Sleep: The Best Beauty Product

I tend to avoid the news whenever possible because its just depressing. I do, however, like to go through the "Science" and "Health" sections of Google News.  Recently this article came across my news feed.

We all know that sewing while tired is a bad idea. Nothing sucks more than realizing you just serged the wrong two seams together and there was no wiggle room for error in the fabric left. Being tired makes those kind of mistakes more prevalent.

And since many of us in the sewing corner of the internet are also interested in looking our best, there's something else sleep can do for us.  Remember the old saying "I need my beauty sleep"? Well, now there's scientific precedence to back it up!  Digging up this article on WebMD further studies show this:

6. Lack of Sleep Ages Your Skin
Most people have experienced sallow skin and puffy eyes after a few nights of missed sleep. But it turns out that chronic sleep loss can lead to lackluster skin, fine lines, and dark circles under the eyes.
When you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. In excess amounts, cortisol can break down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.
Sleep loss also causes the body to release too little human growth hormone. When we’re young, human growth hormone promotes growth. As we age, it helps increase muscle mass, thicken skin, and strengthen bones.
“It’s during deep sleep -- what we call slow-wave sleep -- that growth hormone is released,” says Phil Gehrman, PhD, CBSM, assistant professor of psychiatry and clinical director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. “It seems to be part of normal tissue repair -- patching the wear and tear of the day.”

That's right, a good night's sleep can do more for your complexion that Dove or Oil of Olay. Not that there is anything wrong with a good moisturizer. I still say Mom's beauty advise was the best I have ever gotten.

"Getting a good night sleep, moisturizer, and avoiding too much sun are the best recipe for beautiful skin. Oh, and always wear a good bra."  - Mama Katza

So what do ya'll think? Did you know this already or is this a revelation? What do you do to make sure you get enough sleep?  I know, particularly for us working Mom's that it can be very hard to take care of everything we need to but maybe watching out for yourself in this way is the best thing you can do for success.

Since I'm on vacation the rest of the week,  I look forward to an inbox full of thoughtful discussion. Cheers!

In closing, I leave you with this little tip for success: