Almost anyone who’s spent some time looking for beauty hacks and skincare tips on TikTok has likely come across the concept of “skin cycling.” Popularized by several accounts with millions of views, this latest trend promises to deliver better skin by shaking up your skincare routine.
What Is Skin Cycling?
The core idea of skin cycling is that your skin will be happier and healthier if you apply different products at different times, essentially creating a skincare schedule or “cycle” so that your skin gets the nutrients, cleansing and care it needs.
While the term “skin cycling” is new, this idea of mixing up the products you put on your skin dates back a long time. It could be gaining more popularity now due to the fact that it feels like a more reliable way to achieve skin health and beauty. Rather than searching for that mystical “holy grail” product, this approach is about more achievable, more strategic application of skincare products to help your skin create lasting beauty from within.
Skin Cycling in Detail
The core idea of skin cycling is to break down and then build back up a healthy, glowing skin tone. It’s a 3-step process over the course of 3 to 4 days.
Exfoliation
We all know that surface damage and impurities can greatly impact how good our skin looks. That’s why the first step is to remove this damage and prepare your skin for deeper treatment with a high-quality exfoliator. Be careful not to over-apply or over-scrub your skin. Redness and irritation can result. Also plan on applying a moisturizer so that your skin has the hydration it needs to begin recovery.
Retinol
A day after your exfoliation treatment, it’s time to apply an over-the-counter or prescription retinol cream. More aggressive in skin rejuvenation than an exfoliator, retinols can minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Be sure to test a retinol before applying it to your entire face, particularly if you have sensitive skin. And like the exfoliation step, be sure to moisturize, both before and after application of the retinol.
Recovery
After 2 days of treatments to rejuvenate your surface skin, it’s time to push the pause button and encourage the healing process. This is where application of additional moisturizer and hydrating serums can give you the biggest benefit. Be sure to read labels carefully so that any product you apply is not delivering additional resurfacing.
When Skin Cycling Isn’t Enough
Skin cycling can be a great way to minimize the buildup of impurities, flakiness, and damaged skin. But there’s a limit to how much at-home treatment cycles can deliver. People who have more serious skin damage, discoloration and blemishes are often better served by first addressing these skin concerns before jumping into a skin cycling regimen.
One of our more popular skin resurfacing treatments is Lumecca® IPL Skin Rejuvenation. Application of intense pulsed light (IPL) encourages skin cell renewal, and can improve the appearance of age spots, rosacea, spider veins, freckles, sun damage and more. Once you’ve achieved clearer skin with a series of Lumecca treatments, you can then maintain your look through skin cycling and other at-home strategies.
Another treatment option for even more in-depth skin rejuvenation is radiofrequency microneedling using Morpheus8. Microneedling is designed to encourage new skin growth from within, and it also opens up the skin so that topical products can reach deeper. By adding in radiofrequency energy, Morpheus8 also can achieve deep tissue remodeling, with new collagen production and a firmer, more youthful complexion as a result.
Last but not least, Dr. West can recommend a personalized mix of professional skincare products from Alastin Skincare and Neova. These brands offer several high-quality exfoliators, retinol creams, moisturizers that help you make the most of your at-home skin cycling effort.If you are looking for a more glowing skin tone, call our Ann Arbor office at 734-971-0262 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with one of our highly skilled and experienced providers.
Author: Dr. Jessica West
Dr. Jessica West is the Medical Director for the Michigan Center for Cosmetic Services in Ann Arbor. Dr. West is double board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and by the American Board of Otolaryngology & Facial Plastic Surgery. She is known for her superior aesthetic results, strong attention to detail, artistic eye, and honest expert opinion in regards to both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
