We’ve all heard how important sleep is to our health.  According to the Harvard Women’s Health Watch, there are six reasons to get enough sleep:

1. Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later.
2. Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
3. Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.
4. Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.
5. Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.
6. Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.

But what about the importance of sleep to our looks?  You know what I’m talking about.  How many mornings (of afternoons) have you awakened after a long night of partying, or cramming for exams, or insomnia and looked like ________ ……well, not as great as you might like?

The fact is, while telling someone you need your “beauty sleep” might be a pretty good way to get out of doing something, it’s more than a cute expression:  it’s a fact.   According to a study published in BMJ, a British medical journal, getting too little sleep definitely has an impact on your physical appearance!  Researchers wrote that “sleep-deprived people appeared less healthy, less attractive and more tired compared with when they are well rested.  This suggests that humans are sensitive to sleep-related facial cues.”

Here are a few of my personal tips for getting great beauty sleep:

Invest in a Humidifier

Your skin needs moisture to look great and this can be a challenge especially if you live in a drier climate.  A good humidifier is the answer. 

I travel a lot for work and was finding that I never looked worse than after spending the night in a hotel room.  I’d wake up, look in the mirror and discover that my eyes were beet red and my skin was puffy and just tired looking.  But, since I started requesting a humidifier from housekeeping, those problems have disappeared.  Use a humidifier at night while you sleep. It will provide moisture to keep your skin soft, supple and younger looking!

Use a Good Pillowcase

Silk is the only way to go!  Silk contains natural proteins and amino acids that have wonderful anti-aging benefits.  And movie stars have sworn by this beauty secret or years! I was recently introduced to Sleep ‘N Beauty 100% mulberry silk pillowcases and will probably never be able to sleep on a cotton pillowcase again. 

Sleep N' Beauty 100% mulberry silk pillowcases

Luxurious and oh so soft, Sleep N’ Beauty silk pillowcases are naturally hypoallergenic, keep you from waking up with creases on your face, help your skin to retain moisture, and are great for protecting your hair from bed head and split ends.  And as an added bonus, they’re even machine washable!

Forget Sleeping Pills, Use Lavender

I absolutely LOVE the scent of lavender!  But, not only does it smell great, it’s fantastic for getting a good night of beauty sleep.  I like to tuck a small sachet of it inside my pillowcase or sometimes add a few drops of lavendar oil to my humidifier.  I’ve also read that you can use lavender oil on your skin to help relax your muscles (and again, inhale througout the night), add it to your bathwater before bed or even use lavendar flowers in brewed tea. 

I hope you’ll give some of these tips a try and have a great night!