Spring Reset: How to Refresh Your Skincare and Sleep Routine

The RetouchPillow Team
2026-04-18T11:34:12+02:00

Spring is the natural moment to reassess your skincare routine — and the sleep habits that either support or undermine it. Here's how to reset both.

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Most skincare conversations happen in front of a mirror. We talk about cleansers, serums, SPF, and the right order to layer actives. What we talk about far less is what happens after we turn the light off — the 7 or 8 hours when our skin is quietly doing the most important work of the day.

Spring is a good moment to look at both sides of that equation. Not just what you put on your skin, but the environment your skin is in while it repairs itself overnight.

How Your Skin Changes in Spring

The transition from winter to spring is one of the more demanding periods for skin. Cold air and indoor heating have likely left your barrier compromised — prone to sensitivity, uneven texture, and dullness. As temperatures rise and humidity returns, your skin starts to recalibrate. Oil production increases. Products that felt essential in January can start to feel heavy or congesting by April.

This is a good time to reassess. Not necessarily to overhaul everything, but to ask whether your routine is still suited to what your skin actually needs right now.

A few adjustments worth considering as the season shifts:

Swap a heavy night cream for something lighter with ceramides and hyaluronic acid

Introduce a Vitamin C serum in the morning for brightening and antioxidant protection

Be consistent with SPF — UV intensity increases significantly from March onwards, even on overcast days

If you've been using retinol through winter, spring is a good time to assess whether your skin has built enough tolerance to increase frequency

The Part of Your Skincare Routine That Happens While You Sleep

Skin cell turnover peaks between 11pm and 4am. Collagen synthesis increases. The skin barrier actively rebuilds itself. This is why what you apply before bed matters — but it's also why the conditions you sleep in matter just as much.

If you're applying a retinol, a peptide serum, or a rich overnight treatment, and then pressing your face into a rough cotton pillowcase for eight hours, a significant portion of those actives are being absorbed by the fabric rather than your skin. The friction also creates mechanical stress on the skin surface — the opposite of what you're trying to achieve.

A smooth, breathable pillowcase — bamboo silk being one of the better options — reduces that friction and helps your skin retain both moisture and the products you've applied. It's a small change with a compounding effect over time. We've written in more detail about exactly this in why your pillow is sabotaging your skincare routine.

Sleep Position and Skin Ageing: A More Honest Look

The relationship between sleep position and skin ageing is well documented, but often discussed in a way that's more alarmist than useful. The reality is more nuanced.

Side sleeping — which the majority of people do — does create repeated compression on one side of the face. Over years, this can contribute to asymmetric lines, particularly along the cheeks and around the mouth. Stomach sleeping is generally harder on the skin, pressing the entire face into the pillow with more force.

Back sleeping eliminates facial contact with the pillow entirely, which is why dermatologists often recommend it. But it's not realistic for everyone — people with sleep apnoea, snoring, or certain back conditions may not be able to sleep on their back comfortably, and sleep quality matters far more for skin health than position alone.

A more practical approach for side sleepers is to focus on how you sleep rather than trying to change that you sleep on your side. A pillow with the right shape and firmness can significantly reduce the degree of facial compression — supporting the head and neck in a way that keeps the face more neutral, rather than sinking into the pillow surface. The goal isn't to eliminate side sleeping. It's to make it less damaging. For a deeper look at the science behind this, see our post on the overnight ageing you don't see — until you do.

Do Anti-Wrinkle Pillows Actually Work?

It's a fair question, and one worth answering honestly. The short answer is: it depends on the pillow and how you sleep. A pillow designed to reduce facial compression — through its shape, loft, and surface material — can meaningfully reduce the mechanical stress that contributes to sleep wrinkles over time. It won't reverse existing lines, but used consistently, it can slow the formation of new ones.

We've covered this in detail, including what dermatologists actually say about the evidence, in our post do anti-wrinkle pillows really work? — worth reading if you're weighing up whether it's a worthwhile investment.

What to Actually Look for in a Pillow for Skin Health

Most pillows are designed around comfort and spinal support — which matters — but very few are designed with the skin in mind. If you're thinking about your pillow from a skin and sleep perspective, here's what's worth paying attention to:

Surface material — smooth, low-friction fabrics reduce mechanical stress on the skin. Bamboo silk and mulberry silk are both good options. High thread-count cotton is better than standard cotton, but still creates more friction than silk-based materials.

Shape and loft — a pillow that keeps your head well-supported reduces the degree to which your face sinks into the surface. For side sleepers, this means a pillow with enough loft to keep the spine aligned without the face pressing hard into the pillow.

Breathability — heat and moisture trapped against the skin overnight can contribute to congestion and sensitivity. Natural materials tend to regulate temperature better than synthetic fills.

Building a Nighttime Routine That Actually Works

The most effective routines are the ones you can sustain. A five-step routine you do every night will outperform a ten-step routine you do twice a week. Here's a framework that works for most skin types in spring:

1. Cleanse properly — if you wear SPF or makeup, double cleanse. An oil cleanser first, then a gentle water-based cleanser. Going to bed with residual SPF on your skin is one of the more common and underappreciated mistakes.

2. Treat — apply your active (retinol, niacinamide, AHA, peptides) to clean skin. Less is more. A pea-sized amount of retinol is sufficient.

3. Moisturise — don't skip this even if your skin feels oily. A lightweight moisturiser with ceramides supports barrier repair overnight.

4. Seal if needed — a facial oil or occlusive balm on very dry areas can help lock in moisture. Apply last.

Then sleep on something that doesn't undo it.

The Compounding Logic of Small Changes

Skincare results are rarely dramatic or immediate. They accumulate. A slightly better pillowcase, a slightly more consistent routine, a slightly more supportive sleep environment — none of these feel significant on any given night. Over six months, they add up to noticeably different skin.

Spring is as good a time as any to make those adjustments. Not because of the season, but because you're reading this now, and now is always the right time to start.

→ Shop the RetouchPillow — designed for your skin as much as your sleep.