So real talk, beauty sleep is actually a thing. We know that not catching enough zzz’s can cause havoc on the way we navigate the following day (and how many times our coffee cup is refilled) but did you know that it also plays a significant role in our long-term skin health?

When we don’t get enough sleep, our skin can feel seriously out of whack. The hours that we’re asleep is our body’s opportunity to detoxify and replenish so if we’re not getting enough sleep, our body doesn’t get that opportunity to remove these toxins and instead, they show up as dull, lacklustre skin and a foggy brain. Not getting enough sleep also drops our skin’s pH levels significantly which is a key contributor to imbalances such as dehydration, redness and even breakouts.

The hours that we are asleep each night is our skin cell’s time to shine. Overnight, it hits the reset, repair and replenish buttons and works to repair DNA damage caused throughout our daily lives. This is why not only are some of our most active skincare products recommended for night usage, but we look fresher and visible more radiant after an incredible night’s sleep. It wasn’t just magic; it was actually science!

If your “I woke up like this” moment is a little less Queen B and a little more “omg make it stop”, it could be time to look at your sleep habits. Here are some of the most common culprits.

You’re not cleansing before bed

Skipping your evening cleanse has you on a one-way ticket to problematic skin where there’s no first-class seat available and the in-flight movie is terrible. Cleansing your skin at night is the perfect first step to waking up the next day with clearer and happier skin. It removes the day’s debris, dirt, makeup and SPF and prepares your skin for the incredible skincare products to follow.

Not cleansing before you go to sleep means you’re curling up with a face full of dirt and products on your skin that are only going to sink deeper into your pores. This unnecessary congestion leads to the production of blackheads, breakouts and excess oil not to mention makeup on your freshly washed sheets. When it’s so easy to grab that cleanser and refresh your complexion before bed, why wouldn’t you?

Your pillowcase is questionable

On the subject of freshly washed sheets, when was the last time yours were hung out to dry? Not regularly washing your pillowcases leads to sleeping on an excess of oil, dirt and bacteria. Yuck.

Pillowcases can be incredibly absorbent which strips your skin from its natural moisture and takes your expensive face creams with it. To make matters worse, the friction between your face and the pillow can lead to your skin dragging throughout the night and enhancing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

That’s why if you talk beauty sleep with leading skin experts, they’ll likely tell you that they sleep on a silk pillowcase. We know it sounds bougee but they’re actually super accessible and can make a huge difference to your skin health, hair health and the performance of your evening products.

You’re not maximising your skin’s overnight reset

Now that you’ve learnt your skin cells work in overdrive whilst we sleep, what products are you applying to help them out? Maximise your skin’s overnight reset by setting yourself up with a hardworking evening skincare routine.

Your evening products should focus on treating your skin and replenishing it after that thorough evening cleanse. That’s why we always recommend our Hydrate and Glow Bundle to ensure that each morning, you wake up with glowing skin. Beginning with our Hemp Facial Moisturiser, your skin is nourished with fatty acids and superb anti-inflammatories. This combination is perfect for supporting skin barrier function and calming the skin right down.

Paired with our powerhouse Hemp Face Oil it’s time for Vitamins A, B, C and E to shine. A combination of 12 skin-loving vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, our Hemp Face Oil locks in your skin’s moisture and kickstarts the overnight #glowgoals.

Your wind downtime is nowhere to be seen

We’re all guilty of it from time to time. Seriously, who hasn’t told themselves “just one more Tik Tok before bed” and without even realising, 2 more hours pass?! If you struggle to fall asleep or wake up feeling like you’ve barely caught some zzz’s, then it could be time to look at your wind-down habits.

Your phone’s brightness, even when dimmed right down, is exposing your skin to blue light. This light significantly impacts your melatonin levels which are responsible for helping you to fall asleep. Keeping you wired and buzzed to keep scrolling, blue light is a key contributor to a poor night’s sleep.

Just like UV exposure outside, constant exposure to blue light leads to long-term skin damage including uneven skin tone (dark circles, anyone?), hyperpigmentation and a breakdown of collagen. Thanks to eye strain and muscle movements to maintain focus on your device, this poor wind down habit can contribute significantly to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

So, how do we prevent unwanted skin damage but keep our socials up to date? Start implementing strict wind-down habits. Ensure that at least 1 hour before bed, your phone is put away for the evening. To help break bad habits, consider moving your phone from beside your bed to somewhere out of reach such as a dresser or in another room. Replace your screen time with a relaxing meditation, mindful journaling or even a warm bath! Your mind and skin will thank you for it.

How many of these sleep habits are you guilty of? The best part of identifying them is that you can totally change them for the better! Start implementing these skin-loving sleep habits tonight and watch your skin totally transform.