By – Josephine Agbonkhese

You can almost instantly notice that a bad nights sleep doesnt favour your face when you wake up.

According to experts, one night of poor sleep can leave you with a slew of problems because the seven to nine hours of sleep most adults need is when your body restores itself.

Beauty sleep is therefore a real thing; not just a cliche and truly affects how your skin and body restore themselves after a long day. It it also greatly affects your brain and muscles.
Heres why you should get enough of sleep everyday if you want to look your best.

Combats pre-mature ageing
Apart from applying sunscreen, sleep is a natural way to combat ageing signs such as wrinkles and sagging. Your skin makes new collagen when you sleep. Poor sleep makes your skin appear dehydrated which naturally makes fine lines more visible, especially under the eye area.

Enhanced blood flow
Sleep increases blood flow to the skin, making it appear glowing and healthy. You may seem pale when blood flow is impeded due to a lack of sleep.

Reduces dark eye circles
Having enough rest can reduce dark eye circles. Poor blood circulation occurs when we lack sleep and this can get collected around the eye area, causing blood to pool under the eyes.
Fluid accumulation on the eyelids and eye sockets cause puffy eyes.

Skincare products become effective
During sleep, your skin reaps the benefits of the ingredients contained in your skincare products. Precisely, the anti-aging treatments you use penetrate deeply into your skin during sleep because most contain retinol, which is less effective throughout the day due to the sun.

Controls stress hormones
Cortisol levels, the hormone generated during stressful situations, decrease while you sleep. This minimises the likelihood of inflammation, which can contribute to healthy blood flow. It also prevents hair loss.

Skin cells renew themselves
According to experts, the process of skin cell mitosis mostly occurs between 11pm and midnight. Cell mitosis is the division of cells that happens in order to renew and repair skin. Whether you are awake or asleep, cells renew in the middle of the night; but the body repairs itself more effectively while asleep.

Rebalances hydration
When we sleep, our skin recovers moisture as the bodys hydration rebalances, while the excess water is generally processed for removal.