The skin follows a precise biological rhythm influenced by the day–night cycle. This rhythm, known as the circadian cycle, regulates essential processes that maintain skin balance, resilience and long-term skin health.
Chronobiology, the study of how the skin behaves over a 24-hour cycle, helps build more effective skincare routines and better protect the skin from daily light exposure and environmental stress.
Chronobiology refers to the study of biological rhythms. The skin has its own circadian clock, which controls its activity throughout the day and night.
This internal rhythm influences key functions such as:
As a result, the skin’s needs differ significantly between daytime and night-time.
During the day, the skin is exposed to multiple aggressors including solar radiation, pollution and oxidative stress. It activates defence mechanisms to protect itself from damage.
This includes:
Daily exposure to light, particularly UVA, is one of the main drivers of photoageing.
Supporting this phase requires a routine focused on protection, including daily face sunscreen and antioxidant skincare that helps defend against environmental stress.
At night, the skin enters a recovery phase. Cellular activity increases, supporting repair and regeneration after daily exposure to light.
This phase is characterised by:
This is when the skin is most receptive to targeted treatments that support overnight recovery and help restore skin balance.
Light is a key regulator of circadian rhythms. However, excessive or poorly managed exposure can disrupt these natural cycles.
This disruption may:
Supporting the skin in alignment with its natural rhythm helps maintain healthier, more resilient skin over time.
Aligning your routine with the skin’s biological rhythm allows each step to work more effectively in response to daily light exposure and night-time recovery.
During the day, the skin’s priority is protection against light-induced stress, particularly UVA, which contributes to photoageing, oxidative stress and pigmentation changes.
In the morning, cleansing should remain minimal to preserve the skin’s natural defences.
A complete morning routine should combine:
Products such as Lumi-Shield Daily Fluid support daily photoprotection by maintaining a consistent protective film throughout the day, while adapting to real-life light exposure.
Complementing this step with Day Serum Defence helps reinforce the skin’s defence against oxidative stress, supporting a more balanced and resilient skin environment under daily exposure.
At night, the skin shifts into a repair phase, focusing on restoring cellular balance and recovering from daily damage.
This is when:
In the evening, proper cleansing helps remove pollutants accumulated throughout the day.
Using Night Serum Recharge supports overnight recovery by helping reduce the impact of daily light-induced stress and supporting cellular repair processes.
Follow with Collagen Cream Revive to complement this phase by helping reinforce skin structure, improve firmness and support long-term resilience against photoageing.
Daily light exposure is one of the main drivers of skin ageing. It affects the skin through multiple pathways, including oxidative stress, collagen degradation and pigmentation changes.
To explore this further, read our article: Photoageing: how light accelerates skin ageing at a cellular level
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