Why beauty sleep could be the key to skincare success. 

A great night’s sleep can be amazing for our body and mind, but how can it benefit our skin? With that golden target of 8 hours a night in mind, the impact of getting enough sleep on your complexion, as well as the deeper workings of your skin, could be second to none. Plus - it won’t cost you a dime. Here’s why a good night’s sleep could be your biggest beauty investment to date. 

 

So, what’s ACTUALLY happening whilst we sleep?

Sleep is the time that allows us to rest and repair. When we’re asleep, we secrete anti-stress and anti-inflammatory hormones that work to calm the skin, all the while, encouraging cell turnover. The human growth hormone (HGH) is responsible for this boost in skin repair, doing all that extra work while we sleep to prep us perfectly for our routine the following morning. 

 

The hours between 9pm and 11pm are widely known as the “evening” phase,  which is when our bodies begin to slow down for the day.  Notably, our skin does the same, making it the time that it’s most able to benefit from treatments (hello, Radiance Ritual). In unison, melatonin - the sleep hormone, begins to speed up production, inducing a feeling of sleepiness so our bodies and skin both know it’s time for bed. 

 

During our nighttime hours, we aren’t exposed to the day-to-day environmental aggressors that can have a serious impact on our skin, like heavy pollution, sunlight and debris. When we are asleep it creates the dream setting for repair, with your skin being up to three times more efficient at regeneration during this resting period. 

 

Taking advantage of the skin’s natural regenerative boost, it is a key opportunity to maximise the use of your powerhouse skincare ingredients - like AHA’s, BHA’s and retinoids, as they are able to deeply penetrate the skin whilst it repairs. These ingredients are also best integrated into your PM routine, rather than used in the morning, as they increase skin’s photosensitivity, making whilst you sleep the prime time to use them. 

The elusive quest for beauty sleep

Beauty sleep is almost as widely touted as drinking 8 glasses of water a day, 8 hours of good quality sleep is irreplaceable when it comes to looking fresh and revitalised. 

Whilst we all seek the visible benefits of a good night’s sleep, your body is working hard in the areas you can’t see to produce the growth hormones that maximise the production of collagen.

Collagen is a structural protein that is key to plumper, visibly fuller skin, and something that reduces in production as we age. Collagen is also responsible for strengthening hair and nails too. 

At Luneia we are all about well-aging. Our lines, creases and wrinkles show us as lovers of life - ageing is a privilege. 

Not getting enough? 

When it comes to sleep, we’re all constantly reminded that we should be aiming for those magic 8 hours. But what happens if we miss the mark? We know there are times that this infamous number just isn’t possible, but what happens when a bad night’s sleep turns into a downright nightmare sleeping pattern? 

When we are not getting enough sleep, our body begins to produce an excess of stress hormones, like cortisol - essential for rise and shine in the morning but not so ideal when it panic wakes us at 3am. An excess of these stress hormones push your skin into a pro-inflammatory state. This increase in inflammation can be responsible for breakouts, puffiness and dark circles. 

As we are all different, we don’t all necessarily need a full 8 hours. It’s the benchmark we use, but that doesn’t mean that some of our body’s can’t thrive on less - or more! Know your own body and when you feel at your best, because that’s the key to sleep and skincare success. 

Our skin is active and permeable whilst we are asleep which makes it a great time to make the most of your beauty products. However, during this time your skin susceptible to losing moisture too. 

 

Transepidermal Water Loss (known as TEWL) is a normal skin process, but it means the skin is at its driest by morning with the skin barrier becoming compromised, especially if lack of sleep has put extra strain and caused inflammation. The result? Redness, dehydration, irritation and lack of plumpness. But the products you spend the night with can help...

 

It’s all in the skincare routine

THE NIGHT BEFORE 

Getting your products right before a night’s sleep can feel like a challenge, but it is best to start with a good clean canvas. Cleansing your skin is essential when it comes to good skincare, so start by washing away the sins of the day with a double cleanse. 

WHILST YOU SLEEP

There are a plethora of products that lend themselves to the nighttime hours, but mainly, we want to focus on two key areas. Products that will boost and assist skin cell renewal, and those that add and lock in hydration. Hyaluronic Acids - or intensive, rich oils if you’re particularly dry -  are perfect aids for the latter, whilst retinoids, or opting for alternatives like Bakuchiol, are brilliant for pushing forward with the repair process. The exfoliating power of the glycolic and salicylic combo in our Radiance Ritual also works brilliantly overnight.

THE MORNING AFTER 

Top up the moisture factor after the loss of hydration overnight with a good, generously creamy moisturiser, full of soothing ingredients such as ceramics, to help calm any inflammation that may have occurred when you were sleeping. One of - if not, the- most vital skincare hero in your routine is SPF, so liberally apply every morning, especially important if you’ve been using acids or retinoids in your routine. Want to know more about SPFs? Read why they’re a daily essential here. 

Seeking better sleep? Here’s how...

As simple as getting enough sleep sounds, we all know that there are times it’s easier said than done. However, there are some fail-safe ways to maximise your chances of feeling ready to drift off to sleep come bedtime. 

SAY GOODNIGHT TO SCREEN TIME 

In this day and age, we live a huge amount of our lives through screens , but did you know that cutting your devices out for the last few hours of the day can help you to feel rested and recuperated come morning? This is because the bright blue light emitted by your phone or tablet actually mimics the idea that it’s the middle of the day, preventing the production of melatonin - aka. the sleep hormone. Studies have shown that excessive blue light exposure can have an equally detrimental effect on skin. Leaving your devices in another room or leaving them out of reach before bed can help avoid the 'insomnia scroll' and blue light exposure. 

 

CUT DOWN ON YOUR WIND-DOWN WINE

A glass of wine can be a relaxing way to wind down at the end of the week or socialise with friends, but studies show that alcohol consumption too close to bedtime can cause sleep issues. Alcohol is a known rapid eye movement (REM) sleep inhibitor, and as REM occurs during the deepest stage of sleep, it’s during these same hours that much needed cell regeneration occurs. Try and aim to not drink alcohol at least 90 minutes before bed. Excessive alcohol consumption is, among many other things, not ideal when seeking luminous, healthy skin or good quality sleep. 

NAIL YOUR BEDTIME RITUALS 

Running a bath, evening yoga stretches, spraying a calming room fragrance and, of course, committing to a regular skincare routine are all effective ways to prep before a good night’s sleep. Journaling can be a great way to get the thoughts, anxieties and worries of the day off your mind, leaving you free to drift away. 

Incorporating our Radiance Ritual mask in your skincare routine before bedtime will give your skin that luminous boost come morning. It is packed full of clinically-proven active ingredients including glycolic and salicylic acids that not only can you see working, you can feel working.