The science behind beauty sleep
Have you been in search of the ‘fountain of youth’? Many of us pour countless hours and dollars into both surgical and non-surgical procedures and products to help us appear younger and or more attractive. Unfortunately, many of these money-grabs or poorly performed procedures fail miserably or make little to no difference to our appearance.
There is, however, one proven (and free) way to boost your looks and confidence: a good night’s sleep. A study found that when participants had two days of restricted sleep, they were perceived as less attractive, healthy and trustworthy.
We’ve all started a day with someone commenting, “Big night last night?” or, “Everything okay? You look tired.” And while we know these people are trying to look out for us, the truth is they’ve been able to pick up on the physical changes in our appearance after even a single poor night’s shut-eye.
What are the beauty benefits of a good night’s sleep?
The face is the main source of information in social perception, and a study of young adults found that those who were sleep-deprived looked sadder. This is mainly due to physical cues that include more wrinkles and fine lines, hanging eyelids, redder eyes, paler skin, darker circles under the eyes and droopy corners on the mouth.
Here are three of the top areas that some good shut-eye can help you with:
Fewer wrinkles and fewer signs of ageing
Every day, your skin takes a beating. Environmental stressors including ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun leaves your body with plenty to do overnight once your head hits the pillow. Scientists have discovered that not only the amount of sleep, but the quality of that sleep impacts skin function, aging and the ability to recover from the day's exposure to UV and environmental toxins.
When we sleep, we protect and better equip our bodies to manage the delicate balance of hormones, including cortisol, glucose and melatonin, that if disrupted can result in abnormal metabolic function and increased stress on the body. These imbalances enhance inflammation, increase DNA damage and decrease DNA repair.
The consequences of this are increased signs of ageing to the skin, including wrinkles through a loss of collagen. So, perhaps the most important part of your skincare routine is, in fact, the easiest: maintaining a good night’s sleep.
2. Glowing skin
Ever wondered why after a poor night’s sleep the pigment of your skin appears duller? Well, the face, in particular, is highly vascularised. When you have a good night’s sleep, the nervous system gets to work, blood flow improves and your skin appears more plump, full and lively.
We perceive both health and attractiveness in others based on the certain degree of redness of their face. We may not consciously notice this, but studies have shown skin perfusion and oxygenation influence how we perceive the health of others. This study also found that it may be important to how we choose a mate, as we base reproductive status on perceived health.
Because of this (and other factors discussed in this article), people can tell when someone needs more sleep. This leads to avoidance, as your peers are more likely to leave you alone when they pick up on these physical cues. So if you’re looking to improve your complexion (and attractiveness), ensure you’re getting those Zs!
3. Brighter and less swollen eyes
As humans, we’re all pretty judgmental, whether we realise it or not. Eyelid openness is linked to how we perceive both attractiveness and intelligence. Likewise, a sleep-deprived face with swollen eyelids or dark circles under the eyes is perceived as both less healthy and less attractive.
Although puffiness of the eyes is common with ageing, when we’re sleep-deprived this can be made worse by fluid which can build up around the eye area. Because the skin surrounding your eye is thin, you’re more likely to notice a lack of shut-eye through discolouration or swelling.
Studies of behaviour have discovered that humans tend to associate positive qualities with those whom they consider attractive, especially sociability. Therefore, not only will getting your beauty sleep ensure you feel more energetic, lively, and optimistic, you’ll also be more approachable. Time for those bags to go!
What about the rest of the body?
While we may notice sleep deprivation in the face first, a lack of sleep can affect us physically too. An Australian study found that obesity was significantly associated with shortened sleep. Short sleep duration decreases metabolic function, which impacts our ability to maintain a healthy weight. Consistent, good quality sleep therefore better equips the body to regulate our metabolism and empowers us to look and feel our best.
And let’s not forget about your mental beauty
It’s important to acknowledge that beauty comes from within, and a good night’s sleep has many benefits that will help you feel great both inside and out. Here are a few:
Stronger immune system
There is nothing more beautiful than a well-functioning immune system. After all, if you’re not healthy internally, it will most certainly begin to show externally at some stage. Sleep, immunity and health are very closely intertwined.
T cells are an important player in the body’s immune system, as they activate a protein called integrin that allows them to attach to and kill virally infected cells. To boost your immune system, check out How to boost your immunity with good sleep habits.
2. More effective workouts
Short sleepers are found to have higher BMIs. Some studies suggest that there is a link between unhealthy food choices and the amount of sleep we get. If we become overweight as a result of poor sleep, this may negatively impact on our self-esteem and overall health and appearance.
If we sleep better, we’re able to exercise more efficiently. One study revealed that a good night’s shut-eye resulted in improved reaction times, accuracy and faster running speeds. So if you’re looking to improve your workout routine, try swapping some supplements for a better night’s sleep.
A healthier, happier, more beautiful you
A good night's sleep has many benefits, both for how you look and how you feel. Sleep empowers you to make better choices, and improves your memory, mood and immunity. So to be the best version of you, prioritise a healthy and high-quality sleep.
If you’re experiencing persistent disruptions to your sleep, consult with a pharmacist to discuss possible solutions.
Any advice provided in this content is of a general nature and does not take into account your objectives, health or needs. The information in this post is not intended to substitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be exclusively relied on to diagnose or manage a medical condition. You need to consider the appropriateness of any information or general advice we give you, having regard to your personal situation, before acting on our advice or purchasing any over-the-counter sleep product.