Created by a dermatologist and approved by her peers, “Skin Cycling” is a routine concept with defined intervals for applying active ingredients and resting the skin to allow for deep care without damaging the skin barrier.
It went viral on social media, with countless videos from users who claim that it works and show the results.
WHAT IS SKIN CYCLING?
It consists of a nighttime skin care routine that was created by North American dermatologist Whitney Bowe. Apply exfoliating active ingredients and retinol or retinoids on consecutive days, alternating with moisturizing and calming ingredients.
The 4-night cycle is the most popular and includes:
1st night: chemical exfoliant (AHA, BHA, PHA)
2nd night: retinoids (retinol, retinal)
3rd and 4th nights: moisturizing creams without irritating ingredients
Repeat the cycle again.
DOES IT HAVE FOUNDATION?
Yes, not only does it allow skin renewal and rejuvenation, it also helps prevent the skin barrier from being compromised and stays healthy. Plus, it's a way to follow a simple, consistent and effective routine that preserves skin function.
Helps prevent and correct signs of aging, marks, blemishes and maintain luminous, healthy skin.
FIRST NIGHT: EXFOLIATION
Before applying the products, you must clean your skin and dry it before exfoliating acid. Exfoliation with active ingredients such as glycolic acid removes dirt and dead cells and improves the skin's absorption/permeability to the active ingredients to be applied the following nights. They also contribute to improving the texture, tone and luminosity of the skin.
The best exfoliants for this step are those that contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), beta hydroxy acids (BHA) and poly hydroxy acids (PHA), rather than physical exfoliants (requiring mechanical movements and abrasion) that can damage the skin barrier. They are even more effective in removing dirt and dead cells.
SECOND NIGHT: RETINOID
On the second day, a product with retinol or retinoid is applied to accelerate cell renewal, improve the appearance of marks and blemishes and help smooth wrinkles and fine lines and help combat sagging by stimulating collagen production.
Always apply to dry skin in a thin layer on the face, neck and décolleté.
THIRD AND FOURTH NIGHTS: REPAIR AND RECOVERY
These are the nights to recover the skin barrier and ensure that it is hydrated, balanced and healthy, without irritation.
After a gentle cleansing, a cream and/or serum should be applied with humectant and hydrolipid film restoring ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane, niacinamide, and healing and repairing ingredients such as centella asiatica or panthenol.
IS SKIN CYCLING TOLERATED BY EVERYONE?
The answer is, it depends. In very sensitive or reactive skin, applying exfoliating acid and retinoid twice a week may be too aggressive and, in these cases, it may be necessary to increase the “break” nights or apply only one of them in each cycle.
It is also wise to choose milder acids (lactic rather than glycolic), retinoids in low concentrations and in small quantities (the equivalent of a pea pod for the face and neck) and applied using the “sandwich” method (moisturizer-retinol-moisturizer). .
The same for skin that has never used retinol or derivatives.
Before applying the active ingredients, it is recommended, for more reactive skin, to apply a specific cream for the eye and lip contour in these areas, after cleansing to avoid irritation.
IS THE 4 NIGHT SCHEME ALWAYS THE BEST?
Once again, the answer is it depends: in the previous case, the number of nights of rest must be increased, but there may be a need, in skin that already uses retinol and tolerates it well, to do more than one night in a row or reduce the number of break nights for good results (1-1-1, on a 3-night schedule)
WHAT INGREDIENTS SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED?
The use of occlusive ingredients such as petroleum jelly, lanolin or paraffin should be avoided on the nights of application of acids or retinoids as they may increase their irritating potential.
WHAT PRODUCTS SHOULD I APPLY IN THE MORNING?
Always use sunscreen SPF 30 or higher after serums or creams with vitamin C or derivatives and/or other antioxidants.
You can also add eye cream and moisturizer.
HOW LONG CAN I DO IT?
There is no established maximum period and, in principle, it can be done as long as we wish. It usually works and leads to healthier, transformed skin.
The results are usually visible after 2 cycles, with more luminous, soft and hydrated skin. After 3 cycles, you can expect to see smoother skin, with less wrinkles and firmer skin. It may take longer, depending on the program used and the initial condition of the skin, so patience and consistency are essential.
CONCLUSION:
Skin Cycling is an empirical approach, without scientific studies to support it, but based on the principle that healthy and functional skin has its barrier preserved. It is a minimalist approach using few products, it is simple and intuitive, but it requires rigor and consistency to obtain good results.
It is not for everyone, being excluded in individuals with damaged skin or lesions, active acne and rosacea and must be adapted to each person by a competent health or aesthetics professional.
