Up until now, you may have thought that the effects of ‘jet-lagged skin’ only occurred on changed time zones when travelling. However, truth be told, the simple daylight saving change we go through twice a year is enough to impact your health and especially that of your skin. Why? Because that change in hour disrupts our sleep schedule and throws of internal body clock out of whack.
“As we head from autumn to winter, the clocks changing means not only does it get dark earlier in the day but in most cases, it is still dark when we get up in the morning too,” says Pedro Catalá, founder of Twelve Beauty. “This creates an imbalance in serotonin and melatonin levels and, as a consequence, we feel tired. This tiredness greatly impacts our complexion. Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality causes a rise in cortisol levels in the skin, a stress hormone, which leads to problems such as dullness, more pronounced fine lines, sensitive skin and even acne,” he concludes.
Beauty sleep is real and essential for healthy-looking skin. While we sleep, our cells regenerate, especially our skin cells. Therefore, any negative impact on our sleep quality will inevitably show up in our complexion. Typically, skin loses moisture, which alters its pH level leading to an increase in texture, lack of radiance and vitality.
Why don’t yogis suffer from jet-lagged skin?
For one simple reason: they meditate. And they meditate a lot. Meditation is considered an excellent way to activate the pineal gland, also called the “third eye” (a mystical and esoteric concept of an invisible eye that provides perception beyond ordinary sight), responsible for producing melatonin, the sleep hormone.
Not surprisingly, research into the link between the mind and the skin shows a strong connection between negative emotions and the presence of skin concerns such as psoriasis, eczema, acne and vitiligo (a pigmentation disorder). Also known as psycho-dermatology, studies also reveal that incorporating meditation into your daily routine can be beneficial to regulating your emotions and, subsequently, solve many skin problems.
Furthermore, the breathing techniques that accompany meditation also ensure that more oxygen reaches the skin, which is key to improving cellular health. These not only enhance the cellular repair of organs and tissues but also increase longevity. It is a true internal boost that will show up in your skin.
Nourishing remedies: Skincare to the rescue
When needing to mitigate the effects of jet lag on the skin, extra hydration is key. Not only internally but also externally.
Skincare products rich in water and that preserve internal moisture levels are a must. Ideal Moisture Level Serum is our go-to serum, capable of maintaining optimal levels of moisture in the skin by forming an invisible barrier, protecting the skin from external stressors.
Another good tip is to keep your favourite moisturising antioxidant face mist on hand and spritz skin several times a day. Ultra Revitalising Elixir is an excellent option to maintain a pH healthy and strengthen the skin barrier. All while soothing fragile and damaged skin.
“My top recommendation for jet-lagged skin, however, is Nutritive Repair Emulsion. Also known as “a good night’s sleep in a jar”, its wonderful formula soothes and calms skin suffering from high levels of cortisol,” suggests Pedro. This wonder product provides in-depth hydration and instant relief to skin thanks to its unique combination of unsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic acid and phytosterols, which are essential to regenerate and strengthen barrier function.
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