What is Skin Cycling, what are its benefits, and why has it become the most viral skincare trend on TikTok?
Social media plays a fundamental role in the trends and popularity of brands or products, but it's even more generous when these are put to the test and actually work; remember the era when acid became fashionable, then the 10-step Korean beauty routines, and many more.
Currently on TikTok there is only talk of a new skincare trend called Skin Cycling , the interesting thing is that It's about a trend created by a dermatologist specializing in skin care. She is Dr. Whitney Bowe has gone viral on social media thanks to her nighttime routine that promotes using fewer active ingredients and exfoliants that can be irritating to the skin.
It talks about a 4-night cycle in which strong active ingredients are applied twice a week and then giving the face at least two days of recovery with moisturizing products that soothe and protect the skin barrier.
Benefits of Skin Cycling
It all comes down to one thing: in the doctor's words, it's a strategic way to manage your skincare routine for a healthier, brighter complexion with fewer spots and imperfections. Celebrities like Hailey Baldwin and Bieber have joined this movement and have revealed visible improvements in their skin.
The doctor recommends that we use fewer layers of products, and that exfoliating or antioxidant active ingredients like acids and retinoids be included in our routine fewer days a week, rather than daily.
Night 1: Exfoliation
There are different skin types, and not all have the same needs, so for the first day of your routine, choose the one that best suits you.
- STEP 1: DOUBLE CLEANSE
- STEP 2: CHEMICAL EXFOLIANT: AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) and PHAs (polyhydroxy acids)
- For acne-prone skin: Salicylic Acid
- For dry skin: Lactic Acid
- For combination skin: Glycolic Acid
3. STEP 3: MOISTURIZING CREAM
Cleanser: Honest Cleansing Foam by Benton
Salicylic acid, lactic acid, and AHAs and BHAs in general are chemical exfoliants with many benefits for the skin, but you can choose one specifically for your skin type. Glycolic acid is the dermatologist's favorite because it removes dead cells that prevent the proper absorption of active ingredients and boosts skin cell regeneration. After exfoliating, it's a good idea to apply a fragrance-free moisturizer to help repair the skin barrier.
Exfoliating Glycolic Acid Toner: Glow Toner 5% Glycolic Acid by Revolution Skincare
Night 2: Retinol
Dr. Bowe emphasizes that retinol should be applied in small amounts. For sensitive skin, apply moisturizer as the first layer and then apply a pea-sized amount to your fingers. This applies to areas such as the eye contour, corners of the mouth, and sides of the nose. It's recommended to start with very low concentrations of retinol, 0.2% for example.
Low-dose facial retinol: Indeed Labs Retinol Reface
- STEP 1: DOUBLE CLEANSE
- STEP 2: RETINOIDS
- Low concentration: 0.1% - 0.2%
- Average concentration: 0.3% - 0.4%
- High concentration: 0.5% - 1%
3. STEP 3: MOISTURIZING CREAM
Low-dose retinol for eye contour and sensitive areas: Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Eye Cream
At the end of your night two routine, apply another layer of moisturizer. For mature skin that tends to be dry, it's important to hydrate the skin with oils, as these stop being produced naturally after age 40.
Retinol has many qualities and is capable of stimulating cell renewal. and collagen production. What happens is that the skin must get used to it; this is called retinization, and not all skin types achieve it. Hence, there are alternatives for sensitive skin, such as bakuchiol, which can even be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Bakuchiol Serum: Bakuchiol Booster - Tuna by NAE Cosmética
Nights 3 and 4: Restore the skin barrier
The nights after using retinol focus on hydration and skin recovery. After cleansing and applying our hyaluronic acid or glycerin serum, we can apply a mask for extra hydration.
- STEP 1: DOUBLE CLEANSE
- STEP 2: HYDRATE
- Hyaluronic acid
- Glycerin
And the cycle begins... again
Once the four days are over, the cyclical concept of treatment comes into play, and you have to start over again, hence the concept of 'skin cycling.' Skincare is circular and, therefore, becomes a routine through which the skin becomes accustomed to the active ingredients in cosmetics, ensuring they remain effective.
Extra recommendations
Dr. Whitney Bowe also warns about the risk of mixing some active ingredients at the same time and mentions some prohibited combinations such as:
- AHA + retinoids
- Vitamin C + retinoids
- Retinoids + benzoyl peroxide
- Vitamin C + benzoyl peroxide
- Salicylic acid + retinoids
During the day
“But if skin cycling is done at night, how do I take care of my skin during the day?”
In addition to gentle cleansing, daytime is the ideal time to apply vitamin C, followed by moisturizer and sun protection—the most important step to see real results with Skin Cycling. It's necessary to apply this product every day and reapply it every three hours to protect your skin from the damage that sun rays can cause and not disrupt the effectiveness of your nighttime steps.
Super Hydrating Vitamin C Serum: 12.5% Vitamin C Super Strength Serum by Revolution Skincare
Now you're a Skin Cycling expert and ready to get started. We recommend keeping a calendar handy so you don't forget which day of your routine you're on, since you won't necessarily start on the same days.
