LOOKING your best isn’t just about what you do – it’s about when you do it.

Timing is everything when it comes to your beauty routine, as your body’s natural cycles enhance different processes throughout the day.

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Experts at Boots No7 have discovered your skin’s repair mechanisms are most active between 2am and 4am.

Their study reveals skin renewal operates on a 24-hour schedule, hitting its “rush hour” in the middle of the night.

So it is essential to prioritise quality sleep during those peak hours to wake up looking refreshed.

With the help of beauty therapist Jade Joseph from Zen Healthcare, Katy Docherty and Natalie Clarke reveal how to sync your routine with your Beauty Clock for maximum results.

6am: SHAVE YOUR LEGS

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THERE is an increase in blood clotting platelets from 6am to 9am, according to a study published by the National Centre for Biotechnology but only if you are moving around during that time.

So shaving your legs then can reduce the risk of having to reach for the plaster box.

Jade says: “Always take a warm shower and exfoliate the area before shaving to remove dead skin and lift any ingrown hairs to get the closest shave.”

Best not to shave on a Monday, though. Studies have shown that skin may be more sensitive if we have broken our routine over the weekend.

 . . . WASH HAIR TOO

IF you are planning to wash your hair, do it in the morning.

According to Medical News Today, going to bed with wet hair can lead to all sorts of issues.

The combination of warmth and dampness on your pillow creates the perfect environment for fungal infections to develop in the hair follicles.

If there’s a thunderstorm raging outside, however, it’s best to put off washing your hair until the next day – high humidity can lead to frizz.

7am: DON’T WASH YOUR FACE

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SKIPPING your morning cleanse allows the skin to strengthen its protective moisture barrier.

The surface layer of skin is home to one trillion bacteria, known as the microbiome. It’s the skin’s first line of defence and we shouldn’t tamper with it.

If you can’t contemplate not washing your face, try using raw honey as a gentle alternative.

It’s a natural antibacterial, packed with skin-loving enzymes, and helps maintain the microbiome without stripping the skin’s protective barrier.

8am: PUT ON YOUR MAKE-UP

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APPLYING make-up earlier in the morning will give better application as the skin has just completed its overnight regeneration cycle and is often hydrated, calm and less reactive.

Jade says: “Applying make-up too late in the day can mean putting product over oil build up, sweat or environmental debris.

“It’s optimal timing forr getting your slap on and taking a perfect selfie.”

1pm: GET YOUR NAILS DONE

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BETWEEN 11am and 3pm is the warmest time of day, and the temperature will help your nails dry more quickly, reducing the risk of a chip or smudge.

By 1pm, the body temperature is slightly higher and your circulation is more active.

This means better blood flow to the nail beds which can improve absorption of nourishing oils and treatments applied.

Jade says: “Always finish with a hand cream with SPF as your hands are the first areas to show signs of ageing.”

2pm: TAKE A NAP

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AS we sleep, our body releases a growth hormone that stimulates collagen production, according to Nuffield Health, so if you can fit in a nap, you may be able to help boost and plump your skin.

And experts typically recommend that adults take a nap eight or more hours before bedtime to avoid disrupting your real sleep.

When you lie down, apply cooling eye patches and a light hydrating mist.

Jade says: “Keep your head slightly elevated to wake up looking and feeling like you have just had a facial.”

3pm: TREAT YOURSELF TO A MASSAGE

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ABDOMINAL massages have been shown to reduce bloating, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Having the massage a couple of hours after lunch may help shake off that horrible bloated feeling.

Lie with your legs elevated during a massage – it encourages better circulation and lymph flow which helps reduce swelling, bloating and water retention.

4pm: HAVE A TWEAKMENT

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ACCORDING to experts at The Cosmetic Skin Clinic, which specialises in non-surgical aesthetic treatments, it’s important to try to stay upright for three to four hours after having Botox.

This helps prevent the injected substance from spreading to unintended areas.

So you don’t want to have Botox in the evening when you’re closer to hitting the hay.

Try sleeping on a silk pillowcase post-Botox to reduce friction and irritation.

5pm: EAT DINNER EARLY TO LOSE WEIGHT

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TIMING your meals could be the secret weapon to staying trim.

A study by Harvard researchers revealed those who dined just two and a half hours before bedtime burned significantly fewer calories than those who wrapped up their last meal six and a half hours before going to bed.

The science suggests that giving your body more time to digest before sleep keeps your metabolism firing on all cylinders, making those late-night snacks a potential culprit for holding on to extra weight.

Your body will be focused on digestion, rather than repairing your skin, if you eat too late in the evening.

7.30pm: WASH OFF YOUR MAKE-UP AND CLEANSE

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BY cleaning your face when the sun sets, you help to keep the circadian rhythm, your body’s internal clock, in balance.

According to researchers at the Center For Genomic Regulation, when the sun sets, your skin’s repair systems spring into action to produce new skin cells, helping to slow down the ageing process.

Washing your face at this time will remove environmental stressors, right as your skin gears up for renewal.

Jade says: “When washing your face, use an oil-based cleansing balm first to melt off make-up, followed by a gentle foam cleanser to ensure a deep clean.”

9pm: HAVE A BATH

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A STUDY by the Cockrell School of Engineering in the US found that soaking for as little as ten minutes in a bath, an hour or two before bed, was related to improved sleep quality and efficiency, as well as faster dropping-off times.

Try adding flat champagne, which can have a mild exfoliating effect. Or try Jade’s more traditional suggestion.

She says: “Add Epsom salts or lavender oil to your bath for an extra calming effect.”

10pm: SLATHER ON FAKE TAN

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A STUDY from Florida found dihydroxyacetone (DHA) in tanning products can make skin more susceptible to sun damage for 24 hours after application. So get it on the night before.

Worried about reaching your back? Take a strip of cling film and lie it on the bathroom floor, then apply some fake tan lotion to the centre. Pick it up and apply the fake tan to your back like you do when you’re using a towel.

Remember also to follow Jade’s advice.

She says: “Always moisturize dry areas including elbows, knees, hands and ankles to prevent patchiness.”