Sleep For Younger Looking Skin: This Week on AOL Health

You can slather on as many creams, masques and potions as you want during the day, but the real miracle-worker for skin is sleep.

When you slide between the sheets at night, hormonal changes occur in your body that boost blood flow to the skin, brightening it overnight. Plus, not only have studies shown that cell turnover happens eight times faster at night, combating wrinkles and making them appear softer, but those creams, masques and potions are more effective thanks to an increase in body temperature.

But if you wake up looking more like Hellraiser than Sleeping Beauty, you're either pulling an all-nighter or not getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Not only do sleepless nights emphasize dark circles under your eyes, but they can result in an increased level of the stress hormone cortisol, which can slow collagen, create a haven for wrinkles and promote belly fat.

For tips on how to get the most out of your nighttime sleep regimen, check out Aol Health.

Having trouble getting your Z's? Use exercise to tire you out enough for some decent shuteye.