By: Leïla Poleszczuk

 When it comes to skincare, the ultimate keyword is consistency. And if you’re a skincare community follower on social media, you might have seen lots of content regarding skin cycling, a consistent nighttime schedule to achieve terrific goals. But what is it exactly and is it really for everybody?

Skin cycling is the latest beauty trend that took over social media with more than 4 billion views, but it is actually not a new concept, lots of dermatologists have approved of that technique for years.

So, what is it exactly? Skin cycling is a routine that combines rest days & active days in a specific order, in an effort to prevent the skin barrier from being compromised due to overuse of active ingredients. Also, it’s a great way to build a consistent and effective nighttime routine when you don’t have any or even if you’re a skincare beginner.

How to get started with it? Firstly, you will of course need the basics of a nighttime routine, which are:

• an oil-based cleanser

• a water-based cleanser

• a moisturizer

You will always need to start by double cleansing your skin & pat it try very gently afterwards, and you’ll always finish your routine with your moisturizer.

Secondly, you will need your cycling actives, to be used after your double cleanse, which are:

• an exfoliant (AHA or BHA)

• a retinoid (retinol or retinal)

And finally, you can start your schedule with the traditional 4-day cycling:

• Night 1 will be exfoliation night, which consists of your double cleansing, patting dry completely, waiting 15 minutes, applying some exfoliant (1-2 drops) and locking in with some moisturizer.

• Night 2 will be retinoid night, which consists of your double cleansing, patting dry completely, waiting 15 minutes, applying some retinoid (pea-sized amount) and locking in with some moisturizer.

• Nights 3 & 4 will be recovery nights, which consist of your double cleansing, patting dry, eventually applying some soothing serum (with Ceramides or Cica for instance), and then locking in with some moisturizer.

After this 4-day cycle, you can start over from the beginning.

This method can be really great for beginners who need to be consistent with a routine, but also for people with sensitive skin, as it can prevent from any irritation. Although, if you’re really into anti-aging actives and you’re already well used to strong skincare products, you know that retinoids need to be applied more than 4 times a week to get better results, so skin cycling might not be the best choice. Same for people that use exfoliating products on a more regular basis and can tolerate it, like acne-prone skin or oily skin.

All in all, skin cycling is a great skincare method, but to understand if it’s suitable for you, you first need to set your skin goals and evaluate your tolerance. In the end, the concept is not new, but I believe it’s become more famous now as the skincare community has understood that simplicity and consistency can have tremendous results for a healthier skin. □

Article Credits 

Leila’s Instagram: @agirlwithmind

Leila’s Linktree: @agirlwithmind