Could ‘sleep-synced skincare’ change night creams?

Our skin behaves differently after dark – and a new generation of night creams wants to make the most of it

There was a time when night cream essentially meant your usual moisturiser, only thicker. It came in a weighty pot, felt sumptuously rich and (beyond keeping skin comfortable until morning) we didn’t really ask much more of it. Then serums, retinoids, overnight masks and increasingly elaborate evening routines arrived and the humble night cream became a distant memory

Now, skincare brands are looking at our nocturnal routines differently. ‘Sleep-synced skincare’ is the latest term to enter the beauty space, based on the idea of formulating products around the changes that naturally take place in our skin over a 24-hour period. And while the phrase itself might be new, the science behind our skin having its own circadian rhythm isn’t

“When we sleep, our bodies enter a crucial repair phase, stimulated by our circadian rhythm,” Georgie Cleeve, skincare formulator and founder of Oskia, previously told Stylist. Research has found that everything from skin temperature and blood flow to cell activity and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) can fluctuate according to the time of day. In other words, your skin at midnight isn’t behaving in exactly the same way as it is at midday.

Hydration is also key. Our skin barrier helps to keep water in and potential irritants out, but water is continually escaping through the skin in a process known as transepidermal water loss. “If your barrier is compromised in some way you will start to lose this water,” says consultant dermatologist Dr Emma Craythorne. Several studies have found TEWL increases later in the day or evening, which helps explain why supporting the skin barrier with a good moisturiser remains one of the least complicated – and most useful – things you can do before bed.

It’s this idea that sits behind Tropic’s newly reformulated Skin Dream Advanced. Described by the brand as a ‘sleep-synced’ moisturiser, it’s designed specifically for evening use, with a richer formula intended to support hydration and the skin barrier overnight

Packed with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E, astaxanthin and biomimetic peptides, this is a hardworking overnight formula. There’s also phyto-PDRN, a plant-derived take on the PDRN that has become increasingly familiar in Korean skincare and aesthetic treatments. While PDRN is traditionally derived from salmon DNA, Tropic’s version is sourced from barley and has been included to support the skin’s natural renewal processes overnight.

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Using a richer, night-specific moisturiser before bed can help support the skin barrier and reduce that transepidermal water loss, while ingredients such as ceramides and humectants help keep skin feeling hydrated and comfortable until morning

And because there’s no SPF or make-up to layer on top, night-time is also when richer textures become much easier to accommodate. Rather than asking one moisturiser to sit perfectly under foundation, protect our skin from UV and hydrate throughout the day, a dedicated night cream can simply concentrate on hydration and barrier support

If you tend to steer clear of retinol or overly active formulas but still want your evening skincare to do more than simply moisturise, this could be a good place to start

Images: Adobe, courtesy of brand