In addition to hearing over and over how important sunscreen is, you’ve probably also been lectured about getting enough sleep. There’s a reason why every expert pushes for this — it works.
“Nighttime is when our skin repairs and when we grow,” Dr. Wechsler noted. “That whole thing about getting your beauty sleep that my grandmother used to tell me is actually true.”
Here’s the breakdown: evening is when our stress hormones, like cortisol, are at their lowest. Healing molecules, such as growth hormone and beta endorphins are at their highest, so you want to bathe your skin in all that good stuff while cortisol is at its lowest. Cortisol breaks down your skin barrier.
She recommends getting about seven to eight hours of shut-eye per night. “When I say that to people they get really bummed because they’re not sleeping that long,” she added. “If someone is only sleeping five hours a night, I don’t tell them jump right to seven and a half. I talk to them about sleep hygiene and all that stuff — how I can get them at least a half and hour extra.” Follow these tips to pass out easier.
