Skin Cycling: the Latest Social Media Skincare Trend That Works

When it comes to skincare it is hard to know where to begin. Since it’s an oversaturated market of regimens and products, we get it- it’s overwhelming. However, skin cycling, a term coined by Dr. Whitney Bowe, takes the stress out of skincare and gets you to the basics. At its core, this routine includes two nights of applying active ingredients followed by two nights of rest, then repeating. The purpose is to protect the skin barrier from being damaged by over exfoliation and to create an easy-to-follow routine that is effective. Board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty explains the routine in the following video. 

Night 1: Exfoliate

Start off by cleansing your face and then patting dry. Afterwards, you’ll want to put on your exfoliating product. We recommend our Resurface AHA Liquid Exfoliant since it gently breaks down the bonds of dead skin without irritating the skin like harsh exfoliating scrubs do. Afterwards you want to lock in the moisture in your skin and add a cream. Our Rose Revival Cream includes hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, rose oil which soothes damaged skin, green tea extract which heals acne scars, and many other plant extracts that fight anti-aging.

Night 2: Retinoid

So for this night you’ll want to cleanse again and then pat dry. If you have sensitive skin you’ll want to apply a hydrating cream to delicate areas under the eyes, the corners of your nose, and your smile lines to protect your skin from dryness and irritation. Afterwards, apply your retinoid, and remember less is more! According to Dr. Bowe, a pea size should cover your entire face. Our Multivitamin Serum includes Retinol, Niacinamide, Vitamin C, and peptides. We like to call this our one stop shop for your skincare needs. Once you’ve waited for your skin to absorb the product, make sure to sandwich it with a moisturizer. 

 Nights 3 & 4: Rest and Recovery

Dr. Bowe recommends cleansing, leaving the skin damp, and then applying a hydrating serum like Hyaluronic Acid and then a moisturizer.  Allowing your skin to rest is important for protecting your moisture barrier. 

I know what you may be thinking, is this just another gimmicky Gen-Z trend? The answer is that skin cycling is being adopted at a time where we are being bombarded with complicated and expensive nightly routines and at the end of the day, this technique offers simplicity. Consistency is key and once you form a habit of washing, moisturizing, and applying SPF to your face everyday, you’ll likely see results quickly.