Your skin repairs
itself every night.
This is what it runs on.
A nighttime serum formulated around melatonin at the concentration the research uses. Not a token amount for the label. Every other active earns its place by working through the same biological pathways melatonin triggers at night.
The Biology
While you sleep, your skin
runs its most demanding shift.
Cell turnover accelerates. Collagen synthesis peaks. DNA repair enzymes go to work. This is documented, circadian, and it runs on a schedule whether or not your skincare does.
Most skincare applies an ingredient and hopes it does something. A nighttime formula should be designed around when the biology runs. And what it needs to run well.
The Science
Melatonin is not a sleep hormone.
It is a repair signal.
The pineal gland produces melatonin to regulate circadian rhythm. That part is well known. Less known: the skin produces its own melatonin independently, and skin cells express melatonin receptors (MT1, MT2) that respond to topically applied concentrations.1
When melatonin binds those receptors, it does more than scavenge free radicals. It acts as an epigenetic switch, upregulating your skin's own antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. It triggers repair pathways, not just protection.2
The amphiphilic advantage. Most actives are either water-soluble or oil-soluble. Melatonin is both. It crosses the hydrophilic intracellular space and the lipophilic cell membranes. Most topical actives reach one compartment. Melatonin reaches all of them.3
1. Slominski et al., 2005. 2. Fischer et al., 2013. 3. Bangha et al., 1996. References describe ingredient research. HelioRhythm has not been independently clinically tested.
Reactive oxygen species neutralized per melatonin molecule.
Melatonin and its downstream metabolites form a cascade. Each step neutralizes another ROS before the chain ends. Most antioxidants stop at one. Vitamin C stops at one. Melatonin keeps going.4
4. Tan et al., 2000. Cascading reaction refers to melatonin and its metabolites AFMK and AMK.
Our Approach
Not a moisturizer with melatonin in it.
A repair formula centered on it.
We formulated around melatonin at the concentration that appears in the published research. Not a trace amount for the label. Every other active earns its place by working through the same biological pathways melatonin opens at night.
The Formula
Five actives. One repair window.
Every ingredient is included because it amplifies what the others do. Nothing is here to pad an INCI list.
Melatonin 0.5%
Research-supported concentration
The circadian signal your skin is already designed to receive. At 0.5%, the concentration sits within the core published research range. Efficacy well-supported. Systemic exposure calculation comfortable under EU safety assessment.
Melatonin's dual solubility means it reaches every skin compartment topically. Water-soluble, so it moves through the intracellular space. Oil-soluble, so it passes through cell membranes. Most topical actives travel one route. Melatonin travels both.3
Beyond direct antioxidant action, melatonin upregulates your skin's own repair enzymes: SOD, catalase, GPx. Through its metabolite cascade, one molecule neutralizes up to ten reactive oxygen species before the chain ends.4
Coenzyme Q10
Ubiquinone · mitochondrial electron carrier
CoQ10 is what your mitochondria run on to generate cellular energy. It also functions as a fat-soluble antioxidant. It declines with age, measurably enough that researchers can date tissue samples by their CoQ10 content. Carried in the lipid phase of this formula, it sits where mitochondria-dense dermal cells do their most active repair work overnight.5
CoQ10 and melatonin work through different channels. Melatonin via receptor-mediated signaling and the ROS cascade. CoQ10 via the mitochondrial electron transport chain. At night, when cellular repair demand is highest, both together is not redundant. It is synergistic.
Niacinamide 5%
Vitamin B3 · NAD+ precursor
In most serums, niacinamide is included for tone-evening and sebum regulation. It does both well. In this formula it earns its place for a different reason: niacinamide is a direct precursor to NAD+, the coenzyme that powers the DNA repair enzymes, sirtuins and PARPs, most active during your skin's overnight cycle.6
NAD+ is the fuel the repair machinery runs on. Niacinamide restocks it. Barrier support is the secondary benefit.
Allantoin 0.5%
Keratinocyte support · wound-repair axis
Allantoin accelerates keratinocyte proliferation, the skin cells responsible for surface renewal, and has a documented role in wound-healing research. It softens the protein bonds between dead surface cells, making way for the freshly produced cells underneath.7
Night is when keratinocyte turnover peaks. Paired with panthenol, it forms a wound-repair axis: allantoin handles cellular renewal, panthenol handles the barrier behind it. Its soothing properties make the formula appropriate for reactive skin types.
Panthenol 2%
Provitamin B5 · barrier co-architect
Panthenol converts to pantothenic acid in the skin. There it functions as a cofactor in fatty acid synthesis, rebuilding your barrier's lipid layers. In a nighttime formula, barrier repair is not cosmetic. It keeps active compounds in and stressors out during the hours your skin rebuilds most actively.8
Its tolerability profile makes the formula suitable for sensitive skin. Unlike retinol, it does not induce photosensitivity or the same level of irritation.
Delivery System
Squalane · Lecithin · Multi-weight Hyaluronic Acid
The lipid phase is built on plant-derived squalane. Oxidatively stable. Non-comedogenic. Structurally close to the skin's own sebum. Hydrogenated sunflower lecithin creates lamellar structures identical in architecture to skin barrier lipids, enhancing penetration of melatonin and CoQ10. Multi-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid provides hydration at both surface and deeper dermal levels.
