Sleep Yourself Young

Legendary Friends actress, Courteney Cox, has revealed that ‘sleep and water’ are her simple secrets to looking youthful. She looks fantastic given that she’s a year off turning 50. Here’s hoping I look as good as she does when I’m that age!

And it’s true that sleep keeps you looking young. When you’re fast asleep, the body goes into repair mode and regenerates skin, blood and brain cells, as well as muscles.

If you sleep badly, you are likely to become stressed, and this can cause the capillaries to tighten up, affecting the flow of nutrients to the skin and scalp and causing the skin and hair to look dull.

And research undertaken by the Skin Study Centre at University Hospitals in Ohio has demonstrated how lack of sleep accelerates skin ageing.  They studied the skin of 30 women aged 30-49 who had poor quality sleep compared to 30 who had good rest.  Those with less rest had more fine lines, uneven pigmentation, and slacker, less elastic skin. And that’s before you even think about eye bags and shadows!

Never underestimate the value of a good night’s sleep. If you find it hard to get sleep take a look at your sleeping environment – is it conducive to good night’s kip? Make sure the temperature is right, that it’s dark and free from gadgets. More importantly make sure that you are sleeping on a comfortable bed.

After all, the phrase ‘beauty sleep’ didn’t come from nowhere!