4 min to read
Introduction
Fine lines and wrinkles are among the most visible signs of skin ageing. While they’re a natural part of the ageing process, modern skincare offers powerful ways to reduce their appearance and slow down their progression. One of the most effective strategies is to tailor your skincare routine based on the time of day. Your skin’s needs change between day and night, and understanding these differences can help you make the most of your products - and your efforts to prevent wrinkles.
Table of content
Why Time-Specific Skincare Matters
Your skin operates on a natural circadian rhythm, which affects how it functions throughout the day. In the morning and afternoon, it shifts into defensive mode, protecting itself against environmental aggressors. At night, it transitions into repair mode, regenerating and restoring itself from the stresses of the day. Skincare routines that align with this rhythm help maximize your skin’s resilience, boost anti-wrinkle results, and maintain a youthful glow over time.
Daytime Skincare: Protection and Prevention Against Wrinkles
Daytime skincare should be all about protection. From UV rays to pollution and digital screens, your skin is constantly under attack during the day. A thoughtful morning routine helps create a barrier against these elements, preventing premature ageing and supporting long-term skin health.
Step 1: Gentle Cleanser
Start your morning with a gentle cleanser. Overnight, your skin accumulates oils and sweat. A mild cleanser like our Black Diamond Vitamin C Cleanser helps remove these impurities without disrupting your skin’s moisture barrier—a crucial element in keeping your skin supple and less prone to wrinkles.
Step 2: Antioxidant Serum /Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a gold-standard antioxidant for daytime use. It helps neutralize free radicals generated by UV exposure and pollution, two key drivers of collagen breakdown and wrinkle formation. Vitamin C also supports brighter, more even skin tone and helps fade hyperpigmentation, making it a powerful multitasker for anyone concerned about signs of ageing.
The iconic Repair Serum NAC Y2 from 111SKIN utilises Vitamin C in its most gentle form within Dr Yannis Alexandrides’ proprietary formula NAC Y2. This powerful antioxidant formula helps encourage glutathione production and collagen support, to repair and protect the skin for optimal skin health. For an additional Vitamin C boost try our Black Diamond Vitamin C Booster, a lightweight but powerful water-based serum to enhance antioxidant activity and brighten the skin, it can be added to other serums and creams or applied directly after cleansing.
Step 3: Eye Product for Day
The delicate under-eye area is often where the first fine lines start to appear. An eye cream or gel with antioxidants, caffeine and peptides can help reduce puffiness and protect this fragile area from oxidative damage. Our Eye Lift Gel NAC Y2 contains all 3 of these in a lightweight gel texture. Apply gently with your ring finger to avoid tugging the skin and use even under the brow to lift and enhance the whole eye area.
Step 4: Moisturiser and Broad-Spectrum SPF
Sun protection is non-negotiable when it comes to preventing wrinkles. Exposure to UV rays accelerates collagen degradation and leads to photoageing—wrinkles, dark spots, and loss of elasticity. Choose a day lightweight moisturiser like our Repair Day Cream or Black Diamond Emulsion and follow with broad-spectrum SPF50. Some SPF formulations also include hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide to keep the skin plump throughout the day, our Repair Sunscreen SPF50 goes even further - containing ingredients that not only hydrate and nourish but help to repair the skin and reduce signs of redness.
Night-time Skincare: Repair and Rejuvenation
Night-time is when your skin gets to work repairing damage and regenerating new cells. A proper evening routine helps support these natural processes and deliver active ingredients when your skin is most receptive to them.
Step 1: Double Cleanse
If you wear makeup or SPF, a double cleanse ensures your skin is completely clean and ready to absorb the rest of your skincare. Start with an oil-based cleanser like our Deep Cleansing Oil to break down makeup, sunscreen, and sebum. Follow with a water-based cleanser like our Black Diamond Vitamin C Cleanser to remove any remaining residue, sweat, and dirt and begin smoothing and brightening to enhance the complexion.
