It seems that new trends in the skincare industry appear every single week. It can be tricky figuring out which skincare trends are worth your time and money and which to leave behind. Skin cycling has taken social media by storm, but research suggests it could be immensely beneficial for your skin. 

Skin cycling is a concept coined by dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe. Skin Cycling was created to eliminate the negative impacts of over-exfoliating by rotating your skincare products throughout the week. Over-exfoliation can lead to a damaged skin barrier, which could cause irritation and further breakouts. Exfoliants and retinol products have some fantastic benefits, but too many of them can foster unwanted side effects, especially for those with sensitive skin. Let’s break down how skin cycling works and how to get the most out of your skincare products.

Night One: Exfoliation

It’s time to break out your exfoliating products. After you cleanse your face, it’s recommended to use an exfoliant, chemical or physical, to help remove dead skin cells. This is the night to incorporate Stripped Beauty’s Fresh Grapefruit Face Scrub. This physical exfoliant is perfect for sensitive skin due to its nourishing ingredients like Agave and Colloidal Oats. If you prefer chemical exfoliants, Flower Hour Toner gently exfoliates the skin using 5% Lactic Acid (AHA) and 2% White Willow Bark Extract (BHA).

Night Two: Retinol

Retinols are used in skincare to increase collagen production, cell turnover, fade dark spots, and treat acne. Many different retinoids are on the market, like Retinal, Tretinoin/Retinoic Acid (dermatologist prescribed), and Adapalene. At Stripped Beauty, we recommend consulting with your dermatologist and trying out Retinoic Acid before OTC retinoids. Retinoic Acid is instantly effective because it doesn’t have to be converted by the skin. Retinol takes longer to work because the enzymes in our skin have to convert Retinol twice, first to Retinal, then Retinoic Acid, before our skin can digest it. However, Retinol is much gentler than Retinoic Acid and may be a better option for those with super sensitive skin.

Nights Three and Four: Recovery

Too much of a good product is not always good. Though effective, Exfoliation and Retinol can be harsh on the skin barrier, so it’s important to use these last two nights to let your skin breathe. These two nights are all about hydrating and nourishing products to avoid dryness, irritation, or inflammation. Hyaluronic Acid, Antioxidants, Squalane, and Occlusive ingredients are the perfect way to deliver intense hydration and protection to your skin. 

Start with a serum to get the most out of your hydrating products. Fountain of Youth Serum contains Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides, and Niacinamide to help your skin retain hydration and increase collagen production. Next, go in with your face cream. We added extra nourishing ingredients to our Neptune Face Cream, like Shea Butter, Squalane, and a blend of antioxidant-rich ingredients like Algae and Sea Kelp to hydrate your skin, protect your skin barrier, and soothe sensitive skin. Finally, adding a facial oil to your routine can leave your skin glowing and nourished throughout your day. Glow-To Oil is a lightweight blend of Squalane, Jojoba Oil, Argan Oil, and Vitamin E. This customer-favorite softens the skin without clogging your pores, restores skin elasticity, protects your skin against free radicals, and soothes irritated skin. 

Though we tend not to buy into social media skincare trends too often, we think that skin cycling may be here to stay. Your skincare routine should be intentional and consistent, and skin cycling can help you stick to an effective routine that keeps your skin healthy and happy.