Anti-Aging Skin Care Strategies: 2011

sleep deprivation leaves a dull, dehydrated and wrinkled complexion. On top of that, eyes look puffy, dark and swollen with more bags than an upscale purse boutique. That’s because sleep is one of the best beauty treatments in your arsenal, so when you don’t get enough, your skin shows it. Here’s why sleep is so beneficial and how you can get more of it.

How sleep saves skin
The concept of “beauty sleep” isn’t an oldwives’ tale. Experts say sleep does affect your skin and has a variety of benefits.

Sleep increases skincare’s efficacy. Vitamins, retinoids and other ingredients lose potency after exposure to sunlight, rendering them less effective. Because there’s no sunlight at night, the products’ “anti-aging ingredients stay active longer,” according to Prevention. Consequently, they might provide more anti-aging benefits for your skin.
Sleep promotes cell turnover. Cell regeneration is the process where fresh, new skin cells replace old, dead skin. This happens quicker at night compared to daytime, Alex Khadavi, M.D., associate dermatology professor at the University of Southern California, tells Prevention.
Sleep cleans up daily damage. During the day, skin is bombarded with UV rays, pollution and other harmful environmental elements. These culprits can cause damage like dehydration, lines, wrinkles and sun spots. At night, skin repairs itself to reverse this damage. Using an antioxidant-rich night cream boosts this repair process. “If the night’s work is done more efficiently, the skin is better able to protect itself the next day,” Lise Jorgensen, vice president of global product development for Estèe Lauder, tells Notebook. Help your skin reach its protective potential by using a cream that is loaded with antioxidants and moisturizers, it hydrates, encourages cell renewal and delivers a glowing complexion.

Tips for a good night’s sleep
Many factors are crucial for getting enough sleep. Below, some advice to get you started, according to the National Sleep Foundation:

Create a sleep-friendly environment. This involves creating a space that’s dark, cool and free from distractions — yes, that includes the TV and laptop, which are actually stimulating to the brain and wake it up.
Leave work out. You want to designate your bedroom as a place for sleep and relaxation, so taking in work materials only sabotages your sleep. For many of us work also can be anxiety-provoking, which inhibits sleep.
Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows. Try a medium-firm mattress, which promotes greater comfort and better sleep than a firm mattress, according to Ladies’ Home Journal. It’s especially ideal for people with shoulder and back problems. Also, keep in mind that good mattresses last about nine to 10 years.
Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Though it’s tough to keep a consistent schedule, particularly on the weekends when we love to catch up on sleep, it’s an important part of fostering healthy sleep habits.
Take a warm bath. This helps your mind and body unwind after a long, stressful day. Don’t use hot water — it will dry your skin and zap natural oils. Try an oil bath & shower gel containing calming lavender and chamomile to relax the body along with moisturizing oils to keep skin hydrated.
Read a book or listen to relaxing music. These kinds of activities right before bed are “an automatic cue to become sleepy, making it more likely that you’ll fall asleep,” notes Janis Graham in Ladies’ Home Journal.
Don’t eat right before bedtime. If it’s possible, finish eating several hours before you plan on going to sleep.
Don’t smoke. Because cigarettes and other tobacco products are stimulants, they lead to poor sleep. (Another reason to avoid them: cigarettes are bad for your skin, causing dehydration and wrinkles.)
Skip caffeine. Caffeine in coffee, tea, soda and even chocolate can disturb your sleep. On the other hand, a cup of decaf tea before bed can promote relaxation.
Say no to alcohol. Sure, a glass of wine might relax you or make you drowsy at first. But it can lead to disrupted sleep later in the night.

The morning after
Even with a conscious effort to get plenty of sleep, sometimes it just won’t happen. Maybe you stay up too late, wake up in the middle of the night or toss and turn. Whatever the reason, your face will reveal all that exhaustion. For when your skin is looking less than luminous and rejuvenated, here are several products to replenish and revitalize tired-looking skin.