Have you ever noticed that an annoying red pimple starts itching more in the evening? I noticed it last week, right as I was getting ready for a birthday party. I was already wearing makeup when my cheek started to itch, which, for me, is usually a sign that within half an hour I will be “decorated” with a red patch. That is exactly what happened. Oh well, at least it gives me a perfect excuse to introduce circadian rhythm, aka your skin’s daily rhythm.
I realised it was not the first time, so just for fun I typed into Google: Why does an itchy pimple show up in the evening, swell up, and then disappear by morning? Google actually answered. It added that mosquito bites also tend to itch more in the evening, that skin gets shiniest in the afternoon and that there is a reason for it. Your skin has its own daily rhythm, known as the circadian rhythm.
That genuinely interested me. I already knew about the monthly cell cycles (roughly 28–40 days) and even longer skin cycles, but I had never really thought about a daily one. So I did a little reading. What I found is not exactly mind-blowing, but it did help me confirm, or, if you like, scientifically justify, why a morning routine and an evening routine usually look the way they do.
Circadian Rhythm – Your skin in smart
Your skin is smart. It does not behave the same way in the morning as it does in the afternoon, evening, or at night, because it knows when it needs to wake up, when it needs to protect itself the most, and when it is time to repair.
In the morning, your skin is basically getting ready for the day. For UV exposure, free radicals, and all the other little aggressors it has to deal with. So you can support it by giving it antioxidants and, of course, UV protection.
The classic, well-known antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, B vitamins, and coenzyme Q10, and you will find them in many day creams.
If you have problem-prone skin, mornings can also be a bit more reactive than afternoons, so it can help to add something calming in the morning if you need it.
Around midday, your skin typically produces the most sebum, which is why it tends to look the shiniest then.
Around 4 p.m., Neal’s Yard Remedies says skin has its highest ability to absorb active ingredients, which would make it the best time for masks and effective serums. Convenient, right? Because that is usually when most people are still at work or commuting.
In the evening, skin is often more sensitive. If it has to deal with an allergen (it can even be an ingredient in makeup that did not bother it at all during the day), it may produce histamine as a defence response. Histamine can widen the tiny blood vessels (capillaries), and the skin around them can swell and start itching.
Between 8 and 9 pm, your skin’s natural temperature is at its highest, and pores are the most open. And yes, I have mentioned before that pores do not literally open and close like doors, because a pore is not a muscle.) Still, this is often a great time for evening cleansing.
At night, your skin’s repair processes are at their most active. That’s why ingredients with regenerative benefits, and, for example, retinoids, which speed up cell turnover, are usually recommended before bed.
And then around 2 a.m., your skin tends to produce the least sebum and can be at its driest, so in the evening, treat it to proper hydration and, if your skin likes it, a richer cream.
Because skin is never one-size-fits-all
Nothing is completely black and white. Every skin type likes something slightly different. Skin behaves differently across seasons, and we all have our own routines and know our own skin best.
But if you are feeling a bit unsure where to start, and with what, understanding your circadian rhythm can be a helpful little starting point to make your routine feel more logical.
