mc: Does our skin behave differently during the night compared to during the day?
Dr. Nadine Pernodet: Many studies show that skin’s activities at night are different at night than during the day. Nighttime is when skin repairs and recovers from the day’s damage and prepares itself for the next day. Also, each night, skin’s natural collagen and elastin production peaks and skin barrier permeability increases, lending to greater moisture loss.
mc: Do our natural circadian rhythms have an effect on our skin?
NP: Like our entire body, skin has a circadian rhythm. It repairs at night and protects by day. At night, skin enters its natural renewal process; skin’s temperature rises and moisture loss peaks.
mc: Can a lack of sleep effect how quickly we age?
NP: Estée Lauder commissioned an independent clinical study with University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center to discover the impact chronic lack of sleep has on skin function and appearance. For the first time, the study — “Effects of Sleep Quality on Skin Aging and Function”—showed that lack of sleep can accelerate signs of skin aging.
mc: Should we use different skincare for night time?
NP: Select products that support skin’s natural moisture content and help activate the skin’s natural nighttime rhythm [such as] retinol, which helps promote skin cell turnover and exfoliation.
mc: Are there any products you recommend to repair skin overnight?
NP: It is important to use a repair serum at night which helps [undo] the damage accumulated during the day from environmental exposure.
Try: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, 75ml $195
This cult night worker uses super hydrator hyaluronic acid as well as a high tech ingredient called ChronoluxCB which helps boost our skin’s natural night time repair. Come morning, skin is prepped, glowing and better able to cope with whatever your day throws at it.
Other products to put on the nightshift:
Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Transformation Gel, $48
Added AHAs help smooth skin texture, even out skin tone and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles while you get your Zs.
Omorovicza Rejuvenating Night Cream, $239
Rich and nourishing, this night cream boasts colloidal gold, vitamins A and C as well as omega 6 to restore skin suppleness while you slumber.
Mario Badescu Seaweed Night Cream, $35
This vegan night cream is oil-free yet manages to soften dull and dehydrated skin over night thanks to added hyaluronic acid, seaweed and collagen.
Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate 30ml, $72
Dosed with evening primrose oil, lavender essential oil and Squalane, this super hydrating night time oil will have you waking up with hydrated and more radiant skin.
Glam Glow Good In Bed Passionfruit Softening Night Cream, $86
A cocktail of AHA, BHA and PHA to exfoliate and hyaluronic acid to add moisture, this night time product gets skin glowing by morning.
Sephora Collection Overnight Firming Cream, $38
Rich in texture with added fruits acid and natural peptides, this night cream give skin a big dose of nourishment in the wee hours.
