The expression "getting a good night's sleep" takes on its full meaning when we talk about beautiful skin. After insomnia or a night that's too short, our complexion is duller, fatigue marks our features, and we easily look unhealthy. This is completely normal; the skin hasn't had time to "repair" and regenerate properly. While it's often neglected, sleep plays a vital role when it comes to having beautiful, healthy skin. Find out how to reap its benefits!
Chronobiology of the skin
Just like us, your skin lives to the rhythm of day and night. We talk about "cutaneous chronobiology" or the skin's "biorhythm." To translate this scientific jargon: the skin functions differently throughout the 24 hours of a day, going through peaks and troughs of activity. The main factor in these changes is light, so it's the brightness of the day and the darkness of the night that tell the skin when it must carry out its various missions. This mechanism is written into our genes and affects all our organs.
In the morning, the skin goes into defense mode. It acts as a protective barrier to fight against external aggressions such as pollution, sun, wind, dust particles, and blue light. Skin cells shrink and tighten to form a shield. When night falls, the skin abandons its protective role to begin a major cleanup and regeneration.
What does our skin do at night?
It is said that at night, the skin enters a "rest" phase. You might think that it is therefore no longer doing anything, but not at all! By "rest", we rather mean the fact that it enjoys a certain tranquility by suffering less from external aggressions, which allows it to peacefully repair itself. Skin regeneration involves a process of cell division. By dividing, skin cells multiply - since one cell gives birth to several new ones - up to 3 times more than during the day! To allow this cell renewal, the skin needs energy. This is provided by the blood, which leads to an increase in blood microcirculation. While during the day the skin's barrier function is activated to its maximum, the skin becomes more permeable at night and opens its pores.
The benefits of sleep on the skin
After a good night's sleep, the skin has had time to regenerate and create collagen and elastin. Cell renewal and accelerated microcirculation in the skin guarantee a fresh complexion and less pronounced dark circles upon waking. The skin is also better oxygenated. The permeability of the epidermis, particularly between midnight and 4 a.m., means it better absorbs the active ingredients in your night cream, which penetrates deeply. Before going to bed, cleanse your skin properly to remove all the impurities accumulated during the day and apply a night cream.
The effects of fatigue on the skin
The entire process we have just detailed takes place thanks to hormones secreted only during the night. When you cut your nights short, your skin directly pays the price. Lack of sleep is quickly visible on the skin: dull complexion, unevenness, increased dark circles around the eyes, drawn features, loss of suppleness, sagging skin, imperfections... When we don't sleep enough, our biorhythms are disrupted and our skin recovers less well. The skin's protective function is also less effective, skin cells do not function optimally, the skin retains water less well, which makes it more easily dehydrated and cell regeneration is slowed down. Lack of sleep and the disruption of the skin's biorhythms are also one of the causes of premature skin aging.
Our tips for restful sleep
If the key to beautiful skin is a good night's rest, how can you never miss a sleep train again? Here are our tips:
• Eat early and light – having a heavy meal in the evening can cause digestive problems that will prevent you from falling asleep.
• Get away from screens – the blue light from screens is so strong that it tricks the brain into keeping it in “daytime” mode. Plus, it generates free radicals that oxidize the skin.
• Increase your sleep time – everyone is different, of course, but it is recommended to sleep between 7 and 9 hours a night to feel truly rested. For people who have trouble falling asleep, Peaceful Sleep Drops, made with lemon balm, verbena and poppy extracts, known for their relaxing properties, help you relax, make it easier to fall asleep and improve the quality of your sleep.
• Limit sources of stress – do a short meditation before going to bed, listen to a podcast, prepare for the next day (to do list, clothes), read a book, spray the Beneficial Interior Mist in your room to invite the body and mind to relax; the idea is to slip under the duvet serene.
• Turn down the radiators and make sure you're in the dark – a bedroom temperature should be between 16 and 18°C to allow for a good night's sleep. Darkness is necessary for the secretion of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Don't feel guilty about taking a power nap or going to bed early, it's good for your skin!
*Night cream