If you’re someone who spends some time before bed scrolling through TikTok (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t these days?), chances are you’ve come across at least one person testing out one of the latest trends in skin care — skin cycling.
But what exactly is skin cycling? And should you be trying this trend?
Let’s start with the basics.
“Skin cycling is a type of routine which helps to simplify your skin care, which is something that can oftentimes feel really overwhelming for people,” says Ella Williams, an esthetician who owns Ella Esthetics in Alexandria.
The skin care system was created and introduced by dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe as a way to minimize irritation and inflammation.
Basically, it is a way to introduce exfoliants and retinoids in a way that the skin can handle. The products are applied so that there are days when the skin rests.
“While it is not exactly a new concept, skin cycling has become trendy and has gotten a lot of notice recently because of the way it breaks down introducing your skin to these things that are very important to overall skin health and eliciting change,” Williams says.
How does skin cycling work?
A skin cycling routine is typically made up of a four-night cycle.
Night 1: Exfoliation night
Night 2: Retinoid night
Night 3: Recovery night 1
Night 4: Recovery night 2
And then you repeat it all over again.
“A lot of times, these products can cause reactions for people with everyday use, so by doing two nights on, two nights off, it’s a more simplified approach to introducing and using them,” says Williams.
Keep in mind that nights three and four are about avoiding any products that have the potential to cause irritation and are more so focused around hydrating and repairing the skin barrier.
In one of Bowe’s TikTok videos where she discusses skin cycling, she explains that this can be as simple as applying a cleanser with a gentle pH balance that does not leave your skin feeling tight or dry followed by a moisturizer.
Watch the video:
@gma @Dr. Whitney Bowe breaks down skin cycling and shows you how to add the viral trend into your beauty routine. #dermatologist #dermatology #skincare #skincareroutine #skincycling #skin #skincaretips ♬ original sound – Good Morning America
Williams says the best retinoid for you to use is the one that your skin best tolerates.
“People tend to speak in absolutes when it comes to skin care and that simply does not work,” she says. “What works for me may not work for you. What works for your mom could be different from what works for your best friend. Everyone’s skin is different.”
What are the benefits?
The biggest benefit of skin cycling is that it creates a safer way for some people to introduce new skin care products into their regimen, Williams says.
“Not everyone is blessed with good, resilient skin, and barrier function,” says Williams. “Skin cycling is a great way to introduce new products to your skin without compromising its barrier.”
A common mistake Williams sees people make is to introduce actives and exfoliants into their regimen without prepping the skin or giving it time to rest.
With two rest days as part of the regimen, skin cycling eliminates this issue.
“I equate it to working out and your muscles,” says Williams. “Your muscles need those rest and recovery days. With your skin, it also needs those days.”
Properly following a skin cycling regimen can lead to positive changes with acne and with your skin’s pigmentation and aging, according to Williams.
What about disadvantages?
Are there any downsides to this trend?
“The only real disadvantage is that this system is not necessarily going to work for everyone,” says Williams, who sells her own line of skin care products.
While the program will work for a lot of people, Williams says some people may not need it.
“That goes back to what works for one person doesn’t necessarily always work for you,” she says.
The ingredients in retinoids can cause skin dryness, irritation, and inflammation when you start to use them, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Sunburn also is a temporary side effect.
Williams says she has several clients who are able to tolerate using retinol every day.
“You really just need to take it person-by-person,” she says. “Everyone feels like they need to be doing skin cycling because it’s a trend, and that’s what trends are. But I do love that it calls attention to skin barrier function. I feel like some people tend to over-exfoliant and overdo it with skin treatments. Giving your skin time for rest and recovery is very important.”
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