No mineral oil. No silicones. The texture is richer than a daytime serum by design. Nighttime repair benefits from mild occlusion. What feels heavy at 8am is exactly right at 11pm.
5. Crane et al., 2013. 6. Benavente et al., 2012. 7. Araujo et al., 2010. 8. Ebner et al., 2002. References describe ingredient research. HelioRhythm has not been independently clinically tested.
Honest Comparison
How HelioRhythm compares.
| Feature | HelioRhythm Night | Standard night cream | Retinol serum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melatonin at research-supported dose | ✓ | n/a | n/a |
| Targets circadian repair cycle | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| NAD+ pathway support (Niacinamide 5%) | ✓ | n/a | n/a |
| Suitable for sensitive skin | ✓ | n/a | ✗ |
| Fragrance-free, alcohol-free | ✓ | n/a | n/a |
| Vegan | ✓ | n/a | n/a |
HelioRhythm is a cosmetic serum, not a medical treatment. Designed to support the skin's natural overnight processes, not to diagnose or treat any condition.
The Ritual
Three minutes before bed.
Eight hours of work.
Cleanse
After your evening cleanser, on slightly damp skin. Remove makeup, sunscreen, and the day's oxidative load before applying.
Apply 4–5 drops
Press gently into face, neck, and decollete. Do not rub. Allow 60 seconds for the lipid phase to begin absorbing.
Let the night run it
No SPF. No next step. Sleep. Your skin's circadian repair program takes it from here. The formula works with that program, not over it.
Why I Made This
A note from the founder.
I work in healthcare. That environment teaches you things about how the body functions that most people encounter differently, if at all. One of them is how much timing matters. Not just what you give the body, but when. The biology runs on schedules. Skin is no exception.
The moment that started this was ordinary. I was in a drugstore with my wife, who was breastfeeding at the time, looking for a nighttime face product she could actually use. Everything on the shelf was either fragrance-forward and unverified, or retinol-based and contraindicated during breastfeeding. Not one product said anything about when skin repairs itself, or what it needs to do that well.
I went home and started reading. The research on topical melatonin in skin cells is compelling. Not because melatonin is a trending ingredient, but because the skin already makes it, already has receptors for it, and uses it as a signal to run its own repair enzymes. CoQ10 sits in the same mitochondrial repair loop. Niacinamide feeds the NAD+ pathway those enzymes run on. The formula builds from the biology first.
This is a first batch. Every ingredient will be safety-assessed under EU cosmetics regulation before a single bottle ships. I am not a marketer. I am someone who works in healthcare, read enough of the literature to believe this product should exist, and built it because I could not find it.
The Founder, HelioRhythm
30-day refund
Try it for a full month. If you are not convinced, we refund in full. Bottle empty or full.
Made in EU
Manufactured in a GMP-certified facility under European cosmetics regulation. Full safety assessment before launch.
Ships Q4 2026
Reserve now to lock in the €49 launch price. Retail goes to €69 after the first batch ships.
Questions
Honest answers.
Will the melatonin in this affect my sleep?
No. Topical melatonin applied to the skin does not meaningfully raise systemic melatonin levels the way an oral supplement does. The concentrations used in cosmetic formulations and the absorption profile of the skin mean this serum will not function as a sleep aid. It is formulated for your skin cells, not your pineal gland.
Is melatonin legal as a skincare ingredient in the EU?
Yes. Melatonin is not listed as a prohibited or restricted ingredient under EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. It is used legally in cosmetic products across the EU at concentrations supported by safety data. Our formulation will undergo a full EU cosmetic safety assessment (CPSR) before it goes on sale. This is a legal requirement we are meeting, not a marketing claim.
Can I use this alongside retinol?
Yes, though alternating nights is preferable to layering both in one application. Melatonin and retinol address different mechanisms. There is no known adverse interaction. But applying two active serums simultaneously is unnecessary and can stress reactive skin. If you use retinol regularly, use HelioRhythm on the nights you do not.
Is this safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
The formula was designed with this specifically in mind. No retinol, no salicylic acid, no essential oils, no fragrance, no high-dose vitamin A derivatives. These are the ingredients most commonly flagged during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with any new skincare product during pregnancy, check with your midwife or GP before starting use.
Is this clinically tested?
The individual active ingredients are documented in peer-reviewed literature, which we cite throughout this page. The finished HelioRhythm formula will undergo full EU safety and stability testing before it ships. We have not run proprietary clinical-efficacy trials on the finished product. We will share results transparently when we do. We would rather tell you that than imply otherwise.
Will it work for sensitive skin?
The formula is fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and built around ingredients, allantoin, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, with strong track records on sensitive skin. Melatonin itself has documented anti-inflammatory properties. Patch test on the inner forearm for 24 hours before full application. If you are on prescription skin treatments, consult your dermatologist before adding any new active serum.
Why reserve now if it ships in Q4 2026?
Reserving locks in the €49 launch price. After the first batch ships, retail goes to €69. We are manufacturing in a deliberately small first run. Smaller batches mean fresher active ingredients, tighter quality control, and less time between manufacture and your skin. No payment is taken until we confirm your order is ready to ship.
Reserve Your Bottle
First batch. €49 each.
Ships Q4 2026.
Drop your email to reserve at the launch price. After the first batch ships, the price goes to €69. One email when it is ready. No list. No spam.
