Whether we’re scoffing breakfast at our desks or squeezing in a workout during the lunch break, our day-to-day routines are more jam packed than ever.

Unsurprisingly, that can have a knock-on effect on our sleep.

Which not only leaves our mind and body feeling out of sync; it can also stop skin looking healthy (and leave us on the end of unsolicited, “You look a bit tired” comments).

That out of sync feeling comes down to your circadian rhythm, which might be why you’ve heard the term knocking about in beauty and wellness circles.

But how does it work? And why do our circadian rhythms struggle to stay in a consistent cycle?

Here’s the lowdown on what it is and what you can do about it.

Simply put, your circadian rhythm is your body’s 24-hour clock.

Throughout the day and night, your body goes through a number of processes. Hence why we feel alert, hungry and tired at certain points of the day.

Your circadian rhythm also works to control your blood pressure, temperature and hormone production. Without it, we wouldn’t know when we should sleep and when we need to wake up.

It’s basically an internal work schedule.

So, it’s important to keep it in sync.

The London Sleep Centre says that an unbalanced circadian rhythm can result in a few disorders, including jet lag, an irregular sleep-wake cycle and shift work-related circadian disorder. 

Along with sleep cycles and digestion, our circadian rhythm heavily influences our mood and behavior.

A Lancet Psychiatry study looked at the circadian rhythm of over 91,000 people and found a disrupted body clock was linked with mental health conditions such as depression and bipolar.

Our circadian rhythm also impacts hormone release. And yes, that means it can have a big knock-on effect to your skin.

Staggeringly, up to 20% of cell activity is influenced by our body clocks.

Meaning overworked, tired skin can look dull and result in breakouts, so it’s important to maintain a circadian rhythm that’s balanced for a healthy glow.

Keeping your body clock in rhythm doesn’t need to be rocket science.

Enter the Elemis Peptide 24/7 range. Inspired by the body’s inner clock, the three-product collection recognises our skin’s ups and downs. They all contain a tetra-peptide, made up of four amino acids which support your skin, helping to leave it looking and feeling well-rested all day and all night.

The three key products are suited to different times of the day. Here’s how to seamlessly incorporate the products into your daily routine:

During the day staring at screens most of the time can leave our eyes feeling a bit strained and tired. 

Beat the slump with the reviving Elemis Peptide⁴ Eye Recovery Cream, which has star arvensis™ and night scented stock (which contains high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids that can help leave skin looking healthier, refreshed and radiant) to provide a quick hit of hydration to help revive and brighten under eyes.

In the evening, reach for the Elemis Peptide⁴ Thousand Flower Mask. 

It’s packed with Nordic Peat to help deliver minerals and vitamins to the skin for the day ahead. In independent user trials, 96% of participants agreed that it left skin looking more luminous.

Use once a week for 15 minutes and make sure to remove with a dark cloth if you value your white towels.

Over night, our skin cells work hard to repair and renew any damage inflicted during the day. 

The Elemis Peptide⁴ Night Recovery Cream-Oil uses perilla seed and Elemis’ night scented stock to help leave skin feeling nourished and, more importantly, well rested. In independent user trials, 100% of participants felt that the cream-oil alone made them look like they had eight hours of sleep.

Go ahead and hack your circadian rhythm. 

To beat the effects of your circadian rhythm and bring balance back to your skin, shop the Elemis Peptide 24/7 range - plus get £10 off when you spend £50 online at Elemis now.