Skin cycling routine step by step by Dr. Whitney Bowe
Tons of the Tiktokers have been following the trends related to the skincare regime. While the trends are largely gimmicky, skin cycling is the brainchild coming from an actual dermatologist. It helps you understand how a certain type of product works on your skin.
The trend is featuring from famous tiktoker, Dr Whitney Bowe, a licensed dermatologist who explains in detail about the skin and its scientific approach which has taken social media over the storm. It further includes the use of a certain type of products and active ingredients in a prescribed order to the skin in a framed time. This showcases more about the treatment received and recovering from the same. The timetable taken for the skincare routine will help the beauty enthusiast to understand how powerful the products are and should be used daily. This further helps to avoid any sort of irritation.
The tag #skincycling has racked up 48.6 million views on TikTok, and Dr. Bowe’s account has over 800,000 followers looking to learn her unique method. The most viral version of skin cycling is currently Dr. Bowe’s four-night routine that she recommends for sensitive skin: exfoliate, retinoid, recover and recover. The routine can be shortened by taking out one night of recovery for less sensitive skin, which may lead to quicker results from the active ingredients on exfoliation and retinoid nights. At the end of the three or four-night cycle, you should repeat from the beginning. During the day, you should have a consistent routine that doesn’t change with each of the skin cycle nights.
Dr. Bowe came up with the concept of skin cycling after realizing that many of her patients were over-exfoliating or using harsh products too often. “You can use a nourishing moisturizer twice a day, but when you try to push the workhorses (the acids, the retinoids) you can do more harm than good — including damaging the skin barrier, experiencing low-grade chronic inflammation, increasing free radical damage, accelerating the aging process and worsening hyperpigmentation,” said Dr Bowe to The Well. “I started realizing, as we dove into patients’ actual routines, that we needed to build in recovery days to let the skin repair.”
Is skin cycling good for your skin?
According to Dr. Bowe, using powerful retinoid creams and over-exfoliating could result in redness and skin irritation. For this, recovery nights could be a blessing in disguise. It focuses on nourishing the skin barrier which turns out to be the main game changer.
Skin cycling may help reduce negative products from the skin and so do its side effects. The main section of skin cycling is about reducing the side effects of active ingredients. The lesser you use a product, there are fewer chances for side effects. She further states to apply retinol between two layers of moisturizer. This helps in restricting irritation.
Recover nights are highly beneficial. This is because the air tends to become dry and cool. According to Bowe, cold, windy or dry climates may lead to dry skin. It could tend to worsen your skin type. Conducting skin cycling might help in the prevention of the skin from getting dry. It could further help to give hydration to your skin.
What are the steps to skin cycling for your skin?
According to Dr. Bowe, your nighttime skincare routine has to be skin cycling. It will take your skin to the next level for delivering the best results. You will be using products strategically and deliberately. It is that simple! The effective look of the twist on skin care has been highly successful for different clients and even many followers on social media. Night-time skin cycling will help you fetch the best of the benefits for powerful activities for keeping your skin healthy and irritation-free.
Skin cycling is a 4-night process. It goes as follows –
Night 1 – Exfoliation
On the first night, you need to exfoliate. You may even opt for chemical exfoliation as suggested by Dr Bowe. This sort of exfoliation will give your skin an immediate glow. It further preps your skin for the rest of the night’s routine and care. Some of the best ingredients to include on the first night are – alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids.
Night 2 – Retinol
On night 2, opt for using retinol. Retinoids serve as one of the most powerful ingredients that help your skin cycling routine to be effectively completed. If you are using them too much, then it has their set of side effects too. The best idea about using retinol is to layer it between the moisturizer on your skin. There are many retinol creams that you can opt for, provided you are prescribed by the doctor too.
Night two is more about treating your skin. Retinoids are premium ingredients that make use of retinoic acid and are well cushioned with retinol and tretinoin. It helps in stimulating collagen production as well as enhancing cell turnover. It further lessens the appearance of wrinkles as well as different skin conditions.
Night 3 and 4 – Recovery
By now, you already know the drill! Commence with cleansing that skin.
After the first two nights of treatment, give your skin the time to heal and recover. You will be able to get hold of the same by using the right soothing skincare products. The ones that are truly moisturizing on the skin are your savior. Additional steps include using sheet masks, hydrating serums or moisturizing elements like glycerine or hyaluronic acid.
Repeat the process in the same way post the 2nd night of your skin cycling regime. If you have sensitive skin, start from the beginning with additional hydrating serums. The process is slow but steady, you need to have the patience to see the best-defined results.
How Long Should Your Skin Cycle for?
The process of this skin cycle is slow and steady. The new skin cell is formed right from the deepest layer of the epidermis. It works right on the surface of the skin. When it matures to this stage, the skin cell finally takes off.
The process of shedding and growing varies from person to person. It also varies in terms of age, hormones, skin condition, health and even stress. When it comes to a skin cycle, the process is about 5-6 weeks. Between the age of 19-21, the process could fasten to even 14-21 days. Whereas when it comes to middle-aged, it takes up to 28 days. For the ones who are older, it may take more than 45 days or more.
If you are looking for bigger results, then you might have to seek the help of professionals for the same. Starting this routine at an early age will bore your effective results.
What Products Do I Use for Skin Cycling?
1. Chemical exfoliant
The adventure of skin cycling begins with a chemical exfoliant. It helps in gently smoothing through the surface of the skin. It directly showcases a brighter complexion, and over time, it enhances inconsistencies. You need to moisturize your skin later.
Here are some of the products that you may opt for –
2. Kora organics noni night AHA resurfacing serum
This has a powerful blend of lactic acid along with willow bark extract. It helps in shrinking pores and reverses the impact of environmental damage.
3. The ordinary lactic acid 10% + HA
Well acquainted with most skin types, this serum is well crafted with Tasmanian pepper berry for reducing sensitivity.
4. Ole Henrikson Dewtopia 20 acid night treatment
A powerful 20% acid serum formulated with both AHAs and PHAs to enhance the skin texture.
5. Retinol
More about collagen production, this step helps in giving you glowy skin. And make sure that you are not skipping an SPF.
Here are some of the products to look for –
1. Skinstitut retinol serum
Best for the one who has some experience with retinol. It is well-boosted with peptides for boosting collagen and elastic production.
2. Medik8 retinol 3TR
Lightweight retinol serum that evenly distributes on your skin without giving you any skin irritation.
3. Hydration and Repair
Once you are done with the two-night process, the final call is hydration and repair. You need to use the right nourishing products that you may layer as you like.
4. Ella Bache Ultra Nourishing Cream
Protect and hydrate your skin. It is made from enhanced beeswax and wheat germ oil.
5. BUTT Naked Hydrate Hero Thirsty Skin Serum
Provided keep hydration with ingredients like warmth flower extract, finger time and waratah.
Should I Skin cycle?
You should start with the skin cycle. If you have never used chemical exfoliant or retinol before, you will have a little impact on your skin. There could be some effects that you will be able to see. You need to give the proper rest to the skin for it to hydrate, heal, repair and recover.
Conclusion
Skin cycling is beneficial for skin care beginners. It is the best for people with sensitive skin types. If you are seeing some irritation with the current skincare regime, your skin is not able to tolerate that certain type of product. The activities in this routine are mainly retinol and exfoliation. Once you start it daily, your skin will start getting used to it.
