Ryan Christopher Claveria

Dermatologist-Approved Skincare Routines for Night Shift Professionals

Article (news)

<p>Working the night shift is a reality for countless Filipinos. From <strong>medical frontliners</strong> and <strong>creatives wrapping up late-night productions</strong> to <strong>professionals managing international clients</strong> and <strong>working in BPOs</strong>, navigating a reversed schedule is a lifestyle in itself. But when your days are nights and your nights are days, applying skincare products could get confusing. Where do specifically formulated <strong>&quot;AM&quot;</strong> and <strong>&quot;PM&quot;</strong> products fit when your body clock is flipped? Do you stick to the label&#x27;s instructions, or should your application of serums and sunscreens be reversed, too? </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:467px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776943800388pexels-oktay-koseoglu-42034955-30215681.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">Do you work late nights?</span></span></span></div><p>To shed light on the matter, we tapped <strong>Dr. Coreen Copuyoc</strong>, a board-certified dermatologist at<strong> St. Luke&#x27;s Global City</strong> and founder of <strong>Coco Skin Aesthetics </strong>in Quezon City, breaking down a definitive skincare routine, proper sleeping schedule, and healthy practices for twilight professionals.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpgzjfpvh4C/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1080&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A5032850%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1361" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>The proper treatment we need when our body clock is out of sync</strong></div><p>A constantly shifting schedule can seriously disrupt our circadian rhythm and trigger sudden breakouts. For Dr. Coreen, it often translates to increased cortisol fluctuations, heightened sebum or oil production, and a greater tendency towards inflammation and breakouts. “In night shift workers, rather than trying to ‘fix’ the body clock (which is often unrealistic), the focus should be on controlling these downstream effects.”</p><p>Moreover, frequent breakouts in our twilight schedule aren&#x27;t an unbreakable chain; they only need proper guidance and a sufficient skincare system that’ll support our inverted lifestyle. “I always emphasize keeping a skincare routine consistent relative to one’s sleep schedule rather than the actual time of day,” Dr. Coreen explained, underscoring the importance of a unique and personal skincare routine. “Active breakouts can be managed with ingredients like <strong>salicylic acid</strong> or <strong>benzoyl peroxide</strong>, while a <strong>retinoid</strong> incorporated before one’s main sleep period helps normalize cell turnover,” she stretched. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776944017994pexels-ron-lach-10221846.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo via Pexels</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Adverse lifestyle choices</strong></div><p>A proper self-care routine doesn’t always revolve around topicals; it often reflects our lifestyle. According to Dr. Coreen, there are certain factors that hugely affect our skin’s health. First is <strong>stress</strong>: “Stress management plays a direct role in acne control in this group. Elevated cortisol is one of the key drivers here, so even small interventions like brief daily movement, structured wind-down routines, or minimizing abrupt sleep-wake transitions, can help regulate that stress response,” she elaborated. </p><p>Next is our <strong>diet</strong>. Overshadowed by highly processed meals, greens have shifted from a daily staple to a mere afterthought. Dr. Coreen notes that night shift workers often rely on convenience, leaning toward high-sugar and highly processed foods that can worsen inflammation and trigger breakouts. To combat this, she recommends viewing nutritious foods not as a restrictive “diet” but as essential daily nourishment for our digestive systems, ultimately improving both our immunity and our skin&#x27;s health. &quot;anchoring meals around protein, fiber, and antioxidant foods, while minimizing excessive sugar and refined carbohydrates. Hydration is also important, as dehydration can worsen both oil imbalance and skin barrier function. Ultimately, when circadian rhythm is compromised, skincare alone is not enough—supporting the skin through internal regulation, including stress and nutrition, becomes just as essential.”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776944281772pexels-vo-thuy-tien-248787-3985872.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo via Pexels<br/><br/></span></span></span></div><div><strong>Understanding the restorative hormones in the inverted world</strong></div><p>Our bodies naturally produce restorative hormones during nighttime sleep, but what happens when your “night” is actually during the day? Dr. Coreen jotted everything in detail.</p><p><em></em>“Although the body typically produces restorative hormones during nighttime sleep, the skin is less concerned with clock time and more responsive to light exposure and actual sleep cycles. For individuals whose “night” occurs during the day, the timing of skincare should follow their biology.”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776944412356pexels-karola-g-7321653.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo via Pexels<br/></span></span></span>Extending the support and information we need to fully harness that glow, Dr. Coreen recommended the right method for applying our actives: &quot;Active ingredients such as retinoids and exfoliating acids are best applied before their longest sleep period, regardless of whether that falls in the morning or midday. Conversely, sunscreen should be applied upon waking, especially if there will be any exposure to daylight. Framing skincare in this way, anchored to sleep and wake cycles, rather than conventional day-night divisions, helps maintain efficacy even with an unconventional schedule.”</div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Effective methods for achieving high-quality daytime sleep</strong></div><p>Getting adequate sleep is the most important restorative method. But how do we really maximize getting ample ZZZs if our sleeping times are scheduled in the day?</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776944321874pexels-polina-kovaleva-6541202.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo via Pexels</span></span></span></div><p>&quot;It&#x27;s essential to recreate a nighttime environment as closely as possible. Blackout curtains, a cool room temperature, and minimizing noise can significantly improve sleep quality,” Dr. Coreen shared. Establishing a consistent sleeping schedule silently impacts circadian stability. The key to acquiring this pattern is through key exercises that would relax our mind, such as limiting caffeine intake several hours before sleep and incorporating a proper wind-down routine instead of abruptly transitioning from screentime to sleep.  </p><p>“From a skin perspective, improved sleep quality reduces cortisol levels and inflammation, leading to clearer and more radiant skin, something not even the most recommended topical product can fully replicate,” Dr. Coreen highlighted. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A skincare routine that’s simple yet effective</strong></div><p>When we’re exhausted from a graveyard shift, the mere thought of a long skincare routine can feel completely overwhelming. Even though skincare is often a form of therapy for us, fatigued night shift professionals experience hits on an entirely different level than daytime tiredness. Sticking to a simple, streamlined regimen doesn&#x27;t just save us precious energy—it ensures our skin stays consistently healthy without the added stress.</p><p>Dr. Coreen recommends a skincare routine from a realistic perspective: <strong>“A streamlined regimen consisting of a gentle cleanser, a targeted treatment step, a moisturizer, and sunscreen when awake and exposed to light is usually sufficient.”</strong> On days where extreme fatigue finds its way to us, a simple way of cleansing, applying a treatment product, and moisturizing can be considered a success. “The goal is not complexity but consistency, as maintaining a routine that fits seamlessly into one’s lifestyle will ultimately yield better results than an elaborate regimen that is difficult to sustain,” Dr. Coreen concluded. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776944514155pexels-ron-lach-8142198.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo via Pexels</span></span></span></div><p>The nocturnal lifestyle isn&#x27;t easy, and locking down a solid routine is even harder. But staying disciplined with our self-care brings a vital sense of balance to our bodies. A flipped schedule doesn&#x27;t mean our skin has to suffer; doubling down on skincare helps banish dullness, fight off aging, and keep us functioning at our peak. At the end of the day, our priority is to live life to the fullest and look amazing while doing it!</p>

<p>Calling All Night Owls: Yes, You Still Need That Restorative Skincare Routine!</p>

Dermatologist-Approved Skincare Routines for Night Shift Professionals

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Dermatologist-Approved Skincare Routines for Night Shift Professionals

Arci Claveria

Published April 24, 2026 12:00 PM PHT

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Updated April 24, 2026 12:45 PM PHT

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