H beauty Spotlight: How to Get the Best Out of Your Beauty Sleep
Words by Maya Prever
Nothing restores the body quite as profoundly as a good night’s sleep, and our skin reflects exactly how much of it we do (or don’t) get. With WGSN reporting a 31 per cent global surge in searches for ‘sleep skincare’ over the past year, it’s clear that nighttime skincare has evolved into a powerful beauty category.
But why, exactly, do we call it ‘beauty sleep’? Dr Maja Schaedel, clinical psychologist and director of The Good Sleep Clinic, explains: “During deep sleep, the body releases a surge of human growth hormone (HGH), which signals cells to repair and regenerate.” Skin cell turnover reaches its peak at night, while collagen production accelerates. Blood flow to the skin also increases as we sleep, lending the skin that unmistakable morning freshness. The hours between 11pm and 3am are particularly important for the body’s repair process. Renata Nunes, acupuncturist and physiotherapist, explains: “During this time, the gallbladder and liver support detoxification, replenish the blood, and assist tissue renewal.”
Yet as the upcoming clock‑change approaches, our internal biological clock – the circadian rhythm – faces a subtle but significant disruption. This misalignment often ushers in a temporary grogginess known as spring fatigue, as the body readjusts to its new schedule. But all is far from lost. With the right nighttime allies – think targeted supplements, silk eye masks and even mouth tape – it’s entirely possible to glide through the seasonal shift while still securing the most luminous version of your complexion.
Featured in This Story
Treat While You Doze
The ‘work smarter, not harder’ ethos can very much be adopted to our sleep and skincare routine, thanks to next-generation formulas designed to sync with your circadian rhythm and amplify the skin’s natural overnight repair. With half of global consumers now defining beauty as ‘looking healthy’, according to Euromonitor, it’s little wonder that hitting the hay is the ultimate, not‑so‑secret beauty strategy. These are the standout skincare products defining the very meaning of beauty sleep.
The INKEY List
Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex Serum
No conversation about overnight skin regeneration is complete without exosomes. Exosomes act as messengers, triggering the body's natural healing processes by telling cells to repair, renew, and regenerate. The Inkey List’s Exosome Hydro‑Glow Complex Serum harnesses this technology to full effect, delivering deep, targeted rejuvenation while you sleep. “Using a serum like this overnight allows those signals to work in sync with the skin’s natural recovery cycle, so you wake up to skin that looks brighter, smoother and more rested,” says co‑founder, Colette Laxton.
La Prairie
Skin Caviar Nighttime Oil
La Prairie rewrites what it means to burn the midnight oil, with a formula that is deeply restoring. At the heart of the Skin Caviar Nighttime Oil lies a rare caviar‑derived retinol, meticulously crafted to soften the look of fine lines, refine skin’s texture and enhance firmness. Its sumptuous oil‑rich formula envelops the complexion in a nourishing seal, locking in moisture typically lost overnight. A final, vital step that amplifies every element of your evening routine, ensuring you wake to skin that feels replenished, smoothed and restored.
Sisley
Velvet Sleeping Mask
Think of the Sisley Velvet Sleeping Mask as a cocooning, cashmere-soft pillow for the skin, with its purpose centred around soothing and de-stressing. The saffron flower is the hero ingredient, renowned for its healing properties, supported by a curated blend of nutrient‑rich botanicals, including macadamia oil and Japanese lily of the valley extract, to deeply nourish and restore. Whether slipped into your carry‑on for red‑eye flights, applied as a weekly replenishing ritual, or kept on standby as an emergency dose of nourishment, this is the mask that transforms any night into a moment of pure, restorative luxury.
More Nighttime Treatments You’ll Love
Tools for a Tranquil Night
Think of these as accompaniments to your skincare routine. Elevated essentials that not only enhance sleep quality but also protects your skin and body while optimising your skincare routine. From silk accessories that minimise hair breakage to targeted supplements designed to help you drift off into a deep, restorative sleep, these are the quietly powerful tools worth keeping within arm’s reach at bedtime.
VIO2
Unscented Mouth Tape
Oral care is rapidly emerging as a cornerstone of modern wellness, with leading dental specialists increasingly highlighting the powerful link between oral health, restorative sleep and health longevity. Endorsed by wellness authority Gwyneth Paltrow, mouth taping offers a multitude of benefits – and the VIO2 Mouth Tape takes this to the next level, helping to improve sleep quality, support optimal oral health and ease facial tension for a more rested, rebalanced you by morning.
Vida Glow
Sleep Capsules
Drift into calm with a nightly ritual designed to restore you from the inside out. Designed to quiet the mind and enhance the depth of your sleep, Vida Glow’s pre‑bed supplement blends activated vitamin B6, passionflower and Maizinol to support your body’s natural melatonin production. The result? A calmer bedtime, deeper sleep cycles and a steadier rhythm. Non‑drowsy and clinically proven to improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue, it helps you drift off with ease – and wake restored, balanced and reset.
SLIP
Mulberry Silk Contour Sleep Mask
Made from the finest mulberry silk, the SLIP Contour Sleep Mask is functional artistry at its best. Its chic, face‑hugging design features bespoke contours that give gentle space for your eyelashes, while the use of pure silk offers far more than surface‑level luxury. As co‑founder and CEO Fi Stewart explains, it “helps prevent sleep creases, preserve facial moisture and products, all while keeping hair smooth overnight”.
More Tools You’ll Love
Sleepy Scents
Consider this a sign to scent scape your evening ritual. Frankincense, chamomile and lavender infuse these pillow mists, fragrances and essential oils, each chosen for their ability to evoke calm and encourage deeper, more restorative sleep. With every spritz or drop, your nighttime routine settles into a new realm of tranquillity.
Bamford
Silent Night-Time Pillow Mist
With its spas devoted to nurturing and restoring inner-wellbeing, Bamford has long been an authority in the art of relaxation. The Silent Night‑Time Pillow Mist is a testament to that. A calming blend of frankincense, lavender and marjoram essential oils help quiet the senses and ease you into deeper, more restorative sleep.
Edeniste
Dream Lifeboost
Edeniste are true trailblazers in the world of scent, uniting master perfumers with leading neuroscientists to craft fine fragrances that have been tested physiologically and proven to improve emotional wellbeing. The Dream scent within the Lifeboost collection is powered by soothing CNV ingredients and a unique dreaming accord, created to promote a sense of inner calm and support a more restful night’s sleep. To unlock its full sensorial effect, warm the fragrance between your palms, inhale deeply, and let its tranquillity gently wash over you.
NEOM
Wellbeing Essential Oil Set
Melt away the day with Neom’s Perfect Night’s Sleep Essential Oil Blend. Add a few drops to the Wellbeing Pod Diffuser and let a curated blend of 11 of the purest essential oils fill the room. English lavender lends calming, anti‑inflammatory benefits, chamomile helps to soothe and ease the mind, while grounding patchouli completes the trio – all expertly blended to prepare your body and senses for deep, beauty‑boosting sleep.
More Scents You’ll Love
Related Stories
H beauty Spotlight: Peptides Are the Messengers Worth Listening To
10 New H beauty Launches to Have on Your Radar
