The Biggest Skincare Trend Of 2024

What Is Skin Cycling?

Skin Cycling is a skincare routine that focuses on only using active ingredients like retinol on certain days, the remaining days of the week are “rest days''. This allows your skin to repair itself after using more than one active ingredient at a time. Sometimes your skincare routine needs to be stripped back and simplified to make sure your skin is getting the very best out of each product. This can help prevent irritation and inflammation that comes with using too many active ingredients. The initial concept of skin cycling was for an effective night skincare routine that aims to protect and repair your skin barrier. Nighttime is the most effective time to focus on repairing the skin and tackling any skin concerns.

The Four Steps Of Skin Cycling

There are four steps involved in the skin cycling routine over 4 nights to execute it correctly and reap the benefits.

Night One: Exfoliation

On the first night, you will exfoliate to remove all your dead skin cells, as this will allow retinoids and other activities to effectively penetrate the skin. It is best to cleanse as normal and then either go in for a double cleanse with an exfoliant or an exfoliating mask. The Skinceuticals Glycolic Cleanser is a wonderful gentle AHA cleanser and the Dr. Barbara Sturm Facial Scrub is also an effective yet gentle exfoliant to try.

Night Two: Retinoid 

On the second night you will apply your retinoid or other active ingredients of choice. A secondary application of moisturiser may be necessary if the skin still feels tight or dry. The moisturiser acts as a buffer and reduces the side effects if you are prone to sensitive skin. SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3% Refining Night Cream is a great refining retinol for ageing or acne prone skin looking for a smoother complexion with a healthy glow. The Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum is suitable for sensitive skin or those new to retinol. 

Night Three And Four: Repair 

The third and fourth night is when you hydrate and encourage skin barrier repair. After cleansing, leave the skin moderately damp and place on your hydrating and reparative serums. Ideally, these will contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or niacinamide. Follow this with your favourite moisturiser to nourish and repair your skin. Look for formulas with ceramides, shea butter, and hydrating oils like rosehip and jojoba. If your skin has reacted negatively to the retinoids or is particularly dry, skip the serum and go in with your most gentle and hydrating moisturiser. 

As with any skincare routine or trend, it can be confusing. If you’re unsure where to begin with which products to use but want to try skin cycling - book an online consultation with one of our skincare medical experts for 30 minutes of complementary skincare advice. We want to help you establish the best routine for your skin type and achieve your most radiant skin yet in 2024!