Heads up! There’s a new skin care trend on the block. TikTok skincare enthusiasts swear that this routine is unlike many of the routines out there. It’s called skin cycling. If you’re wondering, at this point, whether or not, this is fluff. It isn’t. Skin cycling is dominating social media for good reason. It works. And unlike most viral trends that have no base to it, this one was introduced and technically created by a dermatologist- Dr Whitney Bowe M.D.
What Is Skin Cycling?
Skin cycling is a four-night skincare routine intended to reset and strengthen the skin’s barriers. The primary goal is to prevent damage caused from over exfoliation, as well as, promote skin with recovery. In order for your skincare products to work effectively, you need active nights and recovery nights.
On active nights you can use intense products like chemical exfoliants, retinoids etc, while recovery nights are solely focused on hydration only. The importance of recovery nights is to allow the products used on the active nights to do the best they can for your skin. Bowe tells Bustle “Skin cycling takes a less-is-more-approach, being thoughtful and deliberate about your skincare routine, rather than adding more products on top of one another. It encourages you to use products in a strategic way to compliment one another.”
In many ways, it’s like a gym or workout routine. You have leg days, back days, core days and so on. You don’t do it all at once because the body needs time to recover. News flash so does your skin. “Skin cycling is not new, but it is important to have a skin schedule like a gym training schedule. You can’t work out the same muscle group every day; it will become fatigued” adds Dr Anthony Rossi Jr., MD.
Does Skin Cycling Really Work?
It’s normal to be apprehensive when you hear of a new skin routine, the beauty industry is notorious for coming up with trends that may or may not work as needed. But the great thing about cycling is that it’s not asking you to try another new product for the umpteenth time. It’s the same thing you’ve probably always done with your skincare routine, you’re just taking breaks in between this time. Here’s what some beauty editors and dermatologists had to say after trying out the routine.
“Skin cycling may be new on social media and in the news, but many dermatologists have been advising this for years. I have been practicing skin cycling with my own skincare products and routine for over 20 years”
Dr Loretta Pratt, a board-certified dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology, P.C.
“The skin cycling routine is simple and easy to follow, which makes it easy for anyone to adopt. As a dermatologist, I love this because I hear from many patients who say that skin care can feel complicated and overwhelming at first”
Dr Dendy Engelman – Board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at the Shafer Clinic.
How to Skin Cycle: A Sample Routine
The four-night routine that makes up the skin cycling routine basically consists of: exfoliation, retinoid use and two recovery nights.
Night 1: Exfoliate
This is the start of the cycle. Bowe recommends using a chemical exfoliant like facial peels rather than a physical one like a scrub because a chemical exfoliating serum will give your skin an immediate glow and set the stage for the following night. Cleanse first and pat try, then apply your exfoliant. After washing off or peeling off, apply moisturizer before going to bed.
Night 2: Retinol
Use retinol on the second night. Retinols are pretty powerful. They get the job done and because of that people think the more they use it the better. Retinols power is so much they must be used cautiously because it could cause break-outs. This is why retinol works well in a skin-cycling routine because it’s only used once in four days. “Retinoids are one of the most powerful ingredients to include in your skin cycling routine” adds Bowe. Cleanse your face and pat dry (Make sure your face is 100% dry). Put on the retinoid and make sure it’s just a pea-sized amount. That’s more than enough for your skin. Don’t forget to lock in with a moisturizer.
Night 3 and 4: Recovery
Recovery nights are the nights we give the heavy-duty exfoliants and retinol a break. This also gives our skin the time it needs to breathe. During these nights, hydration is key. Use hydrating serums or creams. Bowe adds that its important not to use any exfoliating acids or retinoids this time in order to give your skin a chance to recover. Just cleanse, then apply your hydrating product.
Morning Routine
Although the skin cycling schedule is mainly focused on nights, its is also important that you keep your morning routine fairly simple. There’s no need to pack products onto your skin. It will only hurt it, not help. Cleanse your skin, put on some vitamin c serum, a moisturizer and some SPF. After that, you’re good to go.
What Are The Effects Of Skin Cycling?
Skin cycling as already mentioned gives your skin room to breathe. It focuses on strengthening your skin barrier, which helps to minimize the chances of irritation and inflammation. It also gives the active ingredients in your products more chances of being successful. For skincare newbies whose skin aren’t used to retinol, it gives room for your skin to adjust and for the oldies, it gives the skin the space it needs from retinol.
Basically, skin cycling helps you enjoy the good parts of your skin products and may just let you avoid the possible side effects. Also, it doesn’t really matter what your skin has been through. Maybe it’s been damaged from too much product use or it’s never experienced any sort of care whatsoever, you can start skin cycling now without any prep.
As great as this skincare routine is, it may not work for EVERY skin type out there. However, that doesn’t mean you need to stop the routine. It just needs tweaking. For example, if you have sensitive skin you could add an extra recovery night and if you have oily skin, you can get a stronger exfoliant or exfoliate twice instead of once. You just need to test it out and see what works for you. “The beauty of skin cycling is that you can adjust your cycling schedule to meet your skin where it is. If you are experiencing sensitivity and irritation, you can increase your recovery nights. If you are seasoned and well-adjusted to your retinoid and want to dial-up, you can omit one recovery night for a three-night cycle” says Bowe. The takeaway here is that you need to listen to your skin. She knows what she wants.
Disclaimer
Before beginning a new skincare regimen, people with specific skin diseases, such as severe acne, rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, as well as those who take prescription skin drugs, should always consult their dermatologist. Bowe also adds that “your physician can tailor the skin cycling program to best suit your complexion”.