Have you ever heard of cutaneous chronobiology? Just like our bodies, our skin has its own biological clock and cutaneous chronobiology is the science that studies the rhythm of our skin's functioning. Thus, we can observe 4 key stages during the day, with the night being the most important stage.
Nighttime is the moment when the skin is most receptive to care. While you rest, it works to repair and regenerate itself; this is what's called the cellular regeneration process.
Cellular regeneration
During the night, the skin regenerates and repairs itself because it's the moment when stem cells renew themselves most rapidly. They replace dead cells that gradually reach the surface of the skin (these are responsible, in particular, for dull and uneven skin tone). Repair processes such as collagen and elastin production also occur at night.
Trans-epidermal water loss
Unfortunately, at night the skin tends to lose a lot of water due to the cellular renewal process. This is called trans-epidermal water loss. This phenomenon is accentuated if you tend to heat your room too much, and even more so if you have an electric heater that tends to make the air extremely dry. The best way to prevent this water loss is to apply a moisturizing treatment and seal in the hydration with a face oil. The lipids contained in the oil will form a protective film on the skin and prevent water from escaping.
Repair
If the skin is more receptive to treatments and products at night, it's because it's not exposed to elements such as the sun, pollution, environmental stress, etc. During the day, your skin is way too busy with defending itself against external aggressions, which allows it to work on repairing itself in the evening.
Toxin Elimination
At night, the skin also begins a process of tissue detoxification. This allows the elimination of toxins accumulated throughout the day. That's why it's even more important to massage every night; by activating your lymphatic system, you help eliminate a first portion of the accumulated toxins. So always make sure to finish by massaging the lymph nodes located at the extremities of your face or at the level of your collarbones to optimize this drainage. This will allow your skin to have a little less work to do during your sleep.
Boosting blood microcirculation
Between 11 pm and 4 am, cutaneous microcirculation is activated to provide the energy needed for cell renewal. Blood circulation, particularly active at night, also ensures efficient distribution of nutrients and vitamins to the skin. Again, massage is an important step before going to sleep, as massaging the skin stimulates blood microcirculation. This allows the skin to warm up before starting this process. This is how you can wake up with a radiant complexion the next morning!
That's why it's important to take care of your skin before going to bed by using moisturizing and nourishing products to help the skin regenerate during the night. It's also important to get enough sleep so that the skin has time to repair and regenerate properly. And don't forget the massage step, which will enhance cellular regeneration at night.
