Are you the kind of person who loves to catch up on beauty sleep? Here’s what you may not know about your health and appearance when it comes to sleeping at night.
When you look in the mirror, do you wish your face looked less puffy? Are you tired of getting dark circles under your eyes? Does your skin look tired and lifeless?
If so, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, many people are plagued by these problems due to a variety of causes. You can get rid of the bags under your eyes and get that glowing complexion back if you know why they’re there to start with.
Bags under your eyes are caused by a variety of sources, such as allergies, eczema or sinusitis. The blood vessels under the thin skin around your eyes can become dilated and congested, which makes the area puffy and discolored. When this happens, it’s called periorbital puffiness or “bags.”
Chronic sleep deprivation can also cause bags under the eyes, as well as dark circles underneath the lower eyelids. Lack of sleep increases inflammation throughout your body, which can lead to congestion in the blood vessels beneath your eyes. As a result, fluid leaks out into surrounding tissues and creates those p
Beauty sleep is a myth, right? According to science, you can’t improve your appearance by sleeping more. But scientists say that there’s actually a link between the amount of quality sleep we get and how well we look in the morning.
The first study was done on Christmas stockings. Scientists put Christmas stockings on people’s feet and then timed the rate at which they fell off. The results showed that, in general, the stockings fall off slower when people are asleep than when they are awake.
This second study looked at whether or not people who are asleep are more likely to get sick or injured than people who are awake. The researchers found that people who were asleep were less likely to get sick or injured than people who were awake.
Finally, scientists looked at whether or not sleeping helps you look better in the morning. They found that it does — if you’re getting enough quality sleep! A good night’s sleep will make you more attractive in the morning than if you had stayed up all night.
“I’ve always been a night owl,” says Kate, a 27-year-old writer in New York City. “When I was in college, I used to stay up late writing papers and then sleep until noon. My skin looked kind of dull and tired during the day, but it always looked better when I got up for class.”
Beauty sleep (or lack thereof) can affect more than just the bags under your eyes. A few nights of missed sleep can disrupt hormones, metabolism and other biological functions that impact your complexion. And the effects may not be temporary.
“When you’re young, your body’s collagen levels are high, so you have some wiggle room,” says New York City dermatologist Dr. Patricia Wexler. “But as we age and collagen levels decrease, our bodies aren’t able to repair themselves as quickly.”
Sleep is also important for fat loss and brain function. This can help explain why a lack of sleep may cause weight gain and memory impairment over time. According to a 2013 study published in Nature Communications, getting only four hours of sleep per night for six days led to changes in hunger hormones that caused participants to eat nearly 300 additional calories per day even though they weren’t any hungrier than usual. The result
You’ve probably heard of “beauty sleep,” but is there any scientific evidence that it’s important for our health and appearance? The short answer is an unequivocal yes.
We spend about one-third of our lives asleep, so it’s not surprising that scientists have spent decades trying to figure out what goes on during this time. They’ve found that the brain uses this time to consolidate memories, support growth and development, regulate hormones, and perform other critical tasks. But does getting a good night’s sleep also affect your looks?
Researchers in Sweden say yes. In a study published in the journal Sleep, they found that sleep deprived people look less healthy, less attractive and more tired than those who get enough sleep. They used computer algorithms to determine how much sleep deprivation altered their appearance, finding that the faces of sleep deprived people were perceived as having more hanging eyelids, redder eyes, more swollen eyes and darker circles under the eyes. The researchers cited a separate study that estimated that sleep deprivation costs U.S. companies $63 billion per year in lost productivity due to employees’ inability to concentrate from lack of sleep.
The researchers found something else interesting: Sleep deprivation makes people look more sad than angry or scared. This suggests that when we see
For many of us, the term “beauty sleep” might be a little misleading. While it’s true that you may look slightly more well-rested with a full night’s sleep under your belt, is it really possible to wake up looking younger, healthier and more beautiful?
Yes and no. According to dermatologists and other health pross, there are some things you can do to slow down the aging process while you sleep. If you have an occasional sleepless night (or three), these tips can help reduce the impact stress has on your skin.
Cleanse Twice
You should always remove makeup before bedtime. But if you’re prone to acne or large pores, consider removing makeup twice before bed. Use a gentle cleanser for your first cleaning to get rid of any dirt, oil or makeup. Choose a second cleanser that’s specially formulated for your skin type (e.g., dry, oily or sensitive). This will help prevent acne flare-ups or other problems.
Moisturize
Your skin isn’t just dry when you’re dehydrated; it’s also thirsty for moisture in the form of creams and lotions. Choose one that’s right for your skin type, and apply it at bedtime (after cleansing)
When it comes to beauty sleep, you might think you’re getting enough shut-eye. Do you toss and turn all night? Do you have trouble falling asleep at night? You might get a decent number of hours each night, but are they good-quality hours? We give you the lowdown on how much sleep we really need (plus a few tips to help you fall asleep faster).
According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night. That number also includes older adults and teenagers. But that’s not all. It also depends on your lifestyle, health habits and other factors. For example, if you exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet, then you may be able to get by with less sleep than someone who smokes cigarettes, doesn’t exercise and eats poorly. If you’re still not convinced that the amount of sleep matters, take it from the experts: lack of sleep can affect your immune system and make you more susceptible to illness and disease. Getting enough sleep can also improve your memory. Need another reason to get more sleep? Researchers say that adequate amounts of shut-eye can improve your athletic performance as well as your mood – a big plus if you’re trying to lose weight!
Interested in getting better sleep
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘Beauty Sleep’ but what does it actually mean? How much sleep do we need and how much of an impact could a lack of sleep have on our wellbeing, both inside and out?
Most adults will need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night. The amount you need depends on a number of factors, including age, physical activity and whether or not you have a medical condition that can affect your sleep. There are also some people who may feel more alert with less sleep. For example, older people tend to sleep less than younger people but this is often because of their age rather than because they need less sleep. When it comes to children, they tend to need more sleep than an adult.
What happens if I don’t get enough?
If you find yourself continually deprived of sleep then it’s possible that you may develop a ‘sleep debt’. This means that you’re probably trying to make up for lost time by sleeping in at the weekends. While this may be helping you catch up on some lost sleep, it’s not solving the problem and may lead to even worse sleeping patterns. If you regularly suffer from insomnia then it’s important to visit your doctor so that they can help you manage your sleeping patterns better.