While the odd late night isn’t going to do too much damage, over time, poor sleeping habits can wreak havoc on your skin.
Racoons and pandas aside, dark circles around the eyes are never a good look and are the tell-tale sign of a bad night’s sleep. When you are tired, your body produces more of a chemical called ‘cortisol’ which is aptly dubbed the ‘stress hormone’. This hormone sets our ‘fight or flight’ into gear so we become more alert despite our fatigue. It is this boost in cortisol which causes dark circles.
However, cortisol is not only to blame for dark circles, it can also lead to pesky breakouts. High levels of cortisol makes the skin oilier and more oil on the skin can lead to clogged pores – a breeding ground for acne bacteria. For this reason, you may have noticed that your skin takes a hit after during a particularly stressful week!
Our skin has a circadian rhythm and is at its most busy during the night, repairing and recovering from the stresses of the day. Cash in on this energy boost with some serious skincare and invest in a decent night cream such as CULT51 Night Cream (there’s a reason this night cream had a 5k waiting before its official launch!).
When looking for a night cream, choose formulas with active ingredients which change your skin from within not just merely moisturise it (this is just an added bonus!).
Can’t sleep?
As that old adage goes, prevention is better than cure. If your skin is looking a little limp and lacklustre perhaps you should start taking a look at your sleeping habits. Here are our top 3 tips:
– Establish a consistent bed time, which gives you enough time to sleep before your alarm. If you know you’ve got to be on the train to work at 8:30 am, binge-watching Netflix until 2:00 am isn’t something you should be doing on a weekday.
– Switch off mentally and digitally when you go to bed. Resist the urge to scroll through Instagram into the early hours and being awoken by pinging group chats and pop your phone out of sight. It’s a simple change but can help you settle quicker.
– If your head is abuzz with thoughts when you hit the pillow, consider herbal supplements to help you relax and manage stress. Ashwagandha is a fab option as it helps reduce stress allowing you to drift off more easily. For better results, you can pair it with Rhodiola which helps boost energy during the day and shake off mental fatigue.
Courtesy of Light Touch Clinic.
