All About Skin Cycling

Everything you need to know about this game-changing, four-night skincare routine

The phrase ‘Skin Cycling’ has doubtless popped up in your social feeds, but what is it exactly? The term was originally coined by dermatologist Dr Whitney Bowe back in 2021 when she shared her Skin Cycling routine on her TikTok account. Since then, the four-night skincare regimen has gone viral.

The concept, however, is not new. For years, dermatologists have recommended intermittent or alternating use of active ingredients to achieve the best results without irritation. 

“While our skin may require different ingredients, layering them nightly may be too irritating. Plus, various ingredients—such as chemical exfoliants and retinoids— may interact with each other, therefore preventing the products from doing their intended job,” says Dr Roberta Del Campo, a board-certified dermatologist and Skin Laundry’s Chief Medical Officer. “Using a single active ingredient on a given night can lead to better outcomes. Alternating active ingredients may also allow better product absorption, which enhances the product’s efficacy.” 

Read on to learn more about Skin Cycling, the benefits and how to do it properly.

The primary goal of Skin Cycling is to help the skin tolerate, and benefit from, active ingredients.

What is Skin Cycling?

Skin Cycling is a term used to describe the way in which products with active ingredients—such as retinoids and chemical exfoliators, like glycolic and salicylic acid—are applied to the skin.

At its core, Skin Cycling is all about keeping over-exfoliation from damaging the skin and promoting skin recovery–a much-needed course correction after the multi-step skincare routines that popped up over the pandemic as people tried to recreate dermatologist-style treatments at home.

Del Campo says that taking a break from active ingredients the day before and after a Skin Laundry Facial is also beneficial. “Having a healthy, strong skin barrier will allow more consistent and predictable results from your Skin Laundry Treatments,” she says. “Overusing products that can strip the skin and disrupt the delicate skin barrier can cause irritation with our Resurfacing Facial in particular, so it’s best to give your skin a break before and immediately after your treatment.”

Skin Cycling involves using skincare products strategically to avoid irritation caused by active ingredients.

What are the benefits of Skin Cycling?

The primary goal of Skin Cycling is to help the skin tolerate, and benefit from, active ingredients, such as retinoids, which stimulate skin-cell turnover, and glycolic and salicylic acids, which exfoliate the skin. 

Skin Cycling can also help protect the skin barrier, which is the outermost layer of the skin. A healthy skin barrier helps the skin stay hydrated by locking in moisture while protecting the skin from environmental irritants, UV rays and allergens.

“The primary goal of Skin Cycling is to help the skin tolerate, and benefit from, active ingredients.”

“Our skin barrier can be quite sensitive, and stripping it of its natural oils by overtreating it with products can damage the skin and lead to inflammation,” Del Campo says. “When you take a rest day, giving your skin a break from active ingredients, it allows your skin to recover and rebalance. It also allows natural hydrating factors—such as sebum and ceramides—to do their job in balancing the skin.”

Exfoliants and retinoids in particular can damage the outer layer of your skin, making it less effective as a protective barrier and leaving you more vulnerable to inflammation and irritation.

How Does Skin Cycling Work?

Skin Cycling involves using skincare products strategically to give your skin a day or two off from active ingredients. By allowing the skin this break, you may avoid side effects like irritation and dryness while still reaping the benefits of retinoids and chemical exfoliators.

“Skin Cycling involves using skincare products strategically to avoid irritation caused by active ingredients.”

A Skin Cycling routine consists of a four-night cycle — the first is the exfoliation night, the second is a retinoid night, and the third and fourth are recovery nights, then you repeat the cycle.

The four-night cycling routine goes as follows and it should only take two cycles—or eight days—to see results. The cycle can be repeated indefinitely.

Night 1 - Cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize.

Clean Slate Exfoliating 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Gel Cleanser 

Vitamin B5 Antioxidant Moisturizer

Night 2 - Cleanse, retinoid treatment, moisturize.

Hydrating Gentle Cleanser

Vitamin A Serum 

Vitamin B5 Antioxidant Moisturizer

Night 3 and 4 - Cleanse and moisturize only.

Hydrating Gentle Cleanser 

Vitamin B5 Antioxidant Moisturizer

Repeat.

You can shop our Skin Cycling product collection here.