Let’s start by talking about this “8 hour beauty secret” called sleep and how it relates to your skin. Rest allows the body to relax, detoxify, regain its strength, to re-set  and to re-order the brain. The hot topic of sleep deprivation is more relevant now than ever. Research is showing that lack of sleep is linked to signs of aging and more serious health problems that include high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.  A trend report article in this month’s American Spa Magazine speaks of the unique processes that happen in skin during the day (protection -oriented) versus the night (repair- oriented).  This is a good time to emphasize the importance of makeup removal and using superior products at night to optimize the time when the skin heals, repairs and detoxifies!! A common complaint that I hear is that fatigue wins out over nighttime skin care.  My suggestion is to keep it simple and don’t wait until you are settled in for the night.  After you finish some nightly chores, go right in and cleanse your face. You don’t want the free radicals from all the air pollution to “have a party in your skin”, damaging your healthy cells!

During sleep the ingredients in your products actually absorb better as the permeability barrier is lowered. The skin uses moisture when we sleep and the body flushes toxins through perspiration.  This dehydration is why we need a richer cream at night to make up for this water loss.  If we don’t get enough hours of sleep, the skin will show this poor water balance with the ever-popular under eye circles and bags, and dryness that only accentuates visible wrinkles!  This brings us to the fact that uninterrupted sleep is crucial for repair and the manufacture of collagen. Remember last month’s article on collagen? Our youthful look is directly related to this protein found in our connective tissues, which does reduce as we age.  If we miss even two hours of sleep, this boosts two influential hormones (cortisol and insulin) which signal a stress response in the body that will impair our collagen production. We make the most collagen at night during SLEEP!  Stress hormones raise inflammation and lower immunity. This can increase skin sensitivity and even give way to conditions  such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. There is actually a new term in the aesthetics world called “inflammaging”- get the picture?! Tissue renews at a faster rate when the brain releases human growth hormone, which is at its highest level during sleep. You want to get as much of this hormone as you can, as it is called the youth hormone! Getting 7-8 hours of as much uninterrupted sleep will be the best boost for HGH (human growth hormone) levels.

If you’re interested in trying an exceptional night cream, Sleekskin’s Telomere Intensive Moisturizer includes three rich butters-shea, cocoa, and mango to feed the lipids in your skin as you sleep.  This remarkable “Fountain of Youth” moisturizer stimulates elastin, smooths fine lines, tightens, firms, and fortifies.  This cream contains three TM ingredients to extend your skin cell’s lifespan, stimulate collagen, and resist the natural aging process.  To read more you may go the products section of this site.

1)  Try to establish regular hours for sleeping and waking.

2)  Get as much natural sunlight as possible.

3)  Get moving and don’t sit for more than an hour.

4)  Limit caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and big meals at night.

5)  Establish relaxing bedtime rituals-warm baths, soft music, reading, light stretching,or drinking a warm beverage (terrific recipe link for this at the end!)

6)  Create a calm and tranquil sleep environment.  Darkness is best as is omitting electronic devices from the room.

Sleep deprivation, whether chronic or intermittent will lead to a dry and lifeless complexion.  So this year vow to get better sleep, because in the words of skin care director Michael de Stephano, “Exhausted is never anyone’s best look”. !