Orgasms are worth pursuing for their own sake, but it doesn’t hurt to know about the mood, beauty, and health benefits of sex. Its improvements on physical appearance are numerous and even a little surprising. It’s almost as if a lot of the time we spend doing our makeup might as well be spent in the sack.

And while orgasms are awesome (had you heard?), sex researcher Nicole Prause, Ph.D., says they aren’t even required to get the added beauty bonuses of sex: Any level of sexual pleasure or even just arousal can have the same effects.

Here are a few beauty perks that come from an exciting sex life:

1. Healthy skin

Since orgasms release oxytocin (a hormone that accompanies pleasure) and decrease cortisol (which signals stress), you’re less likely to break out or get rashes if you’re enjoying partner or solo sex regularly, says makeup artist Sandy Taylor. Orgasms also give you a radiant flush by increasing blood and oxygen flow to your face, and they fight acne by balancing out hormone levels, says Tristan Weedmark, We-Vibe’s global passion ambassador.

2. Fuller lips

Your lips aren’t exempt from the boost in blood flow to your face, so they could look thicker and plumper, post-romp. “It’s like the Too Faced Lip Injection, but better,” says makeup artist Alice Radu.

3. Lush hair

The improvement in circulation you get from orgasming also goes to your scalp, says Radu. “Intimacy will leave you with stronger, shinier, and longer-looking locks.”

4. Beauty sleep

Having a good time on top of your sheets helps you fall asleep when you get between them—and sleep impacts nearly every part of your appearance. Better sleep is also one of the biggest health benefits of sex. Here’s why: Postsex prolactin helps you doze off quicker, says Radu, and the oxytocin and vasopressin orgasms release make you sleep more soundly, adds Weedmark.

5. A youthful appearance

Since orgasms help keep your blood pressure low, they slow down the aging process, says Weedmark. They also boost your estrogen levels, increasing collagen. Plus, the improvement in your sleep diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and lines, says Taylor.

6. Confidence

Multiple studies have found that sex and masturbation increase your confidence, and confidence is truly the most attractive trait. “The oxytocin released during orgasm makes us happier,” says Weedmark. “And as beauty icon Audrey Hepburn said, ‘Happy girls are the prettiest.'”