Did you know beauty sleep is a real thing? After spending all day defending against daily aggressors and dehydrators, at night, your skin's cell renewal accelerates to help counteract any damage from the day.

‘Essentially, the more sleep you get, the better it is for your skin. We see this with lack of sleep leading to dehydrated skin, breakouts and open pores,’ explains Dr. Angela Tewari, a London-based consultant dermatologist. ‘What happens overnight is the replenishment and rejuvenation of your skin barrier. You also tend to see increased molecules that absorb water in the skin, so your humectants, urea and other important proteins are able to migrate up and sit in the right levels of the skin.’ During this time, your skin also becomes more sensitive and blood flow increases, while it undergoes a natural detoxification process to help maintain skin clarity and health. This is why it's so important to pay attention to your evening skincare routine, choosing night skincare products that will help support these natural processes, giving your beauty sleep the boost it deserves. Here, Dr. Angela Tewari answers some frequently asked questions about night-time skincare. 

What’s the most important step of a night-time skincare routine?

Every step in your evening skincare routine is important, as together they help optimise your skin's nightly renewal and regeneration. The most important step really depends on your main skin concern. ‘If your skin is more dehydrated, then I would go for a replenishing product with retinol and hyaluronic acid. If you're looking at more acne-prone skin, you want something to reduce the surface bacteria, targeting this with a salicylic acid-based product to address that bacterial component,’ explains Dr. Tewari. ‘If we're thinking about rosacea or redness, you need to keep the skin cool and create a barrier on the skin to protect against surface pollutants.’

What night-time routine do dermatologists recommend?

Consultant dermatologist Dr. Tewari suggests taking a holistic approach to improve your overall sleep hygiene, which will positively impact skin health. ‘Think about your evening routine as a way of calming down the brain and minimising any activity that can harm sleep, reducing the amount of adrenaline production in the body,’ says Dr. Tewari. ‘I would say a good night skincare routine is an important part of that. I personally like a very hydrating mask as my skin feels super enriched, and I feel like my skin is really working overnight.’ A great option is our new Smart Clinical Repair™ Overnight Recovery Cream + Mask. Formulated with adenosine to calm irritation, 12% hyaluronic acid to plump the look of fine, dry lines, and peptides to reduce the look of lines and wrinkles, it delivers deep, rich hydration while you sleep, and can be used as either a night cream or mask.

What ingredients are best for skin at night? 

Again, this really depends on your skin type (read our Skin Type Guide if you are unsure). ‘With ageing, drier skin, I recommend a retinoid with a hydrating ageing, whether that's an oil-based formula or a softer, more lightweight product like a hyaluronic acid-based serum’, suggests Dr. Angela Tewari. If you're experiencing oily skin, breakouts or are noticing a lack of radiance, salicylic acid is also a great ingredient to incorporate into your evening skincare routine.

Just as a good night’s sleep does wonders for mind and body, a quick five-minute night-time skincare routine is enough to visibly improve your skin. With this effective regimen, you’ll wake up to dreamy soft, glowing skin, every day.