Costhetics regularly scours the internet for news and information about cosmetic surgery, face lifts, aesthetic enhancement, dermal fillers and the like.
Our searches take us to leading medical institutions, respected schools of higher education, and sometimes … TikTok. That’s where we first found out about a new beauty trend that has racked up over three billion views. It’s called skin cycling and it actually works.
What is Skin Cycling?
Many think skin cycling is new, but it is actually a well-known treatment protocol in dermatology. Skin cycling is a night-time skincare routine designed to prevent the skin’s protective barrier from being compromised by an overuse of certain active ingredients found in skincare products. In simpler terms, give your skin a break, it will thank you for it.
Skin cycling is the trending approach to skin radiance and renewal thanks to TikTok. The term was coined by a New York-based dermatologist whose more than 985,200 followers adopted the term (and the technique) and shared it. The internet took notice. You should too.
Why Skin Cycling Has Such Enthusiastic Fans
Gen Z-ers have flocked to skin cycling like ducks to water. They have grown weary and sceptical of high-priced, overly complex beauty regimens promoted by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian. They prefer a simple, less time-consuming approach to skin beauty that folds easily into their schedule.
Skin enthusiasts of any age will benefit from a regimen that limits the use of too many active ingredients on any given night. In skin cycling, only three products are used on any given day with only one of those products containing an active ingredient. You want to avoid piling on a variety of products that may potentially interact badly with one another. Most of all, however, you do not want to compromise your skin barrier and leave it ripe for hyperpigmentation, breakouts, rough texture and other woes.
Skin Cycling for Newbies
These are the simple steps you follow each night for four nights:
- Night #1 – Start Your Ride with Chemical Exfoliation – On the first night of your 4-night cycle, you start by cleaning your face. Next you use a chemical exfoliant. Finally, you moisturise.
- Night #2 – Let Retinoids Do their Work – Once again, you will clean your skin, but on this night, you will apply a retinoid treatment, and end with a moisturiser.
- Night #3 – Take the Night Off, Sort Of – Go easy on your skin for this break Simply clean and moisturise. Stay away from products with potentially irritating active ingredients.
- Night #4 – Bask in Your Beauty– Repeat the steps for Night #3, cleanse and moisturise, to give your skin a chance to recover before you begin your cycle again.
When you complete one cycle, go back to the beginning and start again. The brief break you take from actives gives your skin a chance to repair itself naturally. By the time you get to your third cycle, you should see a noticeable difference in the quality of your skin.
Is your skin sensitive or prone to problems? Some professionals recommend a 5-day, rather than a 4-day cycle. They believe that adding a recovery day between the active ingredients in exfoliation and retinol products is further insurance against skin disruption.
Important Tips for Effective Skin Cycling
To get the most out of skin cycling, be sure to:
- Do Your Skin Cycling at Night – The use of retinoids and exfoliants can increase skin’s light sensitivity. Making them part of your night-time skin care routine helps you avoid problems caused by the sun.
- Exfoliants First, Retinoids Second – Sloughing away dead skin with the help of a chemical exfoliant makes skin more receptive to the application of retinol the following night.
- Take Your Time Before Going Full Retinoid – If you have never used active ingredients in your skincare, you should proceed with caution and, if possible, with the guidance of a skincare professional. “Have an exfoliation night followed by three nights of recovery for two to three weeks before adding a retinoid,” says the doctor who coined the term skin cycling.
- Choose Your Products Wisely – When it comes to exfoliating products, look for actives like salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid. Retinol products should contain Vitamin C to help brighten skin. As for moisturisers, go with gentle, proven ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, shea butter, glycerine, and ceramides.
Ready to Cycle? We Can Help
If your skin isn’t what you want it to be, skin cycling may be just the thing to get you to your beauty destination. Don’t know where to turn? That’s why you have Costhetics. Contact us and we can put you in touch with a talented professional in your area.