You’ve probably heard the term “beauty sleep.” But is it actually real, or is it a myth, an old wives’ tale? In this article, we’ll show you the very real benefits of beauty sleep as an aid for improving your appearance, and how it’s not just a fairy story. 

When you’re not getting enough sleep, your face becomes paler and the blood vessels under your eyes become more visible. With the proper amount of shuteye – at least 8-10 hours for full grown adults – you’ll reduce your chances of waking up with that raccoon eye look every morning.

When you don’t get enough sleep at night, you may wake up with red eyes. Sleeping through the night allows your eyes to rest and receive oxygen through your blood. It also allows your eyes to naturally produce lubricant. A lack of oxygen is what causes the blood vessels in your eyes to dilate and appear red. And a lack of lubricant can make your eyes feel itchy and irritated.

When your head is reclined, the better your blood circulates. This means that there is blood circulating throughout the skin on your face, keeping it healthy and vital. On the other hand, when you don’t get much sleep and you’re up all night, your skin becomes pale and your face drawn. 

According to WebMD, your skin produces collagen while you’re asleep. Collagen is a protein that helps keep your skin strong and elastic. You may have heard of people taking supplements to increase their collagen levels, but getting a good night’s rest can help in this area, too. The result will be improved wrinkles and fine lines.

Ah, the holy grail: making skin look more youthful. Sleep can actually help with this, believe it or not. With your dark circles no longer so prominent, your red, itchy eyes clear, and your skin looking vibrant and plump with fewer lines, you’ll look younger longer. Now that’s beauty sleep.

In addition to making sure your bedroom is comfortable so that you can get a good night’s sleep, here are three things you can do to improve the beauty-enhancing portion of your snooze.

Washing your face before you go to bed will clear out all the toxins from the previous day out of your skin. These toxins, oils, and bacteria might otherwise clog your pores and cause acne or inflammation the next day.

Changing your pillowcase at least once a week is essential to prevent bacteria, dust mites, and dead skin cells from collecting on the fabric and getting into your skin pores. These types of detritus and gunk may cause you to develop acne on your face and neck. It also doesn’t smell very good, which means you won’t smell good after sleeping on it.

Changing your pillowcase at least once a week is essential to prevent bacteria, dust mites, and dead skin cells from collecting on the fabric and getting into your skin pores. These types of detritus and gunk may cause you to develop acne on your face and neck. It also doesn’t smell very good, which means you won’t smell good after sleeping on it.