Are you one of those women who spent their quarantine days applying layers and layers of skincare products? sharing skincare routines online and staring at your skin during FaceTime and Zoom calls? Yes…this is exactly when the skin cycling trend began!

Every now and then certain skincare trends go viral, introducing tips that are genuinely useful for your skin. Skin cycling is the new ‘in thing’ for beauty enthusiasts which has led women to take a step away from makeup, focusing entirely towards skincare. 

It all began during the height of the pandemic when women were stuck in their homes. They spent more time looking after themselves and experimented with a combination of skincare ingredients. There were skincare products that made skin glow more than ever before and some that only made it sensitive and blotchy. To acquire a balance and simplify things in skincare, the word of skin cycling was spread. 

How exactly does skin cycling work?

It is rather overwhelming to be searching for skincare tips online. What skincare products are good for you? In what order do you apply them? Should you apply them in the day or night? It's too much! Fortunately, you can easily get the hang of the skin cycling process. All you need to do is repeat a four-night cycle and it's as simple as that!

Night #1

So, night one begins with exfoliation. Gear up to slough off all those dead skin cells. We start with cleansing your face with a gentle face wash. After you pat your skin dry, follow up by applying a serum infused with a chemical exfoliant namely alpha/beta-hydroxy acids. 

Now some of you would be reluctant about using a chemical exfoliant, but there’s nothing to worry about a little bit of tingling. Exfoliants however shouldn’t cause any painful or burning sensation. If that happens, wash your face ASAP!

Wrap it up by locking in everything with a moisturizer and get in bed. 

Night #2

Night 2 is retinoid night. Retinoids are helpful in accelerating cellular turnover in your skin. These are basically vitamin A based skincare products that assist to treat mild acne, hyperpigmentation and reduce the appearance of scars and fine lines. Retinoids are in fact the most powerful skincare ingredients to include in your regime. 

For this you will have to cleanse your face thoroughly and make sure it's completely dry. Your skin should not be the slightest bit damp before applying the retinoids. This is because retinoids when applied on damp skin can cause potential sensitivity and irritation. Also make sure not to use a large amount of the skincare product, just a pea size amount would be adequate for your entire face. 

In case you are using a retinoid for the first time on your skin, apply a light layer of a gentle moisturizer on your face, covering just the sensitive areas. This includes the under eyes, the corners of your mouth, the neck and the base of your nostrils. After you are done applying the retinoid, apply yet another layer of moisturizer on top. 

This is called the sandwich technique which will create a protective buffer and help reduce the chances of skin peeling and over-drying. If your skin tends to be sensitive, just trust the process and be consistent as the side effects level out over time. 

Night #3 #4

These call for giving your skin some rest. Ease into night 3 and 4 for some recovery time. You can just cleanse your face and apply some hydrating skincare products like serums or moisturizers.

However, make sure these do not comprise any active ingredients that may be harsh on your skin. seek fragrance free skincare products that repair your skin like glycerine, hyaluronic acid and ceramides.

In this case, it really doesn’t matter whether your skin is damp or not since you just want to lock in some hydration. You need to hold off on the retinoids and exfoliating acids for now as your skin recovers. 

Skin Cycling Benefits

Skin cycling gives your face the chance to heal between different skincare treatments. Exfoliating skincare products are powerful and highly effective, though they can be a bit irritating on your skin if used frequently. 

Essentially the application of any skincare product too often can cause sensitive and dry skin. For instance, women who have a darker skin tone, tend to get hyperpigmentation when overusing these skincare products. 

Skin cycling basically aids in reaping the benefits of these skincare products. Always remember, when it comes to skincare, less is more! Take your skincare regime more like your workout routine, giving it some work days and rest days. This will give your skin some space for repair and improvement, maintaining a healthy skin barrier.

Girls, for those of you who have trust issues with skincare products, skin cycling is the ideal solution. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel and can be easily followed!