficult to wake someone at this stage, and if woken, the person will feel groggy and disoriented for a few minutes.
Stage4– This is the second part of the deep slumber, here the brain starts to make slow brain waves exclusively. .
Stage5– Rapid Eye Movement(REM) stage where dreams occur.

One night’s sleep cycles through all five stages around 4 or 5 times.

What people refer to as ‘Beauty Sleep’ lies in Stages 3 and Stage 4 , if these two stages are too short, sleep will be dissatisfying. To feel refreshed and rejuvenated, these two stages are crucial. In these two stages, there is secretion of growth hormones, which repair and rebuild skin tissues. There is also increased production and decreased break down of proteins in these stages, and since proteins are crucial for cell growth and to repair from the harms of UV rays and stress, deep sleep is equivalent to beauty sleep.

Health and beauty experts have time and again focused on beauty sleep as an anti-aging treatment. Satisfactory sleep gives a youthful glow to the skin because during deep sleep, the body rests, replenishes, rejuvenates and regenerates. Research has also proven that skin cells regenerate much faster at night time at resting position. It peaks at around 2 am. This results in fresher, rejuvenated skin in the morning. Skin cell regeneration at night time is also the reason why many people looking more radiant early in the morning. Dark circles can also be avoided by getting a good night’s sleep.

Skin cell regeneration is also why night creams which are deep penetrating and contain antioxidants must be used at night, to fully endure their benefits.

Sleep also lessens the severity of wrinkles in the face and neck, this is because lying down diverts the force of gravity. Some experts also advocate sleeping on the back, instead of side or on stomach, as a measure to combat wrinkles. During sleep, the whole body perspires and this moisture helps in smoothening wrinkles and keeping them at bay. Sleep can thus be called a natural moisturizer.

Stress also has detrimental effects on skin. Stress is extremely unhealthy for the body. Sleep is the best and greatest stress buster.

lose weight through beauty sleep
lose weight through beauty sleep

Sleep is also said to help in weight loss. Sleep regulates hormones which are related to hunger. The more you sleep, the less hungry you will feel during the day. If you are on a diet, or are exercising for weight loss, it becomes even more important that you get quality sleep, only then will your tirades be met.

Some tips for a good night’s sleep –
• Have a regular bedtime and a comfortable bed.
• Sleep in a quiet, dark, cool room, with plenty of fresh air.
• Have dinner atleast 2 – 3 hours before your bed time.
• If you exercise, exercise in the morning or afternoon,
• Take a warm shower before going to bed and wear lose cotton clothes for sleeping.
• Go to the washroom right before you sleep, this will reduce chances of having to get up in the middle of the night.
• Do some light reading in bed, until you fall asleep.

sleep well
sleep well

If you don’t want to end up tomorrow morning looking washed out, with a grey complexion, and puffy eyes with dark circles plus a sagging posture with no alertness and energy – get that precious 8 hours of sleep every single day. After all there must be reason why Sleeping Beauty was called a ‘beauty’.

Image Sources: 1, 2, 3

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18 thoughts on “Beauty Sleep for Beautiful Skin

  1. Hey Smita.. Grt article!!! :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:
    also, due to less sleeps there is more water retention and you start feeling fat and heavy!!! So sleep is really important!!!! 😀

  2. I completely agree with Monika… When you have a kid, sleep is definitely a luxury :)but have to catch up wid some sleep and send the dark circles away… phew….nice article smita….so much of research has gone into it… thx for the effort!

    1. Thank you for reading Ramya, yah lots of reading and research was there but learned a lot too, and glad i could share it with all of you.

  3. :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :ZZZ: :ZZZ: :ZZZ: :ZZZ:

    me bherryy sleepy now. :yawn: :yawn: so much about sleep….will read it every night as my prayer. :X-P: :X-P: :X-P: :X-P:

  4. we IT folks are not blessed wt good sleep :'(

    even if u r newly wd, they used to call u in the middle of the night and say “the server is down, please logon and mail me the status ” :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

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