Study after study shows that getting enough sleep—the equivalent of 7 to 9 hours, depending on your age—helps you look and feel your best by easing stress, calming inflammation, and allowing your body to repair and recover. According to Michael Breus, Ph.D., a board-certified sleep specialist, if you’re getting fewer than 6 hours, it’s likely affecting your appearance. Start getting 1 to 3 more hours of Zzz's, and you could see some improvement in as little as a day. Keep it up, and “within 2 to 3 weeks, people will notice that you’re sleeping better by the way you look.

Here are the six beauty benefits of getting enough sleep.

#1. You glow with good health

A nice glow happens when you’re well-rested, healthy, and hydrated—all of which are also signs that your skin is in a good state. When you sleep enough, your body gets the opportunity to repair itself. This gives your skin the chance to rejuvenate overnight and lets it absorb nutrients from any lotions or creams you apply before bedtime. In order for this process to be most effective, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends having a relaxing bedtime routine, which includes washing your face and removing all traces of makeup before sleep. The NSF also says that regularly missing out on sleep can have adverse effects on some key components of healthy skin, such as collagen production and hormonal balance.

#2. Your complexion is clearer.

While you’re busy tossing and turning in bed, your body’s trying to make the most of precious sleep time by focusing on hydration. If that doesn’t seem important to you now, just wait until you see the results of a dehydrated complexion. According to the NSL, there is also evidence that a lack of sleep may contribute to dehydration. In a study of nearly 20,000 adults in both the United States and China, people who slept only six hours per night were found to have significantly higher rates of dehydration than people who slept eight hours. When you’re dehydrated (which happens when you don’t get enough sleep), your body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that can cause inflammation in the skin cells, leading to puffiness, breakouts, and fine lines. But by increasing your H20 levels, which happens during deep sleep, your skin has a chance to repair itself and naturally produce collagen, the protein fibers responsible for maintaining elasticity.

#3. Puffiness and dark circles disappear.

One of the most annoying beauty buzzkills is puffiness around the eyes. It's a common complaint and there are many contributing factors: lack  of sleep, smoking, allergies, genetics, excessive alcohol consumption, and certain medications. All of these can cause fluid retention in the area under your eyes because blood pools as you lie down. This pooling dilutes the electrolytes that control fluid balance in your body (sodium and potassium) and leads to puffy eyes when you wake up. Puffiness isn't always so noticeable on its own—it often appears along with dark circles under your eyes. This is generally caused by a combination of a few different things: broken capillaries from rubbing your eyes too hard, hereditary problems with veins or arteries underneath your skin that are more visible as you grow older (or if you're not getting enough sleep), overworked immune cells represented by inflammation around the area—all of which can be exacerbated by lifestyle choices such as lack of sleep or poor diet. Logging into a good night’s sleep regularly will help you reduce puffy eyes. Adults need around 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. To ensure you’re sleeping enough, create a bedtime routine and stick to it.

#4. You look more youthful.

One of the best benefits of getting enough sleep is how it makes your skin appear more youthful, according to some research. "When you don’t get enough sleep, your skin cells don't regenerate as quickly," says dermatologist Dr. Michele Green. Sleep helps your body produce collagen, a protein that keeps your skin elastic and less likely to sag and wrinkle. In fact, people who are chronically sleeping deprived show premature aging signs compared to their well-rested peers, including more fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, a paler complexion, and increased puffiness under the eyes, according to a study published in the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 

#5. Your hair is stronger and glossier.

A sleepless night is never a good look, and your hair is one of the first places it shows. When you realize that you haven’t had enough sleep, your first instinct might be to cover up limp locks with a hat, but that doesn’t solve the problem at hand. When we get less than seven hours of sleep every night, our bodies produce more cortisol (aka the stress hormone), which blocks or interrupts the production of other key hair-healthy hormones. Reduced levels of these hormones have been linked to decreased hair growth, so if you want long locks fast, make sure you’re getting enough shuteye!

6. You're less likely to break out.

Without enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol stimulates oil production in the skin, which can lead to acne. Sleep deprivation can also make you more sensitive to irritants—if you don't get enough sleep, you may be more likely to have a skin reaction from products that normally wouldn't bother you. You'll wake up with fewer wrinkles. While you're asleep, your body increases blood flow to the skin and produces new collagen. Collagen helps skin look plump and youthful, so not getting enough sleep can leave your complexion looking older and duller than usual in the morning.

To get a good night’s rest, the Mayo Clinic suggests that you should:

1. Stick to a sleep schedule.
2. Stop drinking caffeine at least 6 hours before bedtime.
3. Stop drinking alcohol close to bedtime.
4. Finish eating dinner about 3 hours before bedtime.
5. Finish exercising several hours before bedtime.
6. Turn off electronics 1 to 2 hours before bedtime.

You can also use the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Diary to improve your sleep, and their 10 Tips for a better night’s sleep.

Get enough sleep with DermaChange Sleepy Time Oil

Getting a good night’s sleep can sometimes feel impossible and frustrating with all the stress and work. Our Sleepy Time Oil can help you relax at bedtime and aid you in falling asleep a little easier. Ease your anxiety and relax as the special blend of Coconut Oil, Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Ylang-ylang, Thyme, Frankincense, Geranium, Valerian Root and Bergamot Oil work together to provide the best aromatherapy essential oil to provide that natural calming effect and stress relief! You can finally have a relaxing and peaceful sleep. 

Directions: Apply a small amount to the desired area of skin and let the oil soak in once nightly before bed.

Beauty can be fun, and here at DermaChange, we want you to experience it in all of its glory with our Skincare and Haircare products. From shampoo and conditioner to shingle cream, we have everything you need to help you achieve healthy, radiant skin.