Most of us don’t realize that the hours we spend asleep are actually among our most productive. When it comes to your skin care routine, making sure you get your beauty sleep is a crucial component for the skin’s recovery from the assaults of the day.

During the day, your largest organ, skin, actively fights off invaders like pollution and UV light while defending against and neutralizing unstable molecules. At night, skin shifts into DNA repair, cellular detox and cell production mode. The time you spend sleeping is some of your most productive, it's when your skin regenerates and repairs daily damage.

Here are some interesting insights about skin and sleep:

Melatonin production increases

Melatonin is a natural hormone and is believed to suppress ultraviolet (UV)-induced damage to skin cells and shows strong antioxidant activity in UV exposed cells. Hence, melatonin may counteract or buffer environmental stressors and could help to maintain skin integrity. Skin cell renewal rate is higher- Skin cell turnover is on average 8 times faster at night than during the day. In addition, production of collagen is boosted, harmful free radicals are destroyed and cell damage is corrected.

Pro Tip: Use a skin care product that assists with cell turnover at night with ingredients such a retinol. Try the Dermalogica Overnight Retinol Repair & Buffer Cream. It accelerates skin renewal with retinol while you sleep while a copper amino acid complex smooths fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, it includes a moisturizing buffer cream to help skin acclimate to this highly active form of retinol.

Skin is more receptive to active ingredients

During the day, your skin uses energy to fight off environmental aggressors such as solar rays and pollutants. During the evening, your skin has more energy to take in active ingredients and to repair damage.

Pro Tip: Use skin repairing serums at night like the Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Serum. It works to strengthen and repair your complexion with microencapsulated vitamins A, C and E by encouraging cell renewal, simulating collagen and increasing the skin’s barrier function.

Skin temperature is higher

Skin temperature is higher in the night due to increases in microcirculation and changes to circadian rhythm.

Trans-epidermal water loss is higher

Trans-epidermal water loss (or TEWL) is defined water that passes from inside the body through the epidermal layer and released through evaporation. TEWL is significantly increased during the night which can cause the skin to feel dry and itchy during the evening hours.

Pro Tip: Use products that provide extra hydration to your skin at night like the Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster. It contains sodium hyaluronate, the most concentrated form of hyaluronic acid and green algae extract to help prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin.

Repair, recover and transform your skin while you sleep with the Sound Sleep Cocoon from Dermalogica. The Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon is formulated with active ingredients that work with your body during this biological sleeping mode of active repair and recovery to transform skin by morning.

This revitalizing treatment gel-cream is formulated with Persian Silk Tree Extract to reduce signs of skin fatigue and restore vitality, while Wu-Zhu-Yu Extract provides visibly radiant skin by morning. Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide cushions skin, creating a nourishing cocoon of comfort for softer, more hydrated skin. Australian Kakadu Plum Extract, rich in antioxidant Vitamin C, brightens skin tone and encapsulated, motion-activated French Lavender essential oil, along with calming Sandalwood and Patchouli, soothe the senses with aromatherapy to help promote deep, restful sleep for healthier-looking skin.

Want to stop stressing about how much sleep you need to support healthy skin? Apply the Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon over your face and neck at night and wake up to radiant skin in the morning.