The Circadian Rhythm of Skin Repair
The skin is our largest organ, and like the rest of our body, it functions on a 24-hr cycle. That’s why timing your skincare is an important consideration for getting the best results. From collagen peptides to antioxidants and skin-repairing nutrients, matching your supplement skincare routine to when your skin needs it most matters.
Let’s take a look into how and why timing your skincare routine is important so you can get the most out of the supplements you use regularly.
Timing Supplements for Maximum Overnight Recovery
Did you know that your skin does a lot of its repair work overnight? Just like your brain and your muscles, your skin is working hard to regenerate while you sleep.
While at rest, skin cell turnover accelerates, blood flow increases throughout the body, and nutrients are delivered to the cells. This means nighttime can be a strategic window for taking supplements that aid collagen synthesis, replenish elastin, and reduce oxidative stress.1
Now in reality, the best goal is to take the right supplements daily and when it’s convenient. For many of us, that might be evening, but taking skincare routine supplements in the morning or other times of day is fine as well.
But … it can also be helpful to split these up between morning and night. Let’s look at some of the best supplements for skin and how to time them for consistent results.
Morning vs Evening Skin Supplements
Again, taking your supplements whenever works for you is the best strategy to stay consistent. But, if you have the time and energy, breaking them up between morning and night can help give your body a ready dose of needed nutrients at key times in the day.
So what to take when? Consider these suggestions and steps for a skincare routine:
Morning supplements:
-
Antioxidants (Vitamin C, E): Help protect the skin from daytime oxidative stress caused by UV light and toxins.2
-
B-complex and multivitamins: Provides nutrients that help with energy and general maintenance for the entire body.
-
Vitamin D: Helps reduce inflammation in the skin after UV exposure.1
Evening Supplements:
-
Collagen and elastin: Work great before bed to give your body what it needs for tissue repair and protein synthesis.
-
Zinc and magnesium: Helps with cell turnover and immune health while also promoting restful sleep.
Zinc and magnesium: Helps with cell turnover and immune health while also promoting restful sleep.
Circadian Rhythm and Supplement Absorption
Circadian rhythm is our body’s internal clock, which helps us regulate not only when we sleep but also dictates when hormones are secreted, digestive activity, and possibly even how nutrients are absorbed and metabolized.
Taking energy-producing supplements earlier in the day can help us capitalize on the body’s digestive processes revving up and allow those nutrients to be dispersed throughout the body all day long.
For our skin, research suggests that it follows these rhythms too, doing much of its repair at night.1 This is why taking collagen supplements for skin health after dinner or before bed could be an ideal strategy. Additionally, some supplements are best absorbed on an empty stomach, and for many this can be easiest to achieve later in the evening.
But again, don’t let this deter you if taking supplements at night is not your thing. The most important factor is to take your skin care routine supplements regularly.
When to Take Collagen for Results
Collagen, the structural protein that gives our skin its firmness and elasticity, starts to break down over time, even in our 20s! That’s why giving the skin the tools it needs to repair the collagen we have and increase collagen production is so vital.
And in the case of collagen, timing can be everything. Try these practices for taking collagen to get the best results:
collagen to get the best results:
-
Take before bedtime: This will give your skin extra tools for the process of repairing and rebuilding during sleeping hours.
-
Take on an empty stomach: Some suggest that collagen is better absorbed on an empty stomach when it has more acidity, but others claim it makes little difference. One study did note that taking collagen before bed helped with sleep, so that could be an additional benefit for evening use.3
-
Take with vitamin C: This nutrient is essential for collagen production and reducing inflammation.2
One note: If you are taking collagen supplements for loose skin, consider also adding elastin to the mix, which can help keep the skin firm.4 Body Kitchen’s Collagen Pro Elastin makes a great duo with collagen for total skin support, anytime of day.
Optimal Supplement Timing for Skin Repair
The get the most out of your supplements, it’s important to match your skincare routine order with your internal rhythms. Here’s a basic outline to help structure your day:
Morning skincare routine:
Step 1: Hydrate
Step 2: Take your multivitamin or your preferred best vitamin supplements for hair, skin and nails
Step 3: Add antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support (vitamin C, vitamin D, etc)
Step 4: Apply sunscreen and any other topical skincare products
Evening skincare routine:
Step 1: Clean skin and apply any topical skincare products
Step 2: Take collagen powder and elastin-boosting supplements such as Body Kitchen’s Pro-Elastin
Step 3: Add magnesium and/or zinc for extra skin recovery and better sleep
Step 4: Hydrate
At the end of the day, the main goal is to find the steps for a skincare routine and timing that works best for you. Experiment and make a schedule that helps you care for your skin in a consistent and reliable way.
Final Thoughts
The best time take to supplements really depends on the nutrients you need and your overall goals. Morning is ideal for taking anything that supports energy and fights inflammation, while evening can be best for supplements that support sleep and repair, such as collagen supplements, elastin skin care nutrients, and certain minerals.If you are already taking collagen supplements for skin, consider adding Body Kitchen’s Pro Elastin to the mix for a comprehensive skin care routine.
Remember, supplements are only part of the puzzle. A healthy diet, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of sleep, alongside an organized and well-timed skin care routine, will give your skin what it needs to glow, from the inside out.