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Prevent transepidermal water loss with these splendid moisturisers. Picture: Soak Sunday.

Ever wondered why skin looks duller when you wake, even when you’ve slept soundly on silk bedding?

Skin produces less natural oil when we sleep, but the chief culprit is transepidermal water loss (TEWL), the passing of water from the dermis through the epidermis, where it evaporates from the skin's surface. This drying process happens at night all year round and in daytime when temperatures drop. The night-time moisture loss occurs because of increased cellular activity. This happens even when you don’t sleep (though sleep is essential for good repair), as skin has its own circadian rhythm that registers when night falls.