Body and Biorhythm: Importance of Utilizing the Circadian Rhythm in Skincare

Morning is the time to arm the skin with protection, as there is generally a higher chance of it being faced with various environmental stressors throughout the day. The skin’s protective barrier is at its peak, working hard to fend off pollutants, UV rays, and other irritants. Here are the top components of an effective daytime routine:

1. Antioxidants: Ingredients like Vitamin C, niacinamide, and green tea extract are ideal in the morning as they neutralize free radicals produced by sun exposure and pollution. Free radicals can cause oxidative stress, leading to premature aging, dullness, and a compromised skin barrier. Antioxidants provide a protective layer, allowing the skin to resist daily environmental assaults.
2. SPF: Sunscreen is an absolute must in the daytime routine. UV radiation is a primary cause of visible aging signs such as wrinkles, dark spots, and even skin cancer. A broad-spectrum SPF shields the skin from both UVA and UVB rays, which damage the skin on a cellular level. Applying SPF daily preserves the skin’s youthful appearance and helps maintain a healthy complexion over time.
3. Moisture Boosters: Humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin attract water to the skin, keeping it hydrated and resilient against dry air or harsh weather. Hydration is not only essential for a fresh and glowing appearance but also for maintaining the skin’s protective barrier function, allowing it to better withstand daily stressors.

During sleep, the skin’s focus shifts from defense to repair and renewal. Cellular regeneration rates increase, collagen production accelerates, and moisture loss is reduced as the body rests. This makes nighttime an ideal opportunity to incorporate active ingredients that might be too potent or reactive for the daytime.

1. Retinoids and Peptides: Retinoids, such as retinol and prescription-strength retinoic acid, accelerate cellular turnover and stimulate collagen production, helping to smooth fine lines and reduce pigmentation. Peptides, on the other hand, provide the building blocks for new collagen and elastin, supporting the skin’s structure and firmness. These ingredients work in cooperation with the body’s natural nighttime repair processes to promote youthful and resilient skin.
2. Moisturizing Creams and Oils: Night creams, often richer than daytime formulations, supply essential fatty acids, ceramides, and other moisturizing factors that restore the skin’s barrier. Oils like squalane mimic the skin’s natural lipids, creating a moisture-locking barrier that keeps the skin hydrated overnight. These ingredients enhance the skin’s natural repair functions, helping to rejuvenate the complexion by morning.
3. Exfoliants: Ingredients like AHAs (e.g., glycolic acid) and BHAs (e.g., salicylic acid) encourage exfoliation by removing dead skin cells, revealing a brighter and smoother complexion. Nighttime is ideal for these treatments as they can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Regular exfoliation also boosts cellular turnover, enhancing the absorption of serums and creams applied afterward.

Modern lifestyles can sometimes disrupt the natural circadian rhythm. Irregular sleep schedules, late-night screen exposure, shift work, and even long-distance travel can interfere with the body’s biorhythm. These disruptions can lead to increased cortisol (stress hormone) levels, impairing the skin’s ability to repair itself and increasing susceptibility to inflammation, breakouts, and dehydration. Here three of the most common factors that influence the circadian rhythm:

SLEEP

Sleep is a crucial component of the circadian rhythm and has a direct, profound impact on skin health. During deep sleep phases, especially between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., the body engages in intensive repair and rejuvenation processes. This period is often called the "golden hours" for skin regeneration as blood flow increases, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen that support cellular repair and turnover. 

Skin barrier function also improves during sleep, helping to lock in moisture and protect against environmental aggressors. Insufficient or poor-quality sleep disrupts these repair mechanisms, leading to issues like dehydration, dullness, and reduced elasticity. Collagen production, crucial for skin firmness and smoothness, may also decrease without adequate sleep, contributing to the formation of wrinkles and visible signs of aging. 

HORMONES

Hormones play a critical role in regulating the circadian rhythm, directly impacting the skin’s appearance and health. Cortisol, melatonin, and growth hormones fluctuate throughout the day in response to the body's circadian rhythm, affecting skin functions such as hydration, collagen production, and repair processes.

For instance, cortisol levels peak in the early morning, equipping the skin with defenses against environmental stressors. However, chronic elevation of cortisol due to stress or poor sleep can weaken the skin’s barrier, increasing sensitivity, inflammation, and breakouts. In contrast, melatonin, which peaks at night, supports antioxidant protection and helps the skin repair itself during sleep. Growth hormone production also surges in the early stages of sleep, fueling cellular regeneration and collagen synthesis—key processes for maintaining skin elasticity and resilience.

STRESS

Stress can severely disrupt the circadian rhythm, creating a cascade of effects on the skin. When stressed, the body produces higher levels of cortisol, the "stress hormone," which can lead to inflammation, weaken the skin barrier, and impair the natural repair processes. This elevated cortisol can also reduce the production of melatonin, the hormone that typically peaks at night and helps repair and protect the skin. As melatonin levels drop, the skin’s ability to recover from daily damage, like UV exposure and pollution, diminishes. 

Additionally, chronic stress impacts sleep quality, which further disrupts the circadian rhythm, leading to dullness, dryness, and premature aging as the skin struggles to regenerate overnight. The combined effects of disrupted sleep and elevated cortisol can also trigger inflammatory conditions, such as acne or eczema, due to a weakened skin barrier and increased skin sensitivity. Prioritizing stress management techniques, like mindfulness and adequate sleep, can help restore the body’s natural rhythm, allowing the skin to function optimally and maintain a healthy glow.

1. Consistent Daily Routines: Try starting each day with a consistent morning routine that includes SPF and antioxidants, and end each night with a regimen focused on repair and hydration. Sticking to this schedule supports the skin’s natural defense and repair mechanisms, allowing each product to perform at its best.
2. Adjust for Seasons: As the circadian rhythm adjust to the seasons, skincare routines should as well. Winter’s shorter days and drier air can demand more hydration and richer, nourishing creams, while summer’s longer days may call for lighter, oil-free products and more frequent SPF reapplication.
3. Use Specialized Products: Some skincare brands are now developing formulations that align with the circadian rhythm. For instance, morning serums with antioxidants and night creams with retinoids or peptides offer an effective, targeted approach to supporting the skin’s natural cycle. Choosing products designed for the right time of day can simplify the process of aligning with the circadian rhythm.

A very common question that we get from estheticians after consultation is “How long does the effect of this treatment last?”

For something as personal as skincare, the results and the lastingness of every treatment naturally varies client by client. Factors such as hormones and stress levels as well as the physical and social environment that the clients are exposed to are all variables that inevitably affects how well the treatment performs and lasts on each clients’ skin, which unfortunately also mean that they could be quite unpredictable.

However this is the very focus that Pure Raum decided to delve into. How could we help other estheticians confidently promise their clients visible and lasting results after every treatment? How do we help them increase their professionalism and reliability?

As you might already know, Pure Raum’s philosophy focuses on improving the skin from the inside out as we believe that truly glowing skin doesn't happen overnight by simply taking care of the outer layers. We focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, adequate hydration and a nourishing skin environment to achieve results that last a lifetime.

After a long research period and countless brand and product testing, we finally found a Korean professional treatment brand that fits in perfectly with our philosophy, as every product aims to treat skin concerns on a foundational level.

The two new addition to Pure Raum's Korean skincare brands that we proudly carry consists of a professional biorhythm treatment collection that treats the skin from the innermost layers of the skin, and an aftercare collection that helps each treatment results last longer, and continue to improve the skin even after the client leaves the treatment room.

These two highly anticipated brands are finally launching tomorrow, November 7th, 2024.

Stay tuned!