Reisha Shetty Junior Digital Writer

While we’ve seen a huge wave of skincare and beauty trends come our way thanks to TikTok, but a certain beauty routine has truly proved its worth. Introduced by Dr Whitney Bowe, the term ‘Skin Cycling’ caught on TikTok skincare trends quite fast. And while we’ve seen many trends come and go, this one is not only recommended by a dermatologist but is also very good for the long-term health of your skin.

Here is all you need to know about skin cycling and how it can give you the skin of your dreams.

What Is Skin Cycling?

With our skincare routines getting overcomplicated with different types of actives, it’s time to give your skin some much-needed rest. Skin Cycling is all about building a skincare routine by designating each day for a specific skincare task. It follows for four nights after which you need to go back to night one and follow the table once again, just like a cycle. For each night, there is a specific task, which ranges from exfoliating, adding retinoids to your routine, and finally, recovery.

Night 1: Exfoliate

Step 1: Start your night by removing any kind of make-up and cleansing your face with a gentle cleanser.

Step 2: Then, follow it up with a chemical exfoliant like an AHA, BHA or Glycolic Acid. This will help exfoliate your skin and make it look a lot brighter. Avoid going for physical exfoliants like face scrubs as they can damage your skin barrier.

Step 3: Finish the routine with a hydrating moisturiser of your choice.

Night 2: Retinoid

Step 1: Cleanse your skin with your favourite gentle water-based or oil-based cleanser and pat your skin dry.

Optional: This step is optional only if you have sensitive skin or have just started using retinoids. Take a fragrance-free lightweight moisturiser and apply a thin layer under your eyes, around your nose, and on your smile lines since these places are prone to irritation. Putting on a thin layer of moisturiser will help act as a barrier between your skin and the retinoid and it won’t be as strong as it normally would be.

Step 2: If you are a beginner, apply only a pea-sized amount of your retinoid, which can be prescribed to you by a medical professional or can be bought over the counter. Make sure to evenly apply it all over your face and neck.

Step 3: Complete the routine with a hydrating moisturiser of your choice.

Night 3 & 4: Recovery

Step 1: Start your night by double cleansing your face, that is to first wash your face with an oil-based cleanser and then follow it up with a water-based cleanser.

Step 2: To bring in some hydration to your skin, apply hyaluronic acid to your damp skin.

Step 3: Next, follow it up with a hydrating moisturiser that will give your skin the right amount of moisture and care.

Optional: Finally, if you want to add even more hydration and moisture to your skin, lock your skincare routine in with a facial oil of your choice. Make sure that the oil is not too heavy because that can clog pores.

Pro Tip: If you are a fan of slugging, make sure to only do it only on recovery nights and not on exfoliation and retinoid nights since that too can cause irritation and can clogg your pores.

Once you are done with night four, go back to your night one routine and start right away! Skins Cycling will not only help your skin clear up and get a much-needed break, but it will also make sure that your actives are working properly.