Of the many things that can affect how happy your skin is, sleep is no exception. It isn't just about what you put on your skin and inside your body, it's also about giving your body the time it needs to take care of itself. Our bodies are pretty incredible, but if we don't take care of them, how can we expect to look our best?
Why is sleep important?
Sleep is what we give our bodies to recuperate, rejuvenate and rest from the day's activities. On top of that, this is the time in the day's 24 hours that our skin repairs and recovers from damaging environmental exposure. New cells are created, old cells shed from the surface of our skin, and our bodies neutralize free radical compounds from external aggressors.
How much sleep do you really need?
This may or may not come as a surprise to you, but not everybody needs the same amount of sleep. Think about it, there's a reason you're awake many more hours in the day than your toddler nieces and nephews. And it's not because you may or may not have lost the conscious desire to take naps on a regular basis.
Funny thing about sleep is that its need varies from person to person, and there are many things that determine just how much sleep you need. Genetics, lifestyle, age and environment all play a valid role in how much shut-eye you need every night. Still, The National Sleep Foundation does have their recommended numbers based on age.
Believe it or not, by the time you've passed your teenage years, you can probably get by on 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Obviously, more is always better, but too much of a good thing is also a bad thing. So be careful. If you feel tired, chances are, you need more sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to a number of health issues including obesity, impaired immune function, depression and heart disease.
How to get better sleep at night
We sure we're not alone in this, but just because your head hits the pillows at 10PM doesn't mean that the eight hours between 10PM and 6AM are going to be the best quality. The number of hours of sleep is important, but just as important is the quality of sleep you get. If you're waking up every two hours in the night, you're probably not getting the best sleep possible.
The best antidote? Have a routine! There really is some magic in "winding down" before you close your eyes. Here are some tips to help you relax yourself to get your mind just as ready to sleep as your body may feel.
Cut the screen time
Have you ever been lying in bed scrolling through your phone when your eyes get this overwhelming feeling of tiredness, yet you don't feel any sleepier? This is because aside from being one of the brightest and shortest wavelengths, blue light suppresses the production of melatonin—the hormone that tells your brain it's time to go to sleep.
Prioritize your skin routine
What better way to wind down than to take the time to prep your skin for a good night's rest? During the day, your skin is in a constant protection mode. It's doing whatever it can to protect itself from the harmful environmental aggressors and pollutants. At night it's finally time repair itself. Prepping your skin for that downtime is just one more thing you can do to help it stay healthy. This Works Deep Sleep Night Oil easily absorbs into the skin to prepare the body for a relaxing sleep by diffusing tension and bringing a calming effect on the mind and body. This Works' products are specifically designed to work with the skin's natural cycle.
Fight the look of uneven skin and help yourself get a restful night's sleep with This Works Sleep Plus Trouble Shooter. With a blend of essential oils—including chamomile and lavender—multi-fruit acids, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, this formula helps you fall fast asleep while reviving your complexion, giving you a renewed visage to wake up to!
Give yourself a face massage
Another way to relieve tension is to wind down with a good face or head massage. Use your hands or a facial massager like ReFa S Carat, which is designed to imitate the hand manipulations of an esthetician.
Replenish your skin while increasing circulation, toning and firming all at the same time! Specifically designed to imitate a Japanese technique known as "point kneading" to mimic specific fingertip pressure, this device can help you alleviate tension and give you a complexion that is more revitalized and supple.
Whether you like it or not, you need sleep! With how much it affects your daily function, how could you not want more of it! Check out more sleep-inducing products on our lookfantastic website today!
