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Does the age-old advice about getting your beauty sleep have any scientific backing? Yes. Night-time is your skin’s rejuvenation period, and working with it can make a real difference to your skincare routine.
Research has shown that our skin, much like the rest of the body, operates on a circadian rhythm — in simpler terms, it knows when it is night and day. A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that the expression of certain genes related to skin health follows a circadian pattern, influencing various functions through the day.
This rhythm plays a crucial role in orchestrating the cellular activities that happen at different times of day, regulating stem cell function and affecting the regeneration process.
What Happens When We Sleep?
One of the key processes is cellular turnover, when old or damaged cells are replaced with new, healthy ones. Skin cells, including keratinocytes, fibroblasts and melanocytes, repair and regenerate damaged tissue, and the peak of cell proliferation and turnover occurs during the late night and early morning hours. Increased blood flow to the skin also delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to skin cells, supporting repair and regeneration and contributing to a healthier, more even complexion.
Collagen, the protein responsible for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness, takes centre stage during the night: its production increases while we sleep, aiding the repair and strengthening of the skin’s structure. Our complexion also gets a respite from environmental stressors such as UV radiation and pollution, so it can focus on repair without external interference.
Crafting the Perfect Night-time Routine
To make the most of night-time rejuvenation, start with a thorough cleanse to rid your skin of the day’s impurities and let it breathe freely. Follow up with a nourishing moisturiser — like Radical Night Repair from ZO Skin Health — which is formulated to improve texture and uneven pigmentation and to minimise the appearance of fine lines.
Don’t stop there. Incorporate targeted treatments such as serums or masks to address specific concerns like hydration, ageing or brightening. I love ZO’s Firming Serum, a mild, lightweight and tolerable formulation for all skin types that supports visible improvement in skin elasticity and firmness.
And don’t forget the delicate eye area, so that it looks rested when you wake up. It is particularly susceptible to signs of ageing, so keep ZO’s Eye Brightening Crème close to hand: it is designed to help minimise puffiness, dark circles and fine lines.
