Does lack of sleep show on your skin?
Yes, other people can see it. In controlled studies, the same faces were rated as more tired and less healthy after short nights. Those studies measure how people look to others rather than lasting skin damage. The fix isn't a product: it's more sleep. A wind-down routine can help you get there, and a mask can be part of it if you enjoy one.
What the research found
- In a 2010 study in the BMJ, 23 young adults were photographed after normal sleep and after sleep deprivation. Sixty-five observers who didn't know which was which rated the sleep-deprived photos as less healthy, less attractive and more tired.
- In a 2017 study, 25 people were photographed after two days of restricted sleep. Raters saw them as less attractive, less healthy and sleepier, and were less inclined to socialise with them.
Both studies were small, and they measured how others perceived a face rather than anything about the skin itself. They don't tell us about long-term effects. But they do fit with what most of us see in the mirror.
What about tired-looking skin?
Flat-looking skin has other possible causes besides sleep, such as sun, dry air and stress. If you're run down and it's lasting, see your GP, because being tired all the time is worth looking into for its own sake.
On the day, a gentle wash, a moisturiser and maybe a mask can leave your skin feeling fresher. Here's how to match a formula to your skin. It's a temporary lift.
A simple wind-down
Southern Cross's sleep tips cover the common ground:
- Go to bed and get up at around the same time each day.
- Avoid screens in the last hour before bed.
- Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and cool (15 to 20 degrees is ideal).
- Do something calming before bed, such as reading or having a bath.
If trouble sleeping lasts for a month or more, they suggest getting medical advice.
A sample evening
| Before bed | What |
|---|---|
| 90 minutes | Phone on charge, away from where you're sitting |
| 60 minutes | Warm shower, wash your face |
| 45 minutes | Mix a mask and lie back for 15 to 20 minutes, if you'd like one |
| 20 minutes | Peel, rinse and moisturise |
| Bedtime | A book until you can't keep your eyes open |
If you'd like a mask in that slot, Rose suits it: a gentle rose scent and an excuse to put your phone down. We're not claiming it will help you sleep. It's a pleasant 20 minutes that fits into a routine that might. Check you're not sensitive to scented ingredients first, and take the mask off before bed. Sleeping masks are a different product.
Short night, big day
If you know tonight will be short, keep things familiar. It's not the moment to try a new product. See when to do a face mask before an event.
Questions
Is beauty sleep real?
In a sense, yes. Studies have found the same faces are rated as more tired and less healthy after short nights. They measure how people look to others, not long-term changes in skin.
Can a face mask make up for bad sleep?
No. It can help your skin feel fresher for a while, but it doesn't replace sleep.
This is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your skin, see your GP or a skin specialist.
Sources
- Beauty sleep: experimental study on the perceived health and attractiveness of sleep deprived people, Axelsson and colleagues, BMJ, 2010
- Negative effects of restricted sleep on facial appearance and social appeal, Sundelin and colleagues, Royal Society Open Science, 2017
- Tips for a better night's sleep, Southern Cross