Circadian Skincare: Biohacking Your Skin’s Natural Rhythm
With Bryan Johnson bringing biohacking into the mainstream with his Netflix documentary, Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, skincare gurus and dermatologists alike are seeking new ways to ‘biohack’ all aspects of health. And as research continues to emerge, skincare enthusiasts are turning away from serums in favour of circadian skincare – a biohacking approach to skin health that aligns your routine with your biological rhythm to enhance barrier repair, hydration, and glow.
At Lumity, we know that every bodily system – including your skin’s health and appearance – is impacted by circadian rhythm. That’s why we’ve formulated our award-winning Morning & Night supplement to work in harmony with the body’s natural 24-hour clock, to boosting your skin’s glow during the day and your skin’s repair at night.
The Skin Clock: Understanding Cutaneous Chronobiology
The skin follows its own circadian rhythm, independent of (but coordinated with) the brain’s master clock. In the daylight hours, the skin acts defensively: producing more sebum, thickening the barrier, and protecting against UV exposure and pollution. At night, it shifts into repair mode – cell turnover peaks, DNA damage is repaired, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increases, making skin more receptive to active ingredients but also more vulnerable to dehydration.
Our Morning & Night delivers a specifically tailored dose of nutrients to optimize skin during the day and night, addressing the body’s needs during each cycle.
Biohacking the Morning: Defend, Hydrate, Shield
Your morning routine should serve as skin’s daytime armour, fortifying its natural defenses and shielding it from environmental stressors.
- Antioxidants like vitamin C help neutralise oxidative stress from UV and pollution, reinforcing the skin’s natural photoprotection.
- Glycine is a non-essential amino acid that plays a critical role in the formation of collagen.
- Hydration with Omega 3s (and plenty of water) can moisturise skin on a cellular level.
Our biologist-developed Morning & Night supplement contains each of the above ingredients, partnered with 28 Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, Adaptogens and Omega 3s for optimum skin health.
Biohacking the Night: Repair, Renew, Replenish
At night, the skin opens up – metaphorically and physiologically.
- Cell turnover reaches its apex between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to dermatological chronobiology studies, making this the ideal window to consume nutrients like Lysine and Arginine in our Morning & Night supplement, both known to aid cellular repair.
- Vitamin A facilitates cellular repair and renewal.
- Glycine rebuilds the skin barrier and supports collagen synthesis.
- Omega 3s hydrate skin cells and restore lipids lost during the day.
Red light therapy, when used in the evening, has also been shown to synchronise mitochondrial activity and reduce inflammation, making it a potent ally in circadian skincare.
Biohacking Sleep for Skin Repair
The intersection of beauty and biohacking becomes most compelling in the domain of sleep. According to a 2022 review in Frontiers in Aging, quality sleep is directly linked to collagen production, wound healing, and skin hydration. Sleep deprivation, by contrast, elevates cortisol, impairs barrier function, and accelerates signs of aging.
To optimize skin repair overnight:
- Maintain a consistent sleep-wake cycle (even on weekends) to reinforce circadian harmony
- Consider magnesium bisglycinate or adaptogens like ashwagandha to lower evening cortisol
- Create a dark, cool sleep environment to enhance melatonin production, which has antioxidant properties and supports dermal regeneration
Morning & Night helps you get your beauty sleep – in our independent clinical trial, 84% reported better sleep, fewer night wakings and more daytime energy with Morning & Night.
Timing is Everything: Synchronising Application with Efficacy
Chronopharmacology – the science of how timing affects drug absorption and efficacy – is now informing skincare. Certain ingredients, it turns out, are more effective when timed to the skin’s natural rhythms.
- Vitamin C and UV protectants: best in the morning
- Exfoliating acids and retinoids: best in the evening
- Hydrating agents: best in the evening
Barrier-repair oils: best in the evening
The Next Generation of Formulations
Luxury skincare is beginning to reflect the circadian approach, with brands like Lumity, Augustinus Bader and La Mer developing time-responsive formulations – releasing actives based on skin’s needs at different hours, mimicking the skin’s own adaptive intelligence.
Our clinically tested, biologist-developed Morning & Night supplement is designed to give you what your skin needs, at the right time of day – delivering energising skin nutrients in the morning, and repairing skin nutrients at night.
Our Take
Look beyond creams and serums – Morning & Night is the circadian skincare supplement loved by dermatologists and A-listers alike. By biohacking our skin’s internal clock – honouring its cycles of defence and repair – we’re not only enhancing our skin’s appearance, but we’re addressing our skin’s health on a cellular level.