What Is Skin Cycling?
Skin cycling is a routine in which skincare products are used throughout a multi-day cycle to reduce overusing products. This helps repair the skin barrier by giving your skin a reprieve from products, resulting in improved skin elasticity. This method has been popularized in recent years on TikTok, with users sharing the schedules they follow for applying their skincare routine.
Benefits
When you allow your skin time to relax after using products, you encourage natural skin barrier repair. Overuse of skincare products can often lead to irritation and inflammation, especially for products, such as exfoliators, designed to cleanse the skin deeply. Through skin cycling, you could see improvements in skin texture, skin elasticity, and reduced inflammation.
Individuals with reactive skin could see the most benefits from skin cycling. Skin prone to eczema or rosacea, for example, often experience a compromised skin barrier more prone to breakouts, rashes, and other forms of irritation. Skin cycling allows those individuals to use products beneficial to their skin in delicate doses.
Skin Cycling Schedule
Skin cycling often changes the nighttime skincare routine through a multi-day cycle while keeping the morning skincare routine consistent. Overnight, your skin experiences most of its repair work. Using more intensive products at night gives your skin extra time to absorb them.
If you are curious about trying skin cycling, here is an example of how the skin cycling schedule for nighttime works:
- Day 1: Deep cleanse using a mask. Using an oil-cleanser to moisturize, followed by a clay mask. Finish with your moisturizer. Sensitive skin may not respond well to exfoliation. Using a clay mask as an alternative can help gently cleanse.
- Day 2: Use a serum. This is your night to use an anti-aging serum, such as a Vitamin A serum. Cleanse, then apply your serum. End with your moisturizer.
- Day 3: Recover. This is your skin’s recovery night. Only a cleanser and moisturizer are needed, as it gives your skin a break for improved skin barrier repair.
This is only an example of a schedule. There are plenty of alternative schedules for you to follow, based on your skin type. For example, acne-prone skin may respond better to our Clarity Clay Mask, as opposed to our Rosy Glow Clay Mask. Always focus on products that work best on your skin type.
Am I Using Too Much Skincare?
Contrary to what some might assume, more is not always better. Overusing skincare products can lead to irritation, redness, dryness, breakouts, and a weakened skin barrier. Skin cycling helps individuals have greater control over their products, avoiding overuse through a focus on a multi-day schedule.
Some signs that you are using too much skincare are:
- Unexpected breakouts
- Unusually dry or tight skin
- Redness
- Stinging upon skincare application
If you are experiencing signs of overusing skincare products, the first thing you can do is let your skin rest. Halt use of your skincare products immediately, giving your skin time to rest. If your skin is experiencing a bad reaction to a product, you may need to consult with your dermatologist.
Signs You Are Overdoing Skincare
Skin cycling not only helps individuals avoid overusing the products they have, but it also can help spread out the use of products so you are not overdoing it in your daily routine. Reactive skin often requires a simplified skincare routine, not a 10-step skincare intensive routine each night. It can be fun to try new products, but it’s more important to give your skin time to breathe.
Repairing the Skin Barrier After Overusing Products
Products that contain harsh ingredients are the first culprits that will cause a weakened skin repair from overuse. Cosmette’s skincare products are botanically formulated to be gentler on skin, helping to rejuvenate the skin. Combined with skin cycling, you will have a delicate routine for improved skin elasticity.
Layering Skincare Products the Correct Way
Layering skincare products is a method of ensuring that your products absorb properly. When done the correct way, you avoid overusing your products. To layer skincare products, apply the thinnest products first before moving on progressively towards the thickest. A general rule of thumb is to allow your skin 30-60 seconds to absorb each layer.