Women say they need a 28 hour day just to get everything done, a study has claimed.

Six in 10 women wished they had a longer day, with respondents saying three hours and 36 minutes was the ideal amount of extra time needed to maintain their social, career and home-lives.

However, half of the 2,000 women polled by Olay were currently sacrificing sleep in order to fit things in – choosing daily exercise, additional work or making time for family and friends over having a lie-in or going to bed early.

This meant many were getting just six and a half hours sleep a night instead of the recommended eight.

One in four put their late nights down to hard work, with two-thirds shunning the traditional nine to five; getting into work before 9am and clocking out after 5pm.

More than one in 10 said they did not leave work until 7pm or later.

Nearly a fifth of women were early risers, waking up before 6am, and more than a quarter were hitting the pillow around midnight.

The research found the cost of lack of sleep included red eyes, tiredness and lack of concentration the next day, as well as dark under-eye circles and bad skin.

Dr Frauke Neuser, Olay’s Principle Scientist, said: “The research shows how women are empowering themselves and enjoying life more, but also putting in the hours at work.

“But it’s also important to take time out for yourself and enjoy some time to unwind and relax, or all the hustle and bustle can take its toll”.

The study also revealed women aged 25-35 were the most likely to prioritise socialising, hobbies and extra commitments into their day over sleep.

More than a third of women polled admitted they were conscious of what their colleagues might think of them after a late night.

As a result, women were applying more make up or spending more time brushing their teeth or fixing their hair to try and disguise their tired appearance.

Dr Frauke Neuser for Olay, which carried out the study via OnePoll.com, added: “It’s really empowering to see that so many women want to live life to its fullest but it’s important to be aware of the toll that can take, particularly on your skin.

SWNS