Some people wake up and immediately leap into a shower like they’re starring in an upbeat shampoo commercial. Good for them. The rest of us prefer to shower at night—mostly because the idea of doing anything before coffee feels like a legally binding mistake.
But beyond personal preference, nighttime showers offer some solid perks.
Our skin is basically clocking in for the night shift
Turns out your skin gets more absorbent in the evening. So when you slap on moisturizer after a nighttime shower, your skin’s like, “Finally, some respect,” and actually uses it.
Plus, your cells do most of their turnover at night, so think of it like giving your face a little pep talk and the tools it needs before a big overnight shift.
We’re washing off the day… and the crimes your pores witnessed
Let’s be honest: we get gross during the day. Sweat. Pollution. Whatever mystery particles float around in public spaces. If you work a physically demanding or messy job, double it.
Taking a nighttime shower means all that grime goes down the drain—not onto your pillow, which already has enough to deal with.
Bonus: it helps us sleep
Not one of those blessed individuals who falls asleep the moment they blink? A warm shower can help. When you get out, your body temperature drops, and that drop basically whispers to your brain, “Time to power down.”
Studies say bathing one to two hours before bed helps people fall asleep about 10 minutes faster. Ten minutes may not sound like much, but at 2 a.m., it feels like a miracle.
For some, a morning shower and a cup of coffee go hand in hand. They can't imagine starting the day any other way. For others, a warm wash down before bed is the only way to end the night and ensure a peaceful sleep. Deciding when to shower is usually a matter of finding what works best for your lifestyle, but it's worth considering: Are there any advantages to showering in the morning or at night?
I prefer the night. Our skin permeability is higher in the evening, so the skin may absorb moisturizer more effectively at night.
Evening showers are also optimum on a cellular level. Cells turn over most at night, so it makes sense to shower in the evening and then moisturize to take full advantage of the benefits of cell regeneration," she says.
We get really dirty during the day
People who sweat a lot or work jobs that involve high levels of grime — think garbage collectors, construction workers — should opt for an end-of-day shower for "better skin health," says Dr. Asim Nazir Cheema, a board-certified internist and cardiologist based in Ontario, Canada. "Nighttime showers remove the day's accumulated pollutants, allergens, and sweat from your skin." Without the nightly cleanse, "they spend eight hours pressed against your bedding."
We have trouble falling asleep
Not one of those people who dozes off within minutes of climbing into bed? Bathing in warm water may help, as it triggers a cooling process in your body. "Taking a shower at night will drop your core body temperature, which is actually a signal for your body to fall into sleep more easily. Studies show that warming the body through bathing, one to two hours before bedtime, improved sleep quality and helped people fall asleep about 10 minutes faster," explains Cheema.