Why You Should Use an Antioxidant Serum Before Bed
Your skin works the night shift
Most people think of skincare as something you do in the morning: cleanse, moisturise, sunscreen and out the door. But if there’s one step I tell people not to skip at night, it’s applying an antioxidant serum, especially at night!
Here’s why timing matters, and why your skin will thank you for giving it that extra boost before bed.
Your Skin Works the Night Shift
During the day, your skin is in defence mode. It’s constantly fighting UV rays, pollution, blue light, stress and other environmental aggressors. At night, however, your skin switches into repair mode. Blood flow increases, cell turnover accelerates and your skin works hardest to fix the damage done during the day.
This natural rhythm makes nighttime the most effective window to deliver concentrated actives, like antioxidants, that help your skin heal and regenerate.
Why Antioxidants Matter
One word: free radical. Okay, two words!
Unstable molecules from UV, pollution and internal stress (like irregular breathing) are a major cause of premature skin ageing. They damage collagen, trigger inflammation, and weaken the skin barrier. Antioxidants neutralise these free radicals, protecting your skin at the cellular level.
Common ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, polyphenols and niacinamide were thought to reduce oxidative stress.
Why Activated Apple Phenolics Outperform Others
However, not all antioxidants are created equal. Most antioxidants are easily degraded during processing, or they don’t penetrate skin cells effectively. Activated apple phenolics (extracted through a patented water-based method I developed at the University of Newcastle), are exceptionally potent and highly bioavailable. Unlike standard antioxidants, they are stable, water-soluble and mimic the way your body naturally absorbs nutrients.
This allows them to neutralise free radicals more efficiently, reduce inflammation at a cellular level, boost collagen repair and support deep tissue repair overnight. In clinical testing, activated phenolics have been shown to deliver stronger protection and repair benefits than traditional antioxidants, making them a powerful ally in nighttime skincare.
In short, by applying them at night, you’re working with your skin’s natural biology instead of against it.
Why Serums Beat Just Creams
Serums are lightweight, highly concentrated, and designed to penetrate deeply. Creams often focus on hydration and forming a barrier, while serums deliver active ingredients straight where they’re needed most. Think of serums as the “treatment” step, your skin gets the highest dose of antioxidants when it’s primed for repair.
The Nighttime Advantage
Higher absorption: At night, skin permeability increases, meaning active ingredients penetrate better.
Less interference: No sunscreen or makeup to block absorption.
Repair synergy: Antioxidants work hand-in-hand with your skin’s natural nighttime healing.
How to Use It
Cleanse gently to remove impurities.
Apply antioxidant serum evenly, focusing on face, neck and décolletage (if you don’t know what this is, google it).
Seal with a nourishing moisturiser to lock in hydration.
Skip harsh exfoliants at the same time, don’t introduce micro tears and inflammation, just let your skin focus on repair.
The Takeaway
Nighttime is when your skin is most receptive to care. Using the correct antioxidant serum before bed supercharges your body’s natural repair process, helping reduce signs of ageing, protect against daily stress and wake up with healthier, stronger skin.
I know this because from all of the studies we conducted, our serum with activated phenolics consistently out-performed even the “high-end” and expensive brands. Using it at night gives your skin the most potent, clinically relevant antioxidants available today.
Works great