Your burning inquiries regarding the fitness, beauty, and health fads spreading over your social feeds can be answered by playing TikTok True or False. With the aid of professionals and academic research, each story dissects a popular wellness trend to reveal the accuracy and suitability of the online “advice” that has gone viral. You won’t ever need to worry again what to skip or what is legitimate. Skin cycling is probably a term you’ve heard of if you use TikTok and have even the slightest interest in maintaining healthy skin. The internet is buzzing with the newest fad, which focuses on switching up cosmetics to give skin a vacation from active ingredients. With the hashtag #skincycling presently receiving more than 100 million views on TikTok, it’s getting a lot of attention.
Here is what skin cycling entails in case you haven’t seen it on your FYP yet: A retinoid is applied to the skin one night, exfoliation of the skin the next, and two nights of relaxation and avoiding products containing active chemicals make up the four-day cycle. Users have shared videos of their skin-cycling travels, before-and-after images of healed acne scars, and recordings of the products they’ve been employing during the procedure.
During her second week of skin cycling, one user, Riley Bond ( @rileybond_ ), for instance, posted on TikTok and said she had “totally” changed her bedtime routine to try the fad. The skin-care blogger released an a video of herself during “exfoliation night,” explaining the things she uses to her viewers. More than 500,000 people have now seen it. Furthermore, user @michellezoltan claimed the practice improved her sensitive, blemish-prone complexion in a video , which has received one million views thus far on TikTok.
The majority of the app’s reviews for the technique are favorable, and users have provided excellent feedback. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to skin care, despite the fact that some TikTokers, like @myestytessa , aren’t big fans.
Wondering if the much-discussed method of skin care is deserving of the hype? Continue reading to learn what a few dermatologists think about the popular procedure and determine whether skin cycling might be a good fit for you.
DESCRIBE SKIN CYCLING Skin cycling is a skin-care technique created by dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., , a popular TikTok and Instagram user from New York. Skin cycling is a “thoughtful, systematic strategy for cycling through your nighttime skin-care products,” according to Dr. Bowe in an August blog post . The cycle lasts four nights and is as follows:
The first night is for exfoliating (Dr. Bowe advises using a chemical exfoliator rather than a scrub with grit), and the second night is for applying retinoid. The third night is for rest, with an emphasis on moisture and hydration. The fourth night is for rest, with an emphasis on moisture and hydration. Repeat In her blog article, Dr. Bowe refers to it as a “less is more” strategy. Skin cycling is all about utilizing products wisely, as opposed to layering more and more products on top of one another. The routine aids in streamlining your procedure in an efficient and straightforward manner in the “overly complicated” realm of skin care. She said in her post that skin cycling also addresses a typical skin-care mistake: failing to allow time for the skin barrier to heal.
Here are the specifics of skin cycling that you need to be aware of. Exfoliants act to remove the skin’s outermost layers first, reducing the accumulation of dead skin cells. You might think about incorporating an exfoliating product into your routine because this process occurs naturally but slows down with age. You should exfoliate before using any other products since it helps the skin absorb other products more effectively. Exfoliants can be physical, like a product with beads in it, or chemical, like a product with acids that break down the chemical structure of dead skin cells so they can be washed off.
Retinoids, a class of substances related to vitamin A, aid to promote collagen production, maintain clear pores, and speed up cell turnover. Retinoid products’ effectiveness vary based on the manufacturer and formula you’re using. For instance, over-the-counter retinol (a form of retinoid) choices are often less strong than prescription retinoid medications. Even among over-the-counter (OTC) products, some are stronger than others, and the best one for you will depend on your particular skin type. (Learn more: Retinol and Its Skin-Care Benefits: Everything You Need to Know.)
Both retinoids and exfoliants can irritate skin, despite their importance. Because of this, it’s crucial to give some skin types a vacation from them and concentrate on basic moisturizing for one to two nights before applying these kinds of products and beginning the cycle again.
SKIN CYCLING – DOES IT WORK? According to board-certified dermatologist #skincycling 0, a Harvard-trained Mohs surgeon, clinical instructor at Weill-Cornell, and the founder of Skin and Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan, “Overall, this concept of skin cycling, is simply using your actives and then taking your pauses.” She continues, “Your skin rebounds similarly to how you take a break when you exercise.
According to #skincycling 1, head of cosmetic and clinical research at the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, using this technique aids in your skin’s ability to respond to particular products. As he continues, “cycling actives in your skin-care routine, together with relaxing products, allows the skin to acclimate to a routine without overstretching the skin barrier.” Your skin “reaps the benefits of employing potent skin-care products without compromising on tolerability” as a result of that break.”
Skin cycling has gained a lot of attention on social media, but there isn’t any scientific proof of its effectiveness—that is, no research has been done on it. However, according to Dr. Henry, the advantages are evident in practical practice.
Dr. Henry claims that limiting exposure to and usage of potent active substances “may lead to revolutionary changes in skin care without the possibility for adverse side effects.” She points out that although dermatologists have long practiced alternating product use, they haven’t always referred to it as “skin cycling.”
“I think she, Dr. Bowe, defined’skin cycling’ in a terrific way that will be effective for most patients,” says Dr. Henry. Dr. Henry adds that she has “snackified” the technique, making it more approachable for both skin care experts and novices.
Dr. Henry explains, “It’s like training wheels.” It’s a good approach to incorporate anything into your skin-care routine and to be aware of certain best practices to reduce the possibility of irritation, inflammation, or any other unfavorable effects.
SKIN CYCLING: IS IT SAFE? According to Dr. Henry, skin cycling is safe to try for the majority of people. And beginners in skin care will find it to be a particularly good choice. “Learning all the complexities and details of product layering can occasionally be intimidating, but choosing a proper skin-cycle routine can eliminate the initial uncertainty.”
Dr. Bowe’s skin-cycling method offers a framework for beginning the usage of active ingredients as you figure out how to utilize retinoids and exfoliants without irritating your skin. But it’s crucial to remember that you don’t have to feel obligated to the cycle timetable, advises Dr. Henry. Skin care is customized, just like many other aspects of self-care. And it’s crucial to remember that it doesn’t apply to everyone in the same way.
Your ideal skin-care regimen is dependent on your unique skin type, texture, and requirements, according to Dr. Henry. “For some people, the ideal skincare regimen may merely include moisturizers and moisturizing serums. Exfoliants, peeling masks, and toners are essential for some skin types, notably those who use retinoids.” She suggests sticking with the program for at least four weeks if you want to test the strategy and see if your skin can benefit from the “gentle” approach.
While most people should find this to be a good option, Dr. Henry advises against using retinoids or exfoliants if you have an open wound, cut, or skin problem like eczema. Additionally, she advises starting with kinder products if your skin tends to be more sensitive in general. Instead of starting with acids, you could try lower concentration actives like vitamin C and peptides.
TRUE OR FALSE: SKIN CYCLING IS A GOOD WAY TO INCLUDE ACTIVE SKIN-CARE INGREDIENTS IN YOUR ROUTINE.
According to experts, the skin-cycling technique appears to live up to the hype on social media. In general, if you want to add active skin-care components to your evening routine, this is a fantastic routine to give a try.
Remember that every person’s skin is unique, and some may require a more specialized approach to using retinoids and exfoliants. The good news is that the skin-cycling method may be modified to suit your requirements.
According to Dr. Henry, the appeal of cycling is that it can be tailored to your preferences based on how long of a break you require. For instance, some persons with more sensitive skin may require a longer gap between applications of active ingredients than two days, while others may not. If you’re not sure where to begin, see your dermatologists to determine which cycle would be effective for you.
