Sleep is essential for good health as well as to keep our skin radiantly youthful. Our body, including our skin, needs a considerable amount of sleep to heal the damage sustained each day. The skin performs various functions when you sleep. The first two hours are devoted to cleaning skin cells, eliminating toxins, and removing damaged proteins. Once done, the skin then repairs its cells and DNA.
A poor night's sleep means waste is not eliminated properly, which results in the production of free radicals. In other words, a reparative sleep phase is not optimal and damage to the skin accumulates. That is why 7-8 hours of sleep per night is recommended, not only to boost our morale and fitness but also our biological functions.
Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, soft drinks) after 3 PM as it's stored in the body for several hours and will keep you awake past your bedtime. Avoid sporting activities in the evening as your (fired up) muscles won't be ready to sleep come bedtime!
Eat a light evening meal as our bodies are not programmed to digest while we sleep. Have a nice, long soak in a hot bath and take your time to unwind. Put away your tablets, smartphones, and computer an hour (ideally two, but that can be hard, no?) before hitting the sack. Your electronic devices emit a blue light similar to the daylight spectrum. This light hinders the production of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone, ergo, you won’t feel sleepy.
Have a cup of herbal tea; whether linden, chamomile, or verbena, herbal tea has soothing and relaxing qualities. Keep your bedroom temperature at 19° C maximum as the body needs to cool down to sleep. Nodding off on the sofa during your favourite soap? Turn off the TV and enjoy an early night so you that don't have to wait for the next sleep cycle! Most importantly, go to bed at a specific time every day.
L’Oréal Paris’ Revitalift Crystal Micro-Essence is a skincare innovation that is enriched with micronized technology to reveal glowing and youthful skin. A few drops of Micro-Essence daily (before going to bed and after your morning cleanse) will give you that radiance you long for.
Coupled with a regular sleep schedule, this can work wonders for you and your skin.