In the day and age of Botox and plastic surgery, people are going the extra mile to make themselves look younger, when in reality, all you need is a little beauty sleep. Skip the endless trials of age-defying oils and lotions, and read the following reasons on why rest is one of the best age-defying treatments out there.

During sleeping hours, especially when your body is in deep or REM sleep, your skin repairs itself. If you do not get enough sleep or are suffering from sleep deprivation, dark circles under your eyes will form, as your body has not repaired itself enough. If you are sure to get a full night of sleep, you will quickly notice that your skin has gained a more youthful appearance.

Human growth hormones are produced at high levels when we are young, yet slow down as we age. However, these hormones still get produced in lower quantities and levels during slow-wave sleep.

If you are lacking sleep and, thus, lacking these human growth hormones, you will most likely experience reduced muscle mass, sagging skin, slower metabolism, and more fat in your stomach. If you find yourself struggling to get to sleep, try to find mattresses that have better contour supportto ensure you are sleeping to the best of your ability.

The most abundant protein you can find in your body is collagen, and this protein is the major component of connective tissues, including your skin. It provides structure to your skin, giving you a youthful look. This protein is made while you sleep, so if you start to get behind on sleep, you will begin to notice visible wrinkles. There are collagen supplements you can take, however, nothing beats getting the real deal made in your very own body.

Cortisol is a stress hormone that naturally decreases when you sleep, and stress is known to cause breakouts. If you sleep a healthy amount, you will not have to worry about these stress breakouts. On the other hand, if you have constant high cortisol levels, it can easily and quickly cause acne breakouts.

Sleeping allows your skin to produce protective antioxidants that reduce damage from UV rays. If you miss out on sleep, you are missing out on these essential antioxidants. You can also take in this defense system through fruits, vegetables, and certain skincare products, but again, the easiest way to get them is by getting your beauty sleep.

Lack of sleep leads to facial inflammation and dysfunctions in your skin barrier, which causes a lack of hydration. Sleeping allows your face to stay hydrated, plump, and youthful-looking, instead of dry and flaky, so be sure to sleep that desert away.

Just like your mind, your skin has some serious stressors, too. While it may not be a new job or an important test coming up, its stressors are also significant. These include inflammation, redness, loss of moisture and elasticity, and inability to repair minor damage, such as sunburn. Sleeping gives your body and skin time to recover and fix all of those issues, leaving your skin more youthful-looking.

If you are trying to repair your skin, obviously the easy solution is getting more rest, but there are other ways to help your skin.

For starters, washing your face consistently is the first step. If you wash your face, yet still seem to struggle from looking tired, use products that contain antioxidants, like vitamin C, to help your skin repair overnight.

Consider using anti-aging skincare products as well. If you do start to use skincare products, do not apply them right before hitting the pillow. Allow the lotions, serums, oils, and any other products you might have used to sink into your skin for at least 15 minutes before you lay down to avoid them rubbing off on your sheets and pillow.

If you find your face to be drier than you would like, consider using an air humidifier. Humidifiers circulate water through the air and provide hydration continuously. Using them will help to leave you with a more youthful appearance.

Besides the scientific benefits of sleep, as Jim Butcher once said, Sleep is God. Go worship.

Want to read more about how to sleep better? Click here for more sleep inspiration.

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7 Reasons Why Sleep is One Of the Best Age-Defying Treatments - Longevity LIVE