Sleeping beauty is nothing more than a fairy tale, but is it? What is the sleep and beauty connection? We all know and love Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, but it seems there is more truth in the name of this character than anyone ever knew. Science has proven time and again that while we sleep our body goes into repair mode, fixing damage caused during the day. The result? Waking up looking refreshed and feeling our beautiful best.

The key is to understand just how our bodies work whole we are at rest.

Sleep and beauty: a skincare must

The skin goes through various phases at night. These phases are what facilitate the restoration and repair of the skin on a systematic basis. Here is a deeper look at what happens to the skin. Sleep and beauty go hand in hand!

The Evening Phase (9 to 11 p.m.)

As our bodies grow weary and tired, our skin starts to wind down too. This is the first stage of your skin’s sleep routine known as the evening phase. Around 9 p.m. the first phase kicks in, also known as the prelude to sleep. This is the best suited time to apply topical skin treatments for maximum absorption and the point at which and DNA repair begins. Our Melatonin levels rise, bringing the onset of sleepiness and kickstarts our skins repair process.

The Night Phase (11 p.m. to 6 a.m.)

The second phase of our night time skin repair is known as the night phase. It is at this point that the second hormone HGH (the human growth hormone) kicks in. It is during this phase that the skin’s repair and cell regeneration accelerates to almost double. Stem cells are the skin’s best friend at this point and are responsible for making fresh new cells and replacing old cells.

Towards morning our metabolism has ensured our skin repair and restoration, however, the skin loses hydration through metabolic processes. This brings on the third and final skin sleep stage the morning phase.

The Morning Phase (6 to 9 a.m.
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Thanks to overnight water loss, your skin is now at its driest and the barrier can be impaired. The skin, when exposed to light, produces the stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol increases your skin’s potential to become red and inflamed or damaged by UV light. It is, therefore, vital to protect the skin with a good sunscreen containing both UVA & UVB filters to avoid both ageing and pigmentation.

Our skin works hard all day every day to protect itself from constant attack and ageing. But, when we sleep it is the prime time for healing, restoration, and rest. Be your own sleeping beauty and give your skin a break! Sleep and beauty are the perfect recipes for radiant skin.