Skin cycling. You’ve seen people talking about it on IG and TikTok, but you’re not sure if it really works— or to be honest, what it really even is. That was me! I didn’t know. I also had all the very best skincare products and didn’t know when to use them and which combinations of them to apply. My skin texture wasn’t improving much, even with prescription Retin-A from my dermatologist. That’s when my sister told me about Skin Cycling. I started reading about it and suddenly, it made sense that this was exactly what I needed to do. My sister is a pharmacist by trade, but more importantly, she is a critical thinker and researcher. So, when she tells me something works, I know that she has read about it, watched videos from solid sources, and most likely, even listened to podcasts allowing her to make these statements. She is probably my most trusted source when it comes to effective skincare.
Skin cycling is exactly what it sounds like— a cycle for your skin. It enables you to use strong, effective products, but also allows your skin the chance to recover, creating the best possible skin! We looked at other people’s Skin Cycling routines and developed our own. They are all the same process, but the products you use are customizable. We were both so happy with how our skin immediately reacted to this routine and because results are evident, it is very easy to stick to this plan! I can honestly say that my nose pores have NEVER been so small. I don’t really get clogged pores there anymore and that was always a trouble area for me. My skin tone and texture have improved exponentially. This is the first time I’ve been able to stick to a skincare routine and I’ve been doing it for about 5 months now!
What exact products you use on your 4 day cycles can vary, as long as you stick to the schedule of Exfoliate, Retinoid/Retin-A, Recover, Recover. So, what happens each night? Read below for more info!
Night 1: Exfoliate. This is the day that you want to use some type of chemical exfoliant, not a physical face scrub/exfoliant. Use a cotton ball or swab and apply this directly to the skin to get rid of dead skin cells, create a glowy skin appearance overnight, and most importantly, prepare the skin for day 2– Retinoid.
Night 2: Retinoid. You can use an over the counter Retinol or prescription Retinoid like Retin-A/Tretinoin (if prescribed by your dermatologist). This is the most important night of the cycle. It increases your skin’s collagen production and speeds up cell turnover. It’s going to take care of everything from fine lines and texture issues to acne. It will “draw out” at first, so don’t be surprised if your skin purges a bit (that’s why we included the Mighty Patches we love so much).
Night 3 and 4: Recover. These are the nights you give your skin a break by nourishing and repairing the skin barrier. Use moisturizers and night creams only— no exfoliants or Retinoids. Giving your skin this time to “recover” will allow the exfoliation and retinoid nights to be way more effective!
Now, you don’t want to apply only one product per night either. You must use the products in a combination that reduces irritation and increases efficacy. So, below, I’m going to tell you what we use each night and you can adapt your own routine accordingly.
Night 1: Exfoliate.
1. Cleanse: I like to cleanse with Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Cleanser or CereVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser. On the days my skin is dull, I opt for the Glow Recipe. On the days my skin is dry, I cleanse with CereVe. However, you want to use whatever cleanser works best on your skin.
2. Exfoliate: I apply Paula’s Choice Skin Perfector with a cotton swab. It is strong (especially at first) so your skin may tingle a bit. I’ve tried a few different exfoliants and this one is the absolute best. It’s been around for years and is tried and true. I previously used Tarte exfoliator and it irritated my skin very badly. Finding the best exfoliator for your skin might be a trial and error process.
3. Snail Mucin: My sister got me hooked on this. It has SO many skin benefits. We use the COSRX Advanced Snail Mucin Essence. Think of this as a “bonus” hydration-boosting step, not a substitute for your moisturizer. In addition to helping hydrate your skin, it also brightens and improves radiance, plumps the skin, and helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Overall, we find that this relatively new skin product is one of those “holy grails” that helps give our skin an extra glow.
4. Moisturize: I use both Farmacy Honey Halo and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. I feel the Farmacy is a bit heavier for when my skin can use some extra moisture, but the CereVe is also extremely nourishing (and a lot less expensive).
5. Seal: The LaRoche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Balm is always our final step. It almost has an Aquafor-type consistency and is very thick, but not greasy. This is crucial to locking everything in– and will definitely make you look like a glazed donut before bed. It goes on over top of your moisturizer and also is important to helping repair your skin barrier.
Night 2: Retinoid.
1. Cleanse: (as above)
2. Retinoid: We use prescription Tretinoin (0.025%) from the dermatologist. It’s very easy to get this rx with a visit to your doctor. Only apply a pea-sized amount to the face, as this is a strong product. There are quite a few OTC retinols you can use if you choose not to use a prescription, such as The Ordinary Retinoid Serum and Paula’s Choice Retinol Serum. From my research, these are two of the best without a prescription, but I have not actually used them myself.
3. Snail Mucin: (as above)
4. Moisturize: (as above)
5. Seal: (as above)
Night 3 and 4: Recover
1. Cleanse: (as above)
2. Moisturize: (as above)
3. Seal: (as above)
*If you feel like your skin is ready for the next level, you can scale back to an Advanced 3-day Skin Cycle with only one day of recovery OR you can up your Tretinoin or Retinol to a higher strength (always check with your dermatologist first).
*Being that retinoid and retinols cause your skin to purge, I have found Mighty Patches are my savior when a random zit or cystic/hormonal acne appears. I use the original ones, but the Invisible ones are great too if you need to wear them out, but they are more expensive. Apply this patch PRIOR to moisturizer so it sticks (you may have to dry off the area before applying). When you take it off in the AM, you will be amazed. The zit is usually is flat with a little bit of redness if any. They are great for pulling everything out of the pimple– no squeezing required.
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Hi! I am very curious what you do in the mornings on top of this. I am trying to figure out what I should be doing. Currently, I use a gentle cleanser in the morning with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and SPF. Then at night I double cleanse first with gentle cleanser, then SA or Benzoyl and put on only hyaluronic acid and moisturizer. 2-3 times a week I use a glycolic pad as well.
I want to start skin cycling, especially to add in retinol, but I am unsure what I should be doing in the mornings. For example, do you always use a gentle cleanser morning and night? I have acne prone/oily skin and am not sure if I could use a salicylic acid cleanser in the morning since I wouldn’t be using it at night. Or should I use salicylic acid cleanser on the recovery days?
Hi Megan!
In the morning, I use my same cleanser, which is a gentle cleanser, then I apply undereye cream, vitamin C, HA, and moisturizer/SPF. I would use your SA cleanser on alternating days; I’m not sure if that’s best on the recovery days or if it’s better to give your skin a break on those days. I’d say try both ways and see which yields better results, or just use it in the morning. It’s been totally trial and error for me, but the results speak for themselves and you will know which routine is best after trying both ways!