The Effect of Sleep on Your Skin

New research at the University Hospitals Medical center in Cleveland, Ohio demonstrates that poor sleep quality impacts both skin function and signs of aging.

The study showed that poor sleepers had increased signs of skin aging and slower recovery from a variety of environmental stress factors, including disruption of the skin barrier and ultraviolet radiation.

Likewise, when asked to assess how they perceived their skin and complexion, poor sleepers also had a considerably worse opinion of their skin and facial appearance than those who did not have sleep issues.

This study is the first to conclusively demonstrate that inadequate sleep is correlated with reduced skin health and accelerated skin aging. Sleep deprived women show signs of premature skin aging and a decrease in their skin’s ability to recover after sun exposure.” Said Dr. Baron director of the Skin Study Center at UH Case Medical Center.

“Insufficient sleep has become a worldwide epidemic. While chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to medical problems such as obesity, diabetes, cancer and immune deficiency, its effects on skin function have previously been unknown."

The study results showed a significant difference in skin quality between volunteers reporting good quality sleep and those who reported poor, with the SCINEXA scoring system  skin aging assessment showing increased signs of intrinsic aging in individuals with poor sleep patterns – specifically a slackening of the skin and less elasticity.

The SCINEXA scoring system gives a lower score to better skin and the results showed that volunteers with good sleep patterns had an average score of 2.2 compared to those with poor sleep patterns who scored an average of 4.4. Likewise, the research also found that those individuals with good sleep patterns recovered quicker from environmental stress factors to the skin such as sun burn, with the study also showing the moisture retention was around 30 percent more efficient in individuals with good sleep as compared to poor sleepers.

First proof that poor sleep affects skin aging

“this research shows for the first time, that poor sleep quality can accelerate signs of skin aging and weaken the skin’s ability to repair itself at night,” said Dr. Daniel Yarosh.

“these connections between sleep and skin aging, now supported with solid scientific data, will have a profound effect on how we study skin and its functions. We see these findings as yet another way we can direct our scientific research toward the real needs of our customers who want to look their best.

The Truth About Parabens

With the long list of ingredients on many of our beauty products, there may be one key ingredient that you want to pay more attention to: parabens.  Parabens are the preservative entity of the entire cosmetic industry. They're effective and cheap and help major companies 'bottom line' when it comes to business and budgets. Unfortunately, these cheap shortcuts may be compromising your health. As preservatives, parabens are common to most cosmetic products. There has been mounting evidence that parabens are carcinogenic and estrogenic with continued use. Parabens are estrogen mimickers that are easily absorbed into the skin. As we are learning, estrogen increases may be linked to breast cancer and other illnesses. Laboratory testing has created cancer cells with parabens, so they're rightly considered carcinogenic. Yikes!

So what are you using that could be aiding to later health risks? Deodorants and antiperspirants are some of the primary sources of parabens. It's also important to recognize that whatever you spread on your skin can be absorbed into your body and potentially cause serious damage over time. Certain shampoos, conditioners, and lotions are also to blame. 

So what is one to do? Lately it seems like everywhere we turn there is a new fear or a new chemical to avoid. Avoiding parabens and other harmful chemicals requires becoming an avid label reader. Beware that products boasting "all-natural" labels can still contain harmful chemicals, including parabens, so make sure to check the list of ingredients. All it takes is a quick read of the ingredients list and you can rest easy knowing your body isn't absorbing any of those harsh chemicals. 

Healthy Oils Brings Healthy Skin in the New Year

This month, we're talking about the reparative effects of organic oils in our Evening Eye Repair Serum for your skin.  Did you know that eating healthy oils will bring additional positive effects for the skin and body?  We are highlighting two specifically - Omega-3 fatty acids and Coconut oil.

Omega-3 fatty acids - and particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) - are essential for healthy skin and hair. EPA helps regulate oil production in your skin. Having plenty of this essential fatty acid in your body keeps your skin hydrated and prevents it from drying and flaking. It can also protect and repair skin from UV damage by acting as antioxidant against harmful free radicals.

Omega-3s play an important role in weight loss by helping to burn calories before they become stored in our bodies, which means less extra weight carry. Ongoing research suggests that Omega-3 fatty acids may be able to directly influence important metabolic genes in our cells – genes that control how we synthesize glycogen and how we store and burn fat.

You can find Omega-3 fatty acids in cold water fatty fish (sardines, tuna, salmon, mackerel), as well as walnuts, canola oil and flax seed. We personally like to add a high quality flax seed meal to our food for nutty tasted that is easy to digest.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
According to a study published recently in the medical journal Obesity Research, diets rich in coconut oil can potentially stimulate weight loss by increasing the metabolism, and may aid in the prevention of obesity. Most of what we consume in the United States consists of artery-clogging, 'long-chain' saturated fats derived from grain-fed animals. But the plant-based medium chain fatty acids (or medium chain triglycerides - MCT as they are known in scientific circles) tend to digest quickly, producing energy and stimulating the metabolism, thereby helping overweight people reduce their weight.

A number of studies have found that the medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil are not readily converted into stored fats, nor can they be readily used by the body to make larger fat molecules. While you can cook with coconut oil (it has a high heat temperature).  We love to add tablespoon of coconut oil to a tropical fruit smoothie.

Whatever oils you use, make sure they are cold-pressed, extra virgin or direct from the source (mmm, seafood!), and always Be Natural!

Health Tips & Beauty Tricks: Stay Hydrated

Summer's heating up! Beat the heat by staying hydrated!

Research has shown that we begin to feel thirsty after we have lost 28% (the equivalent of two quarts) of the average 7 quarts of water in our bodies. At this point, it's important to rehydrate yourself or risk damage to your circulatory system.

But why wait until you begin to feel the effects of dehydration?

Sipping water through out the day will keep you hydrated and enable your body to flush out all of the toxins that are accumulating in your blood. The proper amount of water to drink a day varies per person, but the bottom line is this- Drink enough water so that you can urinate two quarts a day.