A new trend is ahead and staying, skin cycling. A concept coined and demonstrated on Tiktok by dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe. A surfacing trend, but in actuality, it has been a practice used by professionals for many years. 

But what is it, exactly? And Is skin cycling good for my skin?

It is an easy-to-follow routine that rotates the products you use. And it allows your skin to rest and repair, having positive results!  The mentioned cycle consists of four days to do in your nighttime regimen. Check out the schedule below to start away with a skin cycling routine!

How to do skin cycling

On the first night: Exfoliate

After your usual routine (cleansing, serum, moisturizer, and face oil), seek to use chemical exfoliators whose ingredients are those of Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), and poly-hydroxy acids (PHAs.) These work better with the skin barrier than physical scrubs. Dr. Bowe recommends using a leave-on product over something that can wash off. 

Add our ZCM15 Facial Antioxidant Serum to your skincare routine! You will love the smoothness of your skin. It is an antioxidant cleanser that blends ancient power with an advanced formulation. 

On the second night: Retinoids

Do not use an exfoliator. Instead, use retinol for anti-aging, along with your principal routine of cleaning and moisturizing. Learn about our Anti Aging Series of products to have the best outcome. 

The third and fourth nights: Rest

These are the “recovery” nights. Take a break from the active ingredients in your exfoliators and retinol. Pausing for two days will help maintain a strong skin barrier and avoid irritation. Introduce calming, nourishing moisturizers.  The perfect, soothing skin therapy product is ÆTHEION® ZCM30 Synergistic Lotion. It nurtures, protects, and moisturizes the skin. It is a treatment with hyaluronic acid and a botanical blend of pure essential oils for lasting protection. You can find yours here.

Then repeat the cycle with an exfoliator. 

What are the benefits of skin cycling routine?

In short, this method helps the skin build a tolerance to active ingredients.  As mentioned on the third and fourth night, these “paused” nights out of your routine aid the skin from reacting in a negative way. Since exfoliators and retinol products can be harsh if used daily.  

So, allowing your skin to “breathe” from these can also permit it to reap the benefits of your products.

1. Skin cycling can help repair your skin barrier. Why is it important? A healthy skin barrier protects you from infections, harsh chemicals, skin conditions, and allergens. Constant use without moderation harms the barrier causing your skin to become irritated. 
2. Skin cycling may reduce side effects. Less usage can protect your skin from blasting side effects. 
3. Skin cycling could protect the skin against seasonal issues. Cold, windy, and dry climates take a toll on your skin. The practice of the skin cycle can help prevent such conditions.

The potential side effects of skin cycling

Are you new to the skincare routine world? Worry not! Skin cycling might be the right thing for you. If you are starting the journey, this approach can help introduce products to your skin without being too violent. 

Take, for example, retinol. It is a magnificent ingredient but also too intense.  A skin cycling routine allows your skin to grow accustomed to its force. Remember, exfoliating and using retinol is helpful, but using them every night can cause a backlash. 

Want to start using retinol? No problem! Be kind to your skin - add moisturizer before applying it. After a few tryouts, you can apply retinol first and then moisturize.

However, a younger skin, prone to breakouts and an oily face, using retinoids every night and exfoliating once a week might give you better results than being a more passive user of skincare products. 

Did you know that using retinol makes the skin more inclined to sunburn? Therefore, an important reminder to follow is to apply sunscreen every day.

Otherwise, no matter how many products you use or how effective they are, they cannot handle the damage sunlight causes. 

So, is your skin exposed to a lot of sunlight? Let our ÆTHEION® ZC5 After Sun take care of you. It is a gentle spray that restores moisture to the skin and hair. Its use will decrease sun damage, sunburn, and free radical damage. 

The Takeaway

It sounds like a no-brainer to reduce overdoing your skincare routine to avoid damaging your skin barrier, the outermost layer of your skin. A skin cycling routine can help reduce dryness, redness, irritation, and breakouts. It is a habit worth undertaking since its results are positive. 

Consider this approach to encourage the use of products in a tactical way to complement one another. 

Although it is safe to jump on the wagon of this trend, try focusing on understanding ingredients and their proper combination to assist your skin further. It’s a vast universe of skincare, but do not get fooled. Allow your skin to communicate what it benefits from the most. 

If you are already deep in your 12-step skincare regimen, you can allow yourself to step back a bit, moderate, and track your progress with fewer products. 

Not every skin is the same. 

Talk to a dermatologist to guide you if you are concerned about certain aspects or if you don’t know what best suits your skin.

The bottom line is that skin cycling could do wonders for your face. Invest in a good line of products to protect, nurture, and maintain your skin glowing. 

Use them wisely, do not overdo the regimen, and be patient and kind to your skin. 
Don’t you want naturally clear skin? