In the ever-evolving world of skincare, new trends emerge regularly with the promise of improving our skin's health and appearance. One such trend gaining traction is 'skin cycling', a concept rooted in the idea of adapting skincare routines to match the natural rhythm of the skin's renewal process. In this article, we're diving deeper into the phenomenon to determine whether it's worth the hype or not.
What is skin cycling?
The trend focuses on two things: active ingredients and rest. The ritual has your skin 'cycle' through varying active ingredients over a span of four days: exfoliation night, retinoid night, recovery night, recovery night — then repeat. The goal is to get maximum benefits out of your ingredients while minimizing the risk of irritation because the skin gets 'rest days' in between the powerful ingredients.
While this all sounds great, we don't find that it's a one-size-fits-all solution for all skin types — and we'll gladly tell you why.
Should you do skin cycling?
Skin cycling can definitely be beneficial to some skin types and an effective way to incorporate products carefully. The issue with trends like these going viral is that some people dive head first (literally) into them without thinking twice about their unique skin type and its needs, sensitivities, and other important factors.
Exfoliating products as well as products containing retinoids — such as our Skin Perfector 2% BHA and Vitamin A Treatment Cream — are effective at treating various skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation, breakouts, and premature aging signs. However, if you're new to these ingredients, or your skin is on the sensitive side, jumping directly into skin cycling can result in dryness and irritation. Your skin is unique — you should treat it as such.
How to incorporate exfoliation and retinoids into your routine
Keyword: Gently. Generally, but especially if your skin is sensitive, you should always pay attention to the ingredients, concentration, and methods of your products. For example, it might make more sense to opt for a chemically exfoliating mask with mild skincare acids than to use a mechanical scrub, if your skin is easily irritated or breakout-prone.
Actives are characterized by their ability to target specific skincare needs or concerns and treat them accordingly — which is why they are beloved by many; because they actually perform on the skin. Due to their potency, some do experience mild redness in the introductory phase. This is completely normal, and should subside quickly as your skin gets used to the beneficial ingredients.
Therefore, if you're new to actives such as salicylic acid (BHA) or retinol (vitamin A), we recommend starting slowly by applying the active product every other day.
Our Skin Perfector 2% BHA and Vitamin A Treatment Cream are both excellent starting points. As your skin gets familiar with the enriching ingredient, you can increase the use to get the most out of their wonderful benefits.
