skin journal · lamelin circadian skincare

no more gatekeeping: my whole routine, on the 24-hour skin clock

I get asked one question more than any other — what do you actually use? So here it is. All of it. Not a secret serum, not one hero product: a rhythm. My skin runs on a 24-hour clock, and my skincare finally does too.

Every interview, every comment section, every family reunion: “Ano ba talaga gamit mo?” And for years my answer was vague, because the honest answer sounded like a lecture.

So consider this the lecture — made short, and finally complete.

But the no-gatekeeping policy has to start with the part nobody reveals: this routine is an investment. Nine products across a day. A good ten minutes every morning, and nearly as long again at night, whether I feel like it or not. It is not cheap, and it is not quick, and I won’t pretend otherwise — because the biggest gatekeep in beauty was never the product list. It’s pretending it’s effortless.

What I can tell you is why it earns both the money and the minutes: every product has one job, assigned to the hours when that job matters. Nothing is decorative. And you don’t have to start with all of it — more on that at the end.

Here’s the thing I learned working with Lamelin’s team that changed how I think about all of it: your skin doesn’t behave the same way all day. Skin has its own internal clocks — research shows functions like water loss, permeability, blood flow, and cell renewal follow a 24-hour cycle. Skin tends to be more permeable in the evening, and repair activity linked to daytime UV damage has been reported to peak at night.

Not “skin only repairs at night” — skin biology runs continuously. But its priorities shift with the clock. Which means the smartest routine isn’t more products.

It’s the right products at the right hours. Protect by day. Renew by night.

the day ritual — defend

Mornings are about preparing skin for what the day throws at it: UV, pollution, aircon, stress. My daytime pair is Lamelin’s NMN + rose PDRN — NMN supports the skin’s cellular energy, for vitality and resilience as it faces the day, and the rose-derived PDRN supports recovery and balance. And let me be precise about one thing, because precision is rare in this industry: none of that replaces sunscreen. SPF is the actual protect step. Everything else is support.

1. [ img ]Gold Snail Cleansing Foama quiet first step — clears the night without stripping.
2. [ img ]Calming Tonerlight, fresh, non-sticky — preps skin for the day pair.
3. [ img ]2% Miracle NMN + PDRN Biotox Serum10,000 ppm NMN + 10,000 ppm rose PDRN — daily resilience for radiant-looking skin.
4. [ img ]B-tox Eye Serumcold roll-on for the eye area — thirty seconds I refuse to skip.
5. [ img ]NMN + PDRN Biotox Creamseals the morning in — hydration and barrier support for the hours ahead.
6. [ img ]Air Fit PDRN Sun Milk · Air Fit Sun Stickthe protect step. the sun milk at home; the stick lives in my bag for reapplication.

the night ritual — renew

Evenings flip the job. With the day’s exposure behind me, night is when I bring in the targeted work: Lamelin’s retinol at 0.1% paired with bakuchiol at 0.5% — renewal-driven correction with hydration layered around it so my skin recovers while it works. This is the half of my routine I gatekept longest, mostly because “retinol” scares people. Done in this order, at this strength, at night — it shouldn’t.

1. [ img ]Gold Snail Cleansing Foamreset — removes sunscreen, makeup, and the day’s residue gently.
2. [ img ]Calming Tonercalm before correction.
3. [ img ]Retinol Bakuchiol Wrinkle Serumnight renewal — retinol 0.1% + bakuchiol 0.5% working the same goal from two directions.
4. [ img ]Retinol Bakuchiol Wrinkle Gelhydration while it works — a light layer that supports the barrier during renewal.
5. [ img ]Retinol Bakuchiol Wrinkle Creamthe recover step — replenishes lipids and seals the night’s work in.

a day on my skin clock

my honest note

There is no single miracle product in this routine — and I’d distrust anyone who says otherwise. What there is: every product with a job, assigned to the hours when that job matters. That’s what I mean when I say my skin always looks and feels good. Not perfect. Consistent. The rhythm does the work.

your questions, answered

is it true skin only repairs itself at night?

Not quite — and the honest version is better. Skin biology runs around the clock; its activities follow circadian patterns. Permeability tends to be higher in the evening and repair activity related to UV damage has been reported to peak at night, which is why the targeted renewal steps sit in the PM. Day and night both matter — they just have different jobs.

does the nmn + pdrn serum protect me from the sun?

No — and be suspicious of any product that implies it does. NMN supports the skin’s cellular energy and resilience as it faces daytime stress; rose PDRN supports recovery and balance. Sunscreen is the protect step. That’s why my morning always ends with SPF.

can i do the night ritual if i’m new to retinol?

This system was built for exactly that — 0.1% retinol buffered by bakuchiol and hydration layers. Start two to three nights a week and build up. If your skin is currently irritated or reactive, calm it first before starting any corrective routine. And retinoids are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding — ask your doctor.

do i need both rituals, or can i start with one?

Start where your biggest gap is — I meant it when I said you don’t need all nine products on day one. No consistent SPF habit? Day ritual first — it’s the foundation. Skin fine by day but showing lines and dullness? The night pair is where renewal happens. Build toward the full rhythm at your own pace and budget; the rhythm is the goal, not the entry requirement.

Katrina is Lamelin’s global ambassador; this page reflects her personal routine and Lamelin’s circadian skincare approach. Skin functions vary over the 24-hour cycle; skincare supports, and does not replace, healthy sleep and daily sun protection. Retinoids are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Individual results vary; patch test new products. Lamelin’s PDRN is plant-derived (sodium DNA from Damask rose).