I am always thinking about how much sleep I get, whether it's counting the exact hours I'll have from getting home to waking up for the next day to sneaking in a nap before a big event. Sleep — and my lack thereof — is always on my mind. So, when I traveled 14 hours to Seoul, South Korea to learn more about sleep, and the work Samsung is doing to help you track that, I was all in.
With its latest Galaxy Watch — packed with all kinds of wellness features — the brand highlights that how you sleep sleep can be just as important as how many steps you take. While in Seoul I dove into all the ways wellness is connected, from sleep, fitness, and food. Samsung’s sleep-tracking features go beyond counting hours. The Galaxy Watch monitors your sleep stages, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and even snoring patterns (which was a fun treat to learn that I do not snore!) to give you a detailed look at what really happens after you close your eyes. Those results lead you to a personalized sleep score that doesn’t just tell you how long you slept—but how well. After analyzing your sleep habits, the watch assigns you a “sleep animal”—a chronotype designed to help you understand your natural rhythm—and offers weekly, tailored guidance to help you build better bedtime habits.
And as of June 16, Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watch update, part of the One UI 8 Watch rollout, brings a fresh wave of wellness tools that make tracking your health more intuitive, and overall more personal. Their Bedtime Guidance is meant to suggest your ideal sleep time based on recent patterns and your circadian rhythm, helping you wake up more refreshed and alert. It builds on Samsung’s growing sleep toolkit, which already includes apnea detection and personalized coaching.
Also new is Vascular Load, a feature that monitors the stress on your vascular system while you sleep, which can be a key indicator of heart health. By simply wearing the watch overnight, you’ll get insights into how well your body recovers and how stress, sleep, and lifestyle connect. Rounding out the update are Running Coach for smarter training and an Antioxidant Index to track carotenoid levels linked to healthy aging. These features are available now to beta users and coming soon to the newest Galaxy Watch models—putting better health, literally, at your fingertips.
It seems like every other scroll on the internet I see Gen Zers getting into running or asking TikTok doctors to help diagnose themselves. As Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team claims, “Only 3 percent of US health care is spent on preventative care.” So, leaning into wellness tech seems to be the way to start prioritizing your health, even when you think it's not relevant just yet.
I will admit my sleep was a bit whacky while dealing with the drastic timezone change, but it was my personal mission while back in NYC to really lean in. And after a week in Seoul, it was inevitable to also be thinking about Korean beauty. Since sleep is so important for the body, and your skin counts in that equation, it must also play a role in our skin care routine too.
So, after nabbing a few fun products from Olive Young in Seoul, I decided to full force use my Samsung watch and Korean skin care products to see if there was a holistic approach to sleep and skin care that I should be trying out.
It's been a little over three weeks since I've returned and I've slowly gotten my sleep back to the seven-hour range and I've also gotten a ton of compliments on my skin. While it will surely take some more time to confirm my personal discoveries, I spoke with two experts all about just how much sleep plays a role in your skin care routine.
Does sleep really play a role in your skin care?
At the end of the day, or rather, at the end of your evening routine, sleep is your skin’s best friend. No cream or serum can fully replicate the hormonal and cellular processes that unfold during deep, restful sleep. “Skin regeneration peaks overnight,” says Dr. Asmi Berry, a board-certified dermatologist and self-described “beauty biohacker” based in Los Angeles. “Missing sleep isn’t just about feeling tired—it impacts how quickly your skin heals, how much collagen it makes, and how well it functions overall.”
So yes, a luxe serum or a new overnight mask might help. But the foundation of truly healthy skin? That’s built in the dark—quietly, night after night, while you sleep. Miss out on sleep, and your skin will let you know. Puffy eyes, dullness, and breakouts are just the beginning. Poor sleep increases the body’s production of cortisol, a stress hormone that triggers inflammation, weakens your skin barrier, and increases oil production—a perfect storm for acne, rosacea, and eczema.
“If you’re getting less sleep, it’s even more important to keep your nighttime routine simple and focused on hydration and repair,” says Dr. Angela Lamb. “Your skin is already under stress, so soothe it—don’t overload it.”
How does the skin repair itself during sleep?
“During sleep, your body enters a repair and recovery mode,” says Dr. Asmi Berry, a board-certified dermatologist and self-described beauty biohacker based in Los Angeles. “Blood flow to the skin increases, collagen production rises, and cell turnover speeds up. This is when your skin works hardest to repair damage from environmental stressors, like UV rays and pollution.”
Dr. Lamb agrees: “Sleep is when your skin rebuilds from the damage it faces during the day—sun, pollution, weather. It’s one of the most powerful yet overlooked aspects of skin health.”
Are there specific ingredients that are more effective when used at night?
Both dermatologists emphasize that consistent, quality sleep—ideally 7 to 9 hours per night—is essential for maintaining healthy skin. While your skincare products do a lot of the heavy lifting, your skin needs uninterrupted sleep to actually put those ingredients to work.
That’s because your skin is more permeable at night, meaning products absorb better while you sleep. “You’re not exposed to sunlight, pollution, or touch, so it’s the perfect time to apply potent actives like retinol, peptides, or ceramides,” says Dr. Berry. “Retinol, for instance, breaks down in sunlight, so using it at night ensures both safety and effectiveness.”
If you’re not quite ready for retinoids, Dr. Lamb suggests gentler, supportive products like Neutrogena’s Collagen Bank Moisturizer, which hydrates while reinforcing skin structure—without the potential irritation. For serious hydration, both experts recommend overnight treatments like EltaMD Barrier Renewal Complex, Skinbetter’s AlphaRet Overnight Cream, or rich sleeping masks from Summer Fridays and Laneige.
Can the materials of your pillowcase or bedsheets impact your skin health?
And it’s not just what you put on your face that matters—what your face touches all night plays a role, too. Pillowcases, for example, can quietly sabotage your skin. “Cotton causes friction and absorbs your skincare products,” says Dr. Berry. “Silk or satin pillowcases are a game-changer. They’re gentle, reduce creasing, and don’t soak up your serums.”
Dr. Lamb adds that silk pillowcases are especially helpful for those prone to breakouts or irritation. And no matter the material, cleanliness counts: “Change your pillowcase at least once a week—or more often if you’re acne-prone. Oils, bacteria, and product residue build up fast,” she notes.
Even how you sleep matters. Pressing your face into a pillow every night can lead to creases, clogged pores, and long-term signs of aging. “Sleeping on your back is best,” says Dr. Berry. “But if that’s not comfortable, a silk pillowcase can help minimize the damage.”
The environment in your bedroom can also play a supportive role in your skin’s overnight recovery. A humidifier can combat dry indoor air, especially during winter or in dry climates, keeping your skin from drying out while you sleep. “Air purifiers are another underrated tool,” says Dr. Lamb. “They reduce airborne allergens and pollutants that can trigger inflammation and irritation in sensitive or acne-prone skin.”
