Can you sleep your way to youngerlooking skin?
‘SLEEP IS SO important for your overall health — and this includes the health of your skin,” says Brandy Wehinger, clinical director at Caci. “Our body literally works to repair itself overnight, after a day of being exposed to oxidative stress from pollution, UV rays, inflammation and toxins.”
Skin that looks well rested (even if you aren’t) is always the goal, but Wehinger stresses the importance of clocking enough zzz’s before midnight. It’s been said the 90-minute phase before midnight is one of the most restorative phases of sleep, which is especially important when it comes to skin health.
“When we sleep we have an increase in blood flow, which brings an influx of oxygen and nutrients to our cells,” she says. Think of this process as the building blocks to healthy skin — ones which aid skin repair and renewal while we slumber.
Similarly, Wehinger explains how certain skin-loving hormones reach their peak overnight, the most important of which is a growth hormone that works to repair cells and stimulate their growth.
“You can boost this overnight magic by making sure to fully cleanse your skin before bed,” Wehinger says, adding that a double cleanse before bed will help rid the skin of any pollutants, dirt or makeup from the day.
Follow this with your choice of serum or treatment designed for night-time use. These heavy-hitters often contain higher concentrations of ingredients like retinol that help to target skin concerns and optimise skin health before dawn.
1 Murad’s Nightfix Enzyme Treatment, $129, is an overnight treatment which addresses the signs of sleep deprivation, including fine lines, wrinkles, surface dryness and lack of radiance. It works in synchronicity with the body’s own circadian rhythm to support skin renewal and repair.
2 The new Medik8 Sleep Glycolic, $94, is a highstrength, at-home peel that contains a 10 per cent concentration of glycolic acid to refine skin texture while you sleep. The result is skin that appears brighter, smoother and clarified by morning.
3 Shiseido White Lucent Overnight Cream & Mask, $131, helps to hydrate and brighten your complexion, while building up the skin’s resilience to dullness, fine lines, dark spots and uneven skin tone over time.
4 Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Synchronized MultiRecovery Complex, $141, has been a mainstay in nightly beauty routines since its inception almost 30 years ago. The fast-absorbing serum plumps and firms the skin while delivering 72-hour hydration and antioxidant protection. Wake up to skin that appears more even toned, radiant and refined.
5 Ole Henriksen Goodnight Glow RetinALT Sleeping Creme, $110, transforms skin overnight thanks to its powerful blend of AHAs and bakuchiol (nature’s answer to retinol), which help to exfoliate the skin’s surface and reveal fresh, new skin underneath. This potent sleeping creme improves skin elasticity while combatting fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots.