AT A GLANCE

WHAT IT IS

Skin cycling is the method is to put a check on the actives and ingredients that you are putting on your skin
WHAT IT DOES

Skin cycling works on giving rest days, alternating products, and overall helping in making your skin refreshed and rejuvenated over simply working on one or two specific concerns.
HOLY GRAIL PRODUCTS

Harmony Glycopolymer Solution, Glow To Go Glycolic Acid Peel Pads, Refixion Sans Retinol Cream, NMF Hyaluronic Acid, Vitality Nourishing Facial Oil, Collagen Boosting Serum

What is Skin Cycling and How Does it Benefit the Skin?

If you are following beauty vloggers and skinfluencers by now you will be familiar with the term Skin Cycling or at least would have heard it one too many times. If you are looking to get to know everything about skin cycling and understand how it benefits your skin, we are here to help you out.

What is skin cycling and how does it differ from traditional skincare routines?

Commenced as a skincare method which keeps the skin damage caused by over exfoliation at bay, skin cycling is now getting popular as a routine that works for all skin types, and it can be customized based on one’s needs. Designed and popularized by dermatologist Whitney Bowe, the method is to put a check on the actives and ingredients that you are putting on your skin. From purging to stinging, hyperpigmentation to redness, the ill-effects of overusing certain products and underusing others are quite problematic. To resolve this, skin cycling is your go-to solution. Unlike traditional skincare routines, where the key is to use the products regularly, skin cycling works on giving rest days, alternating products, and overall helping in making your skin refreshed and rejuvenated over simply working on one or two specific concerns.

The benefits of skin cycling for different skin types:

Depending on the type of your skin, skin cycling offers different benefits. For instance, if you have skin purging due to any actives, skin cycling routine helps in calming down your breakouts and dryness. If you are having oily skin, then the exfoliation aspect of skin cycling routine will help you in keeping the oiliness and acne issues at bay. Although the most common skin cycling routine is the one that is wildly recommended across skin types, you can work towards customizing one for you with your favorite products.

How to incorporate skin cycling into your skincare routine:

If you are looking to start skin cycling right away, then you can start with the simple skin cycling routine that is tested and recommended by many dermatologists. It is as follows:

Night 1: Use a dedicated, chemical exfoliator like Harmony Glycopolymer Solution (a glycolic acid toner) or Glow to Go Glycolic Acid Peel Pads. This will help with at-home skin exfoliation. Finish this routine with necessary moisturizers.

Night 2: It’s a well known fact that retinoids shouldn’t be used right after exfoliation as it causes over exfoliation or purging. Therefore on the second day of the skin cycling you can opt for retinoids. If you are, however, skeptical about introducing retinoids to your skin due to skin purging concerns, you can use the healthier and calming alternative Refixion Sans Retinol Creme. This contains Bakuchiol, which gives similar benefits as retinol. This is an everyday product that you can use even when you aren’t following skin cycling routine.

Night 3 & 4: These are nights of recovery where you use hyaluronic acids, facial oils, collagens, and other nourishing and hydrating ingredients on to your skin.

The role of key ingredients in skin cycling products:

The key in skin cycling are exfoliants, like glycolic acid and other AHAs and retinoids. While the former helps in treating oiliness, acne, and dead skin exfoliation, the latter works on pimples and anti-aging. If you are someone with non-sensitive acne prone oily skin, these two ingredients work wonders for you. The ingredients on the recovery nights, i.e. the hyaluronic acid and ceramides will help in nourishing your skin and preventing dullness and dryness in dry skin.

The potential risks and precautions to consider when skin cycling:

One of the major potential risk to consider when skin cycling is that it may delay the process of acne reduction, if your current skincare regime is for fighting acnes and breakouts. Therefore, you might have to take a call if skin cycling is the right thing for you at the given moment. Additionally, to prevent any risks caused by AHAs and retinoids that are used during skin cycling, opt for a good moisturizer that works for your skin and apply them as needed.

How skin cycling can help improve the overall health and appearance of the skin:

Recovery and rejuvenation is what is missing in most skincare routines, especially if you are using actives. Additionally, with SPF and makeup in the days and actives in the nights, your skin needs some breathing and recovery to let its overall health and appearance improve, and that’s exactly what skin cycling does.