Why the Best Time to Address Sun Damage Is While You Sleep
It makes a certain sort of sense that the best time to address sun damage is at night, when the sun itself is taking a breather. Of course, the smartest sun-damage strategy is to prevent it in the first place—avoid overexposure to the sun, wear a hat, and smooth on mineral sunscreen every day (and take vitamin D3 while you’re at it). But when, despite our best efforts, the signs of sun damage—from dark spots and uneven skin tone to wrinkles, rough texture, dullness, and oversize pores—show up on skin more than we’d like, the science points to the benefits of overnight treatments.
-
Our newest sun-damage superweapon is designed to work at night, while you sleep, for a number of reasons: Just as our muscles repair themselves while we rest, so, too, does our skin, and we were excited to take advantage of that natural skin-repair function. Cell division and protein synthesis (vital for healthy skin) peak during sleep, as does the rate of healing damaged tissues. Blood pressure and body temperature may be lower, creating an ideal environment for increased cell renewal. Molecules that control the sleep-wake cycle, like melatonin and adenosine, are also thought to help with inflammation and regeneration.
We designed GOOPGLOW Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk with a time-released AHA to work with the natural skin-repair functions already going on overnight; we also boosted the formula with moisturizers and skin-soothing ingredients that further treat the skin at night. There’s even a new ingredient that helps tamp down irritated-looking skin—a remarkable feature in such an active serum.
-
goop Beauty
GOOPGLOW Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk
goop, $98/$89 with subscriptionSHOP NOW
The results are dramatic: Sleep Milk is clinically proven to improve the look of dark spots (including age spots, sun spots, and surface spots), skin tone, and skin brightness without irritation. And while the results are noticeable right away—you wake up with dewy-fresh, plumped, soft, totally hydrated-looking skin after one use—they build visibly over time, too.*
While the time-released AHA is pretty unique (and allows for a high-acid serum to feel much gentler and more moisturizing on skin), the notion that the best time to treat skin is just before going to bed applies to some of our all-time favorite products.
Overnight Masks
You can leave on a nourishing face mask all night for concentrated, targeted treatment, or once a week, just before bed, swipe on a super active peel pad.
-
Powerful Acid Peel
goop Beauty
GOOPGLOW 15% Glycolic
Acid Overnight Glow Peel
goop, $125/$112 with subscriptionSHOP NOW -
Totally Moisturizing and
Great to Leave On All Night
Tammy Fender
Restorative Radiance Masque
goop, $195SHOP NOW
Night Creams and Oils
Lock in moisture while you sleep with a rich, nutrient-dense face cream or oil.
-
We Use This Supercream as Night Cream (and on the Plane, Too)
goop Beauty
GOOPGENES All-in-One
Nourishing Face Cream
goop, $98/$86 with subscriptionSHOP NOW -
Made to Work with Your Circadian Rhythm
Furtuna Skin
Fior di Luna Nightly
Renewal Cream
goop, $285SHOP NOW -
Antioxidant-Packed for Lift
Caudalie
Resveratrol-Lift
Firming Night Cream
goop, $69SHOP NOW -
Smoothing and Moisturizing
for Fine Lines
Lavido
Age Away Night Cream
goop, $49SHOP NOW -
Brilliant for Sensitive Skin
Augustinus Bader
The Ultimate Soothing Cream
goop, $280SHOP NOW -
Overnight Face Oil
Balmyard Beauty
Moonlight Lover Facial Oil
goop, $95SHOP NOW
Superpowered Serums
Serums deliver a highly concentrated dose of ingredients, and while they hydrate, they’re never heavy or occlusive.
-
Made with
Time-Released
Actives
goop Beauty
GOOPGLOW Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk
goop, $98/$89 with subscriptionSHOP NOW -
Ultimate Hydration
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Night Serum
goop, $310SHOP NOW -
For Collagen-Boosting and Nighttime Aromatherapy
De Mamiel
First Fix Serum
goop, $216SHOP NOW -
For a Morning Glow
KORA Organics
Noni Night AHA Resurfacing Serum
goop, $74SHOP NOW
-
True Botanicals
Clear Repair Serum
goop, $140SHOP NOW -
Hero Cosmetics
Mighty Patch
goop, $13SHOP NOW
For Breakout-Prone Skin
Lip Masks
Steeping lips in nourishing ingredients and deep moisturizers leaves them plump and smooth by morning. Both of these formulas are made with a bit of exfoliant, too.
-
Super Hydrating
Alpyn Beauty
Willow & Sweet Agave
Plumping Lip Mask
goop, $28SHOP NOW -
Ultrarich
ILIA
Lip Wrap Overnight
Treatment Mask
goop, $26SHOP NOW
Consider an overnight hair treatment, too
Smooth GOOPGLOW hair serum on before bed and wrap your hair in a towel and your hair will shine like you can’t believe after being washed the next morning.
-
Nourishing Shine-Inducer
goop Beauty
GOOPGLOW Restore +
Shine Hair Serum
goop, $55/$44 with subscriptionSHOP NOW -
Microfiber Hair Wrap
Aquis
Lisse Luxe Hair Turban
goop, $18SHOP NOW
RELATED READING
*Based on an eight-week third-party clinical study of 30 women between the ages of 35 and 65.
