Dr Bollmann, Skin Care Specialist, Anti-Aging Expert

Most people have experienced sallow skin and puffy eyes after a few nights of missed sleep. But it turns out that chronic sleep loss can lead to lackluster skin (https://www.naturalacneclinic.com/blog/complete-guide-to-understanding-human-skin), fine lines, and dark circles under the eyes.

When you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. In excess amounts, cortisol can break down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.

Sleep loss also causes the body to release too little human growth hormone. When we’re young, human growth hormone promotes growth. As we age, it helps increase muscle mass, thicken skin, and strengthen bones.

“It’s during deep sleep -- what we call slow-wave sleep -- that growth hormone is released,” says sleep expert Phil Gehrman, PhD. “It seems to be part of normal tissue repair -- patching the wear and tear of the day.”

To help with this tissue repair, and to increase collagen production, our Basic Bare Skin Care Program contains all the ingredients you need to bring the skin back to optimum health, including our new retinaldyhyde Bare Skin Care "A" serum, better than retinol and less irritating than Retin-A.