Hi! It's Niambi, Pholk founder. With shorter days, soft sweaters, warming beverages, and lots and lots of candles, Fall is the comfort season. I don't know about you, but the gray sky and longer nights got me thinking about sleep. I've been travelling quite a bit for Pholk, so sleep is often on my mind.  And that got me thinking - is beauty sleep real? So, I put on my research hat and did some digging.

Although not every sleep scientist thinks that we need more sleep in Fall, everyone agrees that, yesssss, beauty sleep is indeed real. Numerous studies have shown that getting an adequate amount of sleep, typically 7-9 hours, can dramatically improve our skin!

During the day, your skin is busy protecting you from external elements such as UV rays, pollution, and pathogens. When you sleep, the skin has a chance to regenerate and repair itself, preparing for the challenges of the following day.

Folks who get enough sleep tend to retain more moisture in their skin, which helps keep the skin hydrated and glowy. Additionally, the skin tends to heal quicker and recover from sun damage and inflammation. It also lowers our cortisol level, which helps reduce acne flareups and hyperpigmentation.

And no, It’s not just your imagination that well-rested skin looks younger too. During sleep, blood flow to the skin increases, which can improve the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells. This increased blood flow can lead to improved skin texture and a more radiant complexion. Moreover, collagen, which is essential for maintaining the elasticity and firmness of the skin, is rebuilt during sleep.  

That’s not all! The muscles in your face relax after a long day, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Now does this mean that you can skip your nightly skincare routine and let sleep work its magic?  Uh, nope.  In fact, studies show that nighttime is the right time for replenishing skin because products boost your natural repair cycle.  

To truly get the most out of your beauty sleep we recommend:

• Washing your face with a gentle face cleanser
• Liberally hydrating skin with a facial mist
• Sealing in hydration with a moisturizer
• Sleeping with a humidifier to maximize hydration

So, this is your invitation to give into the Fall weather’s temptation of cozying up to more sleep. You’ll wake up to your dreamiest skin of ever.

Need nighttime product recommendations? Check out our Beauty Sleep edit here!