Is Sleep the Ultimate Beauty and Wellness Trend?
When the sleep is bad…
One thing we know about wellness trends is they always love to tell you what to avoid! So in this instance, we know what you should steer clear of - and it’s lack of sleep. In case you need convincing, here’s what poor sleep can cause…
Eyes
Lack of sleep can cause the blood vessels around your eyes to dilate, resulting in dark circles, puffiness, and drooping eyelids. Not to mention the negative side effect of rubbing your eyes when you feel sleepy - which adds to the dark circles and leaves eyes red and puffy.
Skin
Sleep deprivation hinders normal bodily functions such as collagen production, which helps new cells grow and enhance your skin’s elasticity and hydration.
Acne and spotty skin are tell-tale signs of lack of sleep. That’s because consistently losing out on sleep ramps up cortisol production, which in turn boosts oil production. From there, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump into subsequent skin issues like breakouts and blemishes.
Sleep deprivation even disrupts your body’s inflammatory response, causing your skin to be more prone to redness and irritation, while potentially exacerbating existing conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
According to research, some of these effects on appearance can even leave us looking sad or more worn out than those who are getting their 7+ hours of shut-eye. And additional studies have shown that sleep-deprived people are viewed as less healthy and attractive by others.
Hair
Excess cortisol - as a result of sleep-deprived stress - is also a common cause of hair loss, along with the overproduction of sebaceous oil that can result in greasy hair and dandruff. We get stuck in the “fight or flight” response that too much cortisol creates, and this negatively impacts our hair growth cycle from growing fresh, glossy locks.
Mind
So we know lack of sleep leaves us looking less healthy - and as it turns out, poor sleep affects our insides as well!
Not getting the recommended amount of sleep can leave our energy levels low, making it harder to focus, impairing our memory and decision-making skills, and causing mood swings and irritability. Meanwhile, other studies have linked deficient sleep to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol - thanks to the higher levels of cortisol.
Data from a 2021 study also showed that people aged 50 to 60 who got six or less hours of sleep were 30% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia later in life.
When the sleep is good…
Put simply, sleep deprivation is one of the worst things you can do for your skin and health in general. Turns out beauty sleep isn’t just a made-up thing for beauty queens! Here’s what you’ll enjoy when the sleep is good…
Skin
Good sleep means growth hormones - and lots of them - which is great news for your skin, because it assists with the repair and regeneration of skin cells. These growth hormones are important for the production of collagen and elastin, which help create plump, smooth, well hydrated skin, minimising wrinkles, crow’s feet, and frown lines.
During sleep, your body boosts blood flow to your skin, providing it with essential nutrients and oxygen to leave your skin looking fresh and dewy. This increased blood flow also allows skin to repair damage caused by exposure to UV sunlight and pollution.
Hair
Our beauty sleep rejuvenates our hair cells as well. When we get plenty of rest, it helps our bodies control cortisol production. Our hair grows in a cyclical pattern of growth, degeneration, and falling out. But when we get good quality sleep, it strengthens hair strands, ensuring they remain flexible and resistant to breakage.
During sufficient sleep, blood flow to your hair follicles increases, ensuring the speedy delivery of essential nutrients and oxygen for hair growth, while giving your locks loads of shine, bounce, and body.
Mind
Not only does good quality sleep leave you feeling refreshed, energised, and vibrant - it also helps stave off problems like memory loss, poor cognitive function, and lower work performance.
From a psychological perspective, with sleep improving your overall appearance and mood, it makes sense that this ripples into your self-esteem and confidence. With less setbacks to skin, hair, body, and brain, you’ll naturally feel healthier in your own skin - and that alone can work wonders on your inner and outer glow.
How to maximise your sleep wellness routine
While sleep is both free and accessible - something that can’t be said for a lot of beauty trends - it still comes with its own set of struggles. In particular, creating the environment and rituals needed to get truly good sleep.
Our top tips for getting serious bang for your sleep buck include:
Building a sleep routine
Aim for a similar sleep and wake time each day to get your body used to its routine. Going to bed and waking up around the same time every day helps regulate your body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall - and stay - in deep sleep. It also means your body will kick into repair mode faster - yes please!
Hydrate
Hydration is another essential component of both sleep and wellness. Hydrating throughout the day is important for skin and hair health, but it also promotes healthier sleep. Studies show that dehydration can affect our naturally occurring levels of melatonin - AKA the hormone that helps regulate our sleep cycle - so without it, your beauty sleep becomes that much harder to come by.
Just be mindful not to drink too much too close to bedtime, otherwise you’ll be waking from slumber more times than you’d like!
Get the bedding goods
Good quality sleep needs good quality bedding, from an organic latex mattress to organic pillows and low tox bedding accessories. Mattresses like these aren’t just nice to look at - they’re designed with rest and wellness in mind. At The Natural Bedding Company, we use all-natural materials that haven’t been treated with pesticides, fire retardants, mould deterrents or any other harsh chemicals, making it safe for the whole family.
And as for allergy sufferers, natural bedding is non-negotiable. The natural properties of latex makes our organic mattresses and pillows hypoallergenic, hygienic and antibacterial, dust mite, mould and mildew resistant - all of which combine to bring you better sleep, unhindered breathing, and the support needed for your body to rest and repair.
Move your body
Getting adequate physical exercise during the day ensures you’re better equipped for good sleep at night. That’s because physical activity enhances the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which your body uses to power all its processes - including the ones that repair damage while you sleep.
Just be mindful not to exercise too close to bedtime, or instead of sound sleep, you’ll be wide awake and full of endorphins instead.
Say goodnight
At the end of the day, the biggest barrier to beauty and health-inducing sleep is time. Whatever your sleep setup, if you aim for 7-8 hours at least each night, you’ll be well on your way to finding the rest you need.
Every time you sink into a slumber, your body gets to work with a whole lot of repair, restoration, and renewal. So hop under the covers and turn off the lights - it’s time to let your sleep work its magic!