Skin cycling is a skincare routine based on rotating product application, providing recovery time for the skin:
The call skin cycling, or “skin cycle”, is a new skincare trend that is taking the internet by storm. If you search for the term on TikTok you will find thousands of posts talking about the benefits of this dermis care routine.
Skin cycling is basically a new way of taking care of your skin, where the important thing is to give it time to rest. In short, it is a method based on the rotation of active ingredients applied to the skin throughout the week.
So forget that idea of applying all skincare products in the same routine daily. Here the aim is not to overload the skin and give it time to recover. This new skin care methodology was created by American dermatologist Whitney Bowe and soon became a hit on social media. We’ll tell you everything about her below.
What is skin cycling?
Skin cycling is basically a rotation of active ingredients that are applied to the skin during the week. In this routine, there is no idea of following all the same skincare steps daily.
The proposal of the dermatologist who created this concept is that the skin has recovery days, so that it has time to recover from certain active ingredients.. Consequently, skin cycling promises to prevent skin irritation and inflammation due to excessive use of certain products. So, it’s a concept that aims not to overload the skin, but rather to let it rest.
As dermatologist Dr. Fernanda Porphirio explained to the Sallve website: skin cycling “It’s a routine that makes sense, as it respects our skin. It is based on two nights applying more irritating active ingredients and the following two nights applying active ingredients that restore the skin barrier. This is a very common way of using products in dermatological circles. The guidance on alternating between more irritating products and products that restore the barrier allows us to use important active ingredients in a more tolerable and safe way for patients, with fewer skin sensitization reactions.”
How does this method work?
Are you curious and want to try it? We explain how. Basically you’ll start with four nights of skin care and a basic routine. Additionally, you will need some products, which in this case are a facial cleanser, a moisturizer, which you can’t miss, a chemical exfoliant and retinol.
First night: exfoliation
On the first night of skin cycling we will do chemical exfoliation.
- Then you will start by cleansing your skin with the facial cleanser as usual.
- Then dry your skin and perform chemical exfoliation.
- Finish the first day routine by applying moisturizer.
Second night: Retinol
The next night we will apply retinol. But, in this case, an important tip is: before applying the active ingredient, apply moisturizer to the area below the eyes, in the corners of the nose and on the neck. This way, the cream will create a barrier to protect those regions that are most sensitive to dryness.
- Start by cleansing your skin normally.
- Dry very gently so as not to irritate the skin.
- Finish by applying retinol.
- If you feel that your skin is very dry, you can apply moisturizer to finish.
Third and fourth night: Recovery
Now that we have exfoliated and applied retinol, the skin deserves a rest to recover well. So on those nights your skincare routine will be as simplified as possible.
- Cleanse the skin with the cleanser gently.
- And finish with moisturizer.
Finally, after finishing all 4 nights of skin cycling you will start the process again.
What are the advantages of skin cycling?
We are talking about a routine that aims to balance the application of active ingredients and resting the skin. Thus, The idea is to keep the skin’s protective barrier intact, avoiding product overload.
Furthermore, alternating the application of products provides other benefits in addition to skin recovery. For example, with the balanced use of these active ingredients it is possible to achieve the best results for the skin, as we get the best stimuli from each active ingredient in question.
In short, the main benefits of this skin care method are the repair of the skin’s protective barrier, better effect of active ingredients and reduction of irritation and inflammation.
Who can do skin cycling?
Firstly, we need to highlight that skin cycling is a super democratic and It can be done on different skin types, regardless of age, etc.
Therefore, everyone can benefit from the technique. However, before joining an internet fad, it is important to consult a dermatologist to get to know and better understand your skin and what your needs are.
This way, it is possible to determine what this rotation of assets will be like with products that are really necessary and beneficial to your skin.
What are complementary care?
The main precautions are when setting up your skin cycling routine. Keep in mind that oily skin has different needs than dry skin, for example. So it is essential that, even with alternating application, the products chosen for your skincare routine are in accordance with your skin’s needs.
What would advanced skin cycling routines look like?
Now, if you are already a fan of the basic skin cycling routine of exfoliation, retinol and two nights of rest, Dr. Bowe says that it is possible to customize and make your routine more flexible.. So, if you are already used to this routine and are interested in taking it one step further, the dermatologist offers some suggestions:
The first option would be: Exfoliation > Retinol > Recovery.
And the second option would be the most advanced, with two nights of applying retinol: Exfoliation > Retinol > Retinol > Recovery.
Anyway, what do you think of the concept of skin cycling? Take the opportunity to also check out the slugging skincare technique that is also popular.
Fonts: Salve Simple Organic Mina
