Why Sleep Is So Important for Healthy Skin

You know that feeling of waking up refreshed, recharged, and ready to take on the day? That’s kind of what happens for your skin, too. When you get a good night’s sleep, it impacts more than just your energy levels.

When you’re winding down for the night, your skin is gearing up for work, addressing damage caused by daytime aggressors, taking in nutrients and oxygen from increased blood flow, and more. Your skin also, finally, gets a break from playing defense. As a result, “our skin is the most constructive and productive while we sleep,” says NakedPoppy skin specialist Tara Parenti.

Without adequate sleep, those innate benefits are MIA. Not only that, but sleep loss itself can also lead to inflammation and a rise in stress hormones in the body — neither of which is exactly ideal for you (or your skin). But before we get too deep, let’s look at an overview of what happens when you snooze:

• Your skin goes into repair mode and your skin barrier is more permeable, for starters
• Poor sleep can lead to dark circles, puffy eyes, and dull, dehydrated skin
• In the long term, sleep loss can contribute to the breakdown of collagen and lead to early lines and wrinkles

With that in mind, here’s what you need to know about what makes sleep so important for healthy skin.

What happens to skin when you’re sleeping

To understand the sleep-skin connection, let’s go back to biology 101 — namely, circadian rhythm, which is at the root of many of the body’s natural functions. “Circadian rhythm is the natural, internal process that regulates the body and the sleep-wake cycle,” says NakedPoppy research scientist Marisa Plescia. “Research shows that the circadian rhythm affects the skin, and that nighttime is the skin’s first line and most important time of repair and regeneration.” [1]

Thanks to circadian rhythm, there are a lot of things going down while you sleep. For starters, blood flow to your skin increases, which delivers more nutrients and oxygens and ferries away damaging molecules, like free radicals. “Studies have shown that repair of these DNA-damaged skin cells from UV radiation is strongest at night,” says Plescia. [2]

Your skin barrier is also at its most permeable, meaning that it’s easier for molecules to pass through it. And although that can increase trans-epidermal water loss, or the evaporation of moisture from the skin, “increased skin permeability can also allow for better absorbance of skincare products,” says Plescia. “So, using skincare products at night allows for better absorption into the skin and thus better efficacy, a.k.a. they work better and actually can lead to better results.” Research shows that peak absorption happens at 4 a.m., so all you really have to do is walk through your evening skincare routine and call it a night. [3] 

Pretty dreamy, right?

What happens when you lose sleep

If you were tossing and turning all night, the effects of sleep loss might sound familiar. “Because of interrupted cell regeneration, blood vessels can dilate and fluids may pool, resulting in dark circles and puffy eyes,” says Parenti. (Sound familiar? Don’t miss our guide to shrinking puffy eyes or our how-to for brightening dark circles.) A cold compress followed by eye cream can help, as can we: When you take the 3-min NakedPoppy assessment, you’ll automatically get matched with the perfect eye cream for you.

Then, as we mentioned, your skin barrier turns into a free for all, which leads to trans-epidermal water loss and can result in dehydrated skin. “Dehydrated skin can lead to lack of plumpness, skin dullness, and even magnify the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” says Plescia.

To offset this moisture loss, apply a moisturizer that has a combo of humectants, emollients, and occlusives. “The humectants can bind to water and retain hydration in the skin, while the emollients act as occlusive agents and can effectively coat the skin and act as a seal further preventing the water loss,” she explains. A face oil, like NakedPoppy Revitalize Organic Facial Oil, is great for retaining moisture and hydration when applied to damp skin.

And in general, consider incorporating certain overnight treatments into your evening skincare routine, as they can help you make the most of uninterrupted shut-eye.

In the long-term, skimping on sleep can have some major consequences for skin. It’s not just that you’re missing out on your body’s inherent perks. Rather, the very lack of sleep creates a domino effect that ultimately impacts skin health in some very big ways.

Namely, sleep deprivation can trigger the body’s stress response, which leads to a spike in cortisol — commonly referred to as the stress hormone. Excess cortisol can in turn activate certain enzymes, which “may break down elastin, collagen, and also hyaluronic acid,” says Parenti. Collagen and elastin are two fibers that serve as scaffolding within skin; when intact, they give your complexion its firm, smooth, bouncy texture.

In addition to indirectly contributing to the breakdown of collagen, a spike in cortisol can also interfere with human growth hormones and fibroblast function. Fibroblasts are the cells that create new collagen, which human growth hormone contributes to the production and protection of it. When these are impacted, it can have a visible effect on skin.

“In other words, sleep is necessary for collagen production,” explains Plescia. “And since collagen is the main structural protein of the skin, this can lead to the development of many skin concerns, such as premature fine lines and wrinkles.” [4]

The *very* good news, though, is that the solution for all of the above is as simple as going to bed, or even setting your alarm just a little bit later. You’ll reap all the benefits of a good night’s sleep — mind, body, and skin.

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