Believe in Beauty Sleep

It's that internal debate between getting a the full eight hours or staying up to finish that last chapter, writing that last email, or in my case- watching one more episode on Netflix. It's only a half hour, so sleep can wait, right? Hours and episodes later and its only about five hours until you have to be up-- there goes your good night's sleep. Your initial reaction is that it's no big deal, but over time, you'll be seeing a few more consequences than just spending a little extra on your morning caffeine fix.

The truth is, sleep affects all aspects of our body and our health, and skin is a major one. Because your body doesn't have to work at skin protection while you are sleeping, it has time to repair the damage done throughout your day. Therefore getting  your beauty sleep really is vitally important! When you don't get enough sleep, your skin will display it prominently, for all to see. 

• Dark, puffy Eyes-You'll start to rock the 'tired eyes' look. The lack of sleep may alter the regulation of blood vessel tone which will contribute to these under-eye bags. 
• Dull, Dehydrated Complexion-Sleep deprivation reduces the skin's ability to stay hydrated, leading to a duller appearance. 
• Acne Prone Skin- Decreased sleep leads to increased levels of cortisol in the body- the stress hormone which is blamed for many stress-related breakouts and inflammations. 
• Skin Sensitivity& Irritation- Poor skin habits can lead to trouble with skin sensitivity and irritation as you are decreasing the amount of time your skin has to repair damages done during the waking hours.

Of course those few late nights are bound to happen, but the more you can avoid depriving yourself of your precious beauty sleep, the better! Next time your faced with the choice between sleep and that one last episode, remember the value of your sleep-- and I'll have to start taking my own advice!