Step 2: Targeted Eye Product for Night
At night, use an eye product with ingredients focused on repair—such as peptides and hyaluronic acid. These help smooth fine lines, reduce puffiness, and restore hydration. Night-time application gives these active ingredients time to work uninterrupted, supporting more noticeable results. 111SKIN’s Black Diamond Eye Cream also gently resurfaces the eye area to help reduce fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Applying eye products before actives such as retinol also protects the delicate eye area from irritation.
Step 3: Retinol or Retinoid Treatment
Retinol is one of the most researched and effective ingredients for reducing wrinkles and fine lines. It works by accelerating cell turnover and stimulating collagen production, leading to smoother, firmer skin. The 111SKIN Black Diamond Retinol Oil combines Retinol with next-generation Granactive Retinoid and powerful brightening actives to gently resurface and equalise skin tone. If you’re new to retinol, use it 2–3 times per week and then gradually increase to minimise any potential irritation.
Step 4: Rich, Hydrating Moisturiser
Night creams are typically richer and more nourishing than day moisturisers. Our Repair Night Cream contains ingredients like low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid to attract moisture deep into the skin, collagen stimulators, botanical extracts to re-densify, soothe and prevent moisture-loss, and ceramides to reinforce the skin barrier. These components work overnight to repair and replenish your skin while you sleep.
Key Differences: Day vs. Night Skincare
Here’s a quick comparison of how your skincare goals and products differ between morning and evening:
Day Skincare
🌞Main goal: Protection from UV and pollution
🌞Key Ingredients: Antioxidants, SPF, lightweight hydrators
🌞Texture: Lightweight, fast-absorbing
🌞Focus Areas: Barrier protection, antioxidant defence
🌞Eye Cream Role: Brighten, de-puff and protect
Night Skincare
🌜Main goal: Repair and regeneration
🌜Key Ingredients: Retinol, peptides, rich Moisturisers
🌜Texture: Richer, more nourishing
🌜Focus Areas: Collagen support, hydration restoration
🌜Eye Cream Role: Smooth and redensify
Consistency Is Key
It’s tempting to chase results by overhauling your routine frequently, but skincare rewards consistency over time. Stick with your routine for several weeks before judging results - especially when using actives like retinol or vitamin C. Introduce new products gradually and monitor your skin’s response. If irritation or breakouts occur, scale back and focus on hydration and barrier repair before trying again.
Avoid using strong actives like retinol and vitamin C at the same time unless a product has been specifically formulated to pair them. And never skip SPF in the morning if you’re using retinol at night, as your skin becomes more sensitive to sun exposure.
Your Complete Wrinkle-Fighting Routine
Whether you’re in your late 20s and looking to delay the first signs of ageing, or in your 40s and targeting visible lines, building a balanced skincare routine tailored to your skin’s daily rhythm can dramatically improve your results. Look for high-quality, dermatologist-recommended products that support your skin’s natural cycle.
111SKIN’s clinically formulated skincare line is designed with this rhythm in mind. Our daytime products feature advanced antioxidants and SPF, while our nighttime range includes potent peptides, nourishing hydrators, and innovative age-defying ingredients that work as you rest.
Final Thoughts
Fine lines and wrinkles are a part of life, but how you care for your skin makes all the difference. Day and night skincare serve distinct but complementary purposes—protection during the day, and rejuvenation at night. With the right approach and products, you can help your skin look and feel its best at every age.
Explore the full range of 111SKIN’s expertly formulated solutions to create a comprehensive, time-specific routine tailored to your skin’s needs.
FEATURED IN THIS BLOG
Words approved by: Dr Yannis Alexandrides
Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, founder of 111SKIN, is a renowned cosmetic surgeon and innovator in skincare. Informed by over 30 years of medical experience, his pioneering formulas merge science and luxury, delivering unparalleled results globally, redefining skincare standards.
Related Journals
Ready to elevate your skincare game?
