While we sleep, we give our bodies a rest. Our skin, however, remains active. It continues to protect us from external influences, regulates moisture levels, and works continuously on its natural renewal and regeneration processes. The skin renews cells, processes the stresses of the day, and works to maintain its natural protective function.
These processes are controlled, among other things, by the so-called circadian rhythm, the body's internal clock. It influences how the skin behaves throughout the day and night.
Anyone who understands what happens to the skin at night can better tailor their own skincare routine to its needs. Because good skincare does not start in the morning, but already in the evening.
What happens to our skin at night?
Our skin performs important tasks around the clock. During the day, protection from external influences is primarily the focus, UV radiation, dry air, temperature differences, and environmental stresses challenge the natural skin barrier. At night, some of these processes change. The skin continues to follow its internal clock and goes through phases in which cell division, renewal, and repair play an important role. The blood circulation and the skin's water balance also change during the day.
At the same time, the skin is not simply in protection mode during the day and repair mode at night. Both tasks occur continuously. Only their weighting and certain physiological processes change. For skincare, this means: A gentle cleansing in the evening helps to remove dirt, makeup, and sunscreen. Afterwards, skincare tailored to the skin type can help the skin maintain its moisture balance and preserve its protective function.
Why can the skin feel dry in the morning?
The fact that the skin feels tight in the morning, even though you moisturized it in the evening, can have several reasons: Overnight, the body continuously loses water. This is a completely natural process that is known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL). How much water the skin loses depends, among other things, on the function of the skin barrier, the environment, and the time of day. At night, water loss can be higher under certain conditions than during the day.
If the skin is already dry or its barrier function is impaired, this can become noticeable in the morning through feelings of tightness or rough patches of skin. That is why it is worth considering the evening skincare not just as a cleansing step. It also offers the opportunity to supply the skin with moisture and limit moisture loss with suitable skincare.
What does the skin need in the evening?
An effective evening routine does not have to be complicated. The important thing is that the individual steps work together sensibly and suit the needs of your skin.
So after a gentle cleansing, you should supply it with enough moisture and support the skin barrier. If your skin is dry or prone to feelings of tightness, a cream with suitable nourishing lipids can be useful. Ingredients such as ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids are important components of the skin barrier. Selected plant oils and fats can also care for the skin and help preserve moisture. It is important that the skincare suits your skin.
Does the skin need a special night cream at night?
Many night creams are formulated richer than day care. This can be useful if the skin is dry or needs additional lipids. However, a special night cream is not fundamentally necessary. The important thing is that the formulation meets the needs of your skin. Especially with dry or sensitive skin, it is worth setting on a clear skincare routine.
Your perfect morning ritual in a few steps: Why the skin needs skincare now
After a night full of physiological processes, your skin is ready for the new day. Whether it should be cleansed in the morning also depends on its condition and your individual needs.
1. Gentle Cleansing
Even overnight, the skin produces sebum and sweat. For some skin types, it is enough in the morning to rinse the face with lukewarm water. Others benefit from a mild cleansing that removes excess oil and residue from the day.
Avoid unnecessarily aggressive cleansing products, especially if your skin is dry or sensitive. The goal is to prepare the skin for the subsequent skincare without impairing its natural protective function.
2. Facial Toner
A facial toner can refresh the skin after cleansing and lightly moisturize it. A good foundation for the next skincare steps.
3. Hyaluronic Acid Serum
After transepidermal water loss during the night, the skin often benefits from additional moisture in the morning. A hyaluronic acid serum helps the skin retain water and ensures a pleasantly hydrated skin feel. This works especially well on slightly damp skin.
4. Skincare with Fluid or Cream
Afterwards, suitable skincare helps to lock in the moisture and support the skin barrier. Depending on the season and skin type or condition, a light fluid or a richer cream can be useful.
5. Sunscreen
One of the most important steps of any morning routine. UV radiation is one of the biggest external influencing factors of skin aging. Daily sunscreen protects the skin and complements any healthy aging routine.
