Beauty sleep is real, it's free, and it can start for you tonight!

Do you get your 8 hours of well deserved beauty sleep? If you're not, then here's a little of why you should start.

You've probably already noticed that when you skimp on sleep, it shows on your face. Tired skin sags, bags, and loses its luster.

Lack of sleep causes blood vessels to dilate, causing the look of dark circles. Sleepily rubbing your eyes doesn't help those dark rings. Not enough sleep can also make you more stressed, and everyone can see that tension.  It makes you look angry, tired, sad, and certainly older.

If you're up late drinking and smoking, that's more bad news for your skin. Alcohol affects sleep quality, leaving bags under your eyes. Smoking leads to premature wrinkles. That can all start changing the next time you slip between the sheets. 

More than one-quarter of the U.S. population report occasionally not getting enough sleep, while nearly 10 percent — or 30 million Americans — experience chronic insomnia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And more than 7 percent of Americans have obstructive sleep apnea interrupting their sleep, according to various studies.

Your skin, and your whole body, goes into repair mode when you sleep. While you sleep, your skin renews itself. New skin cells grow and replace older cells. It's repairing and restoring and rebalancing. It's also a time when all sorts of hormonal and metabolic changes happen in and the body, including your skin. A lack of sleep can disrupt those processes.

Of course, you need good sleep for your whole body, not just your skin. Chronic sleep problems are linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and depression. That's all the more reason to get your sleep back on track.

The good news here is that the skin recovers quickly, so hit the sheets tonight and tomorrow night and get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep and you'll notice just how rested and happy you look! However, don't oversleep as that can cause cell breakdown. Thank you for reading today and have a wonderful well-rested Sunday!

~Ashley, Esthetician with Le Reve Organic Spa and Boutique