Woke Up Like This: Why Your Skin Looks Better in the Morning

You are probably familiar with this scenario: you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and notice that your skin looks clearer and plumper. The pimple that you have been so concerned about has significantly shrunk and the redness you’re trying so hard to cover is gone. Your fine lines are also less visible and your skin feels smoother and hydrated. 

As the day goes on, however, your blemishes are starting to resurface and become more visible. You notice more oiliness or dullness in the midday, so you start to use certain skin products to reduce the oil and appear refreshed. But why does this happen? Why does your skin look better in the morning and why does its effects don’t last long?

Continue reading as we answer these questions and some things you can do to keep your complexion looking good or refreshed.

Skin regeneration happens at night

Good things happen when you have sufficient and quality sleep. As the body goes into reparative mode, it allows you to repair daytime damage and gives your skin a break from UV radiation, pollution, and other environmental stressors. Other amazing things that can happen include: 

• At night, the skin’s renewal rate almost doubles, peaking between 11 pm and 4 am. The recommended time for sleep in adults is between 10 pm and 11 pm. 
• Cortisol level decreases at night, which helps regulate your sleep cycle. You need lower levels in the evening to aid with falling asleep and higher levels in the morning to help you wake up. 
• The body produces more collagen, the protein that helps the skin look firm, supple, and youthful.
• The skin is more receptive to the active ingredients in your skincare. Due to skin renewal during sleep, it absorbs about 15% more of what you apply on it at night than during the day. 
• The brain sorts and processes information you have picked up during the day. It also clears out harmful toxins during sleep, which may help reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Being in a horizontal position while sleeping allows even distribution of fluid throughout your skin. This can make the skin look less bumpy and wrinkled, as well as plumper. 

With cell repair, regeneration, and other amazing things going on while you doze off, it is no wonder you feel good and wake up with great skin. This, of course, only happens when you get enough and uninterrupted sleep at night. Do take note that the quality is just as important as the quantity of your sleep. 

What happens to the skin halfway through the day

As you get on with your day, you start to see those benefits wear off. This can also be due to a number of things, including: 

• Several factors such as UV exposure, pollution, dirt, and excess oil can dull your skin. 
• Certain skincare and makeup products can clog your pores and may lead to acne, inflammation, and blemishes.
• Throughout the day or with more activities, superficial blood vessels dilate. This can cause redness and make some of your blemishes and dark spots more prominent. 
• Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) happens throughout the day and can be exacerbated by using harsh cleansers, over-cleansing, low-humidity environments, and using high pH topical products. 
• Stress, dehydration, and hot or humid weather can cause your skin to sweat more, leading to increased oil production. This can make your face appear shiny and oily. 

How to keep your complexion looking good or refreshed

Below are a few things that can keep your skin looking refreshed with additional tips on taking better care of your skin.  

• Always use sunscreen – apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day. Choose a formula that is right for your skin type and don’t forget to reapply after sweating, swimming, or toweling off.
• Use antioxidants – these can include vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid to protect your skin from free radicals. Dr. Sylvia’s 20% Vitamin C with Ferulic Acid is a potent anti-oxidizing formula that can reduce oxidative damage, even skin tone, and reduce the look of lines and wrinkles. 
• Use oil-free or noncomedogenic products – if you have oily skin and wear makeup, choose oil-free/noncomedogenic makeup, which won’t clog your pores. These products are also less likely to contribute to more oil or sebum production.
• Use a face mist – this can help cool off your face, making your skin feel refreshed. Hydrating mists with calming ingredients can hydrate and soothe the skin, as well as help keep the skin barrier healthy. 
• Exfoliate – the build of excess sebum and dead skin cells can make your skin dull and clog your pores. Exfoliating with AHA/BHA can remove this build-up and promote cell turnover. You can also consider a facial like HydraMaster, which cleanses, exfoliates, and nourishes the skin. It speeds up skin renewal and improves skin tone and texture. 
• Refresh with a VI Peel – this chemical peel can improve the tone, texture, and clarity of your skin. It resurfaces the skin and removes damaged layers to reveal refreshed and more youthful skin underneath. VI Peel in Singapore can help deal with acne skin conditions, scarring, pigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles. 
• Use oil-blotting tools – you can turn to a volcanic face roll to soak up excess oil. This tool is easy to use—you can glide it across your face to reduce grease and shine. There are also matte blotting papers that can control shine and mattify the skin. 
• Touch up your makeup the right way – if your skin feels and looks oily, use oil blotting tools before applying a powder or foundation. Having a matte pressed powder can also help reduce shine and is ideal for a quick touch-up.

For further reading: Refreshed and Glowing: 6 Ways to Avoid Looking Haggard

Are you looking for a skincare partner in taking better care of your skin and achieving your beauty goals? Make Sanctuary by Cutis your skincare destination! WhatsApp us at +65 9780 2079 to learn more or book an appointment.