Sleep often feels like one of life’s most elusive (and expendable) commodities. However, while you may think the impact of insufficient ZZZs is limited to how you feel the next day, a growing body of evidence indicates that lack of sleep also has a significant effect on how you look. Here’s a closer look at three reasons why getting a good night’s sleep should be viewed as an important part of any beauty regimen.

1. Sleep keeps skin youthful.

Who doesn’t want clearer, brighter, more youthful-looking skin? While there’s no such thing as a “fountain of youth,” sleep may be the next best thing -- at least when it comes to minimizing signs of intrinsic skin aging, such as fine lines, uneven pigmentation, skin slackening, and loss of elasticity. According to a study conducted by University Hospitals Case Medical Center and published in Science News, poor sleepers showed “increased signs of skin aging and slower recovery from a variety of environmental stressors, such as disruption of the skin barrier or ultraviolet (UV) radiation.”

2. Sleep prevents dark circles under the eyes.

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but are you really putting your best face forward when you have dark under eye circles? While this phenomenon is partly hereditary, environmental factors also come into play. In fact, according to the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, “There is no doubt that [dark circles] are worsened by general fatigue, especially lack of sleep.”

3. Sleep impacts how you’re perceived by others.

While beauty comes from the inside out and feeling great about yourself is a major part of that equation, the reality is that impressions are important, and sleep deprivation can directly impact the impression you make on others. In fact, according to research from Swedish published in the British Medical Journal, people who don’t get enough sleep appear less attractive to observers. Conversely, looking wide awake offers a natural beauty boost.

The takeaway? While the concept of “beauty sleep” may sound like something your mom said to get you to go to bed earlier at night, the science backs her up. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to sleep better, including setting and sticking with a sleep schedule; avoiding caffeine and other stimulants; creating a comfortable and screen-free “sleep zone;” and exercising -- but not just before bed. Your health -- and your looks! -- will thank you for it.

About the Author: Jane Pitte Jane founded Sheer Miracle Mineral Makeup in 2004 after a lifetime of searching for makeup and skincare that didn't irritate her ULTRA-sensitive skin. Sheer Miracle offers minimalist mineral makeup and organic skincare handmade weekly by real humans. When she's not playing with makeup, you'll find her sneaking off with her husband on weekend getaways, planting lots of flowers, making the hottest, tastiest pico de gallo with her kids or spoiling her two Japanese Chins - Rocco and Bailey - half to death.