Regardless of how much you spend on beauty products and facials, skimping on sleep will cause your skin to look dull and tired. We takes a look at why this relaxing activity does so much for your skin and health.

We spend so much time popping vitamin pills and making sure we eat the right amount of nutrients so that we stay healthy. Why it is then that some of us are guilty of not doing the most basic thing our body requires? The crime? Not getting the adequate amount of sleep.

Studies over the years have shown how important sleep is to a human being, especially when it comes to getting the right amount of rest. Cut down on your hours, and you can be sure that it will show on your skin and eventually on your health.

Because of its effect on the skin, the hours you spend snoozing at the end of the day is also called beauty sleep. And this phrase is coined for these particular reasons:

• Your skin's cell renewal process takes place when you sleep, allowing new cells to grow and old ones to repair.
• At its relaxed state, your skin is able to absorb the nutrients from your moisturiser better, protecting your skin from further damages.
• Improves the texture and luminosity of your skin.
• Having the right amount of sleep will allow you to relax and rejuvenate, so that tiredness and lethargy do not show on your skin, especially under the eyes.

Lack of sleep leaves us feeling irritable and lethargic, which in turn will disrupt our productivity the next day. Continue having too little sleep over days and your health will eventually be affected.

The first place where tiredness shows is on your skin. When we do not receive the required amount of sleep, the most noticeable is in the fragile skin under your eyes.

Sleepless nights cause fine lines, dark circles and puffy bags. On top of that, your skin will eventually look dull and haggard, as you do not give it enough time to repair and rejuvenate.

Sleep also reduces stress hormones, which will effectively improve your skin condition. Studies have also shown that sufficient rest and sleep controls your cortical level, which directly controls your appetite. With this in mind, when you slack on the hours of sleep, your appetite increases, resulting in increased fat deposition around the abdomen.

But the question remains: how much sleep do we need? Sleep experts say that eight hours per night is ideal. Also, it is not just the hours that count, but also the quality of sleep you get. No point having 10 hours of sleep if you find yourself waking up every hour.

Aim to go to bed before 10pm or 11pm, as this is the time when your sleep will be most productive. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is also essential for your body to get use to the idea of the sleep it needs.

Who doesn't want to have enough hours of sleep? But the problem is, can we afford it? With work responsibilities and family matters to take care of, it is no wonder why people these days find themselves with less and less hours to sleep. Also, as our lives become more demanding, stress levels increase, resulting in sleep that is disturbed and unfulfilling. It is no wonder why many of us are complaining about the lack of sleep!

There are many other reasons for this lack of sleep and while you may think the solutions are nearly impossible, especially with the amount of hours you lay awake at night but falling asleep like a baby is actually a possibility. A lot of it comes from you - how you prepare yourself for sleep, what you do during the day that can help bring better sleep towards night time, the things you surround yourself with prior to bed time and more. Need the extra hours so that you don't look tired and run down? Try some of our sleep-well tips and see how they work their wonders on you I

Keep It Still And Quiet

While it's common sense, many still don't realise that the reason why they are not able to sleep is because they are surrounded by so much noise! Here, we are talking about both physical and mental noise. If you are the type to blast your radio or leave your TV on to go to sleep, it is no wonder why you are not able to sleep snugly.

All that additional noise will only disturb your peace, not allowing you to unwind and relax at all. Also, if you are constantly thinking and worrying about things, it will create an emotional noise within that is constantly buzzing, even when you are trying to sleep. As hard as it may seem, try to clear your mind of any deadlines, stress matters and responsibilities before you sleep to help enable better rest. Do you live in a noisy apartment area? Your solution here can simply be a pair of earplugs to drown out the noise surrounding you.

Keep The Bedroom Clear Of Work And Other Things Non-Sleep Related

As much as you like to spend time in your room, remember that it is not a place to do work/eat/watch television, especially on your bed.

Your bed should only be used for one thing - sleep. Keep the TV and DVD set out of the bedroom so you can rest properly.

Watch What You Eat and Drink Prior TO Sleep

Steer clear of alcohol and caffeine at least a few hours before you sleep. While alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, it is also the number one reason why you find yourself awake in the middle of the night. Also, caffeine will only leave you feeling a buzz, which is not a place you want to be before you fall asleep. Also, refrain from having a heavy meal before your bedtime. This will only make you feel uncomfortable and unable to rest easy when it is time to sleep.

Most Importantly, Relax!

Why go to bed feeling rushed and stressed out? Not only will this disturb your sleep, you can be sure that you will wake up the very next day feeling exactly the same, if not worst! Learn to relax your mind before you head to bed. Some suggestions? Try simple breathing exercises to help you unwind or turn on a relaxing classical CD to bring your senses to a rest. If you have the time, take a hot bath or shower to soothe those muscles.

Sleepless nights cause fine lines, dark circles and puffy bags. On top of that, your skin will eventually look dull and haggard, as you do not give it enough time to repair and rejuvenate