Tired Eyes/Beauty Sleep
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Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:24 am

Now I know why sufficient rest is so important. I recently started working 2 jobs, which sometimes means working from 7 in the morning until 2 in the morning, and then repeat that a few days in a row. Isn't that 19 hours? LOL Ugh. I think it's going to get a little less intense soon.

The real reason for this post. When I don't get enough sleep, under my eyes starts to look really awful. Actually the entire eye area looks awful. Whites of eyes look dingy, not white and blood shot. Under eye area has dark circles and lines that are never there otherwise. The lines are seriously deep, versus what they normally look like. It looks like I developed deep wrinkles overnight. Usually I have a couple over very tiny fine lines that a normal person wouldn't notice. This morning it looks like someone chiseled some some cracks into the flesh under my eyes. Besides sleep, what can I do?

My current face regime:

A.M.
PSF Gentle Castile with Clarsonic Mia
PSF BHA 2%
Emu oil if very dry
Burnout Kids Sunscreen
Makeup

P.M. PSF Gentle Castile on Clarasonic Mia
Retin A .025%

I don't use an eye cream ever. I do not use a moisturizer at night. Advice is welcome and appreciated.

Thank you!

free skin care · Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:14 am

Wow, good for you cat301, for not losing your mind doing that! I could NOT and will not go without sleep like that ever again.

I'm going to sound like a broken record, but my vote would be for OCM massage. When I get tired I start to kinda go expressionless, and feel like my face doesn't get much circulation. There are techniques (Tanaka massage, for example) where it helps drain the lymphatic system, and help with eye puffiness. If they are deep lines, its probably just a fold from the puffiness, not really a line thats etched into your skin yet, if that makes sense?

Other than that, I guess all the solutions for tired eyes... cool things applied, certain eye gels (with fennel) for reducing the puffiness etc. If you don't feel you need one normally, a moisturizer/heavy eye cream MAY not be necessary, so instead focus on the helpful ingredients in whatever topical you might use. (I'm guessing you wouldn't want to trap moisture in an overly puffy eye... just my hunch, not sure.)

I hope you're drinking PLENTY of water and making sure you're getting enough (fish) oils in your diet, since for me tired eyes = dried out eyes. Maybe some natural eyedrops would be helpful - don't get the stuff that takes the red out etc, which I hear is bad with continued use. Just get something which comforts and is wet and soothing, if you think it'd feel good. Try and take some time out during the day to close your eyes for a minute or two - even if its in the washroom!

That's all just my gut feeling based on my experience when tired. I'm sure you'll get loads of helpful posts. All the best and try to get some rest soon. Its really important!

free skin care · Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:04 pm

Great advice Lori A. I would also suggest investigating supplements for eyes. May also want to take a low dose melatonin so you get maximum sleep in the time you have. There is no substitute for a good nights' sleep.

free skin care · Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:34 am

Healthy eating! Eat little and often, protein combined with low glycaemic index wholegrain carbs. DO NOT resort to sugars, white carbs or caffeine to keep you alert as this will affect sleep quality and skin health. The body becomes less efficient at correctly processing carbs the more sleep deprived you are. Plenty of water, fruit and veg because a 1% drop in hydration is associated with a 5% fall in (fitness) performance, and reduced mental performance.

Artificial tears/ hyaluronic acid eye drops. You might consider a low molecular weight hyaluronic acid supplement to help your skin and eyes maintain hydration. Please don't take any sleep supplement, natural or otherwise, if you have to drive the next morning.

free skin care · Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:36 am

Firefox7275 wrote:

Please don't take any sleep supplement, natural or otherwise, if you have to drive the next morning.

Does that include melatonin too?

free skin care · Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:28 pm

circus wrote:

Does that include melatonin too?

Yes.

free skin care · Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:39 am

I take melatonin almost every night and drive the next morning. I recently attended a course on sleep, sleep deprivation, the value and purpose of sleep in establishing brain function etc and in the entire 6 hour course there was no mention of not driving after melatonin.
I'd like to know more about not driving the next day....
Can you please elaborate? Thank you.

free skin care · Thu Dec 22, 2011 10:55 am

sister sweets wrote:

I take melatonin almost every night and drive the next morning. I recently attended a course on sleep, sleep deprivation, the value and purpose of sleep in establishing brain function etc and in the entire 6 hour course there was no mention of not driving after melatonin.
I'd like to know more about not driving the next day....
Can you please elaborate? Thank you.

Sure! No doubt you are aware that winter/ early mornings are associated with an increased risk of road traffic accidents, as is driver tiredness? Note that my comment was directed at the OP who admits to being chronically sleep deprived with as little as five hours between shifts. It is my understanding that there is presently insufficient scientific evidence to say conclusively whether melatonin does or does not have a 'hangover' effect as reported anecdotally. This is all I found on Pubmed

A 2006 review published in the highly respected British Medical Journal found that "... there is no evidence that melatonin is effective in treating secondary sleep disorders or sleep disorders accompanying sleep restriction, such as jet lag and shiftwork disorder."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1370968/?tool=pmcentrez

A 1998 study found "On each testing day, melatonin 5 mg or placebo was taken at 1630 h; 60 minutes later a test series was performed ... The overall result of the computer test battery showed no objective adverse impact of melatonin on driving performance. However, due to the increased subjective sleepiness after administration of this hormone, caution should be exercised when driving under the influence of melatonin."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9772309

A 2008 study investigated "The effects of therapeutic oral doses of [a prolonged-release formulation of melatonin] (2 mg), zolpidem (10 mg) and their combination administered at bedtime on cognitive functions in healthy subjects aged 55 years and older (12 males + 4 females, age 59.4 +/- 3.2 years) were assessed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and four-way crossover study. Psychomotor functions, memory recall, and driving skills were assessed at 1 and 4 h following administration and the next morning ...

CONCLUSIONS:
... PR-M use was not found associated with impairment of psychomotor functions, memory recall, and driving skills, and point to a pharmacodynamic interaction between melatonin and GABA-A modulators."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18763235

I have chronic insomnia myself but have never been to a seminar. Confused

What were the medical qualifications of those running the workshop you attended?

free skin care · Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:05 am

I have used melatonin some and my husband uses it nightly. I have found something else that I like even better and it is "calm" a magnesium drink.
http://www.drugstore.com/natural-vitality-natural-calm-powder-organic-cherry/qxp346873
It works like a charm and no crazy dreams like I can get with melatonin. I actually use the one without flavoring...just plain.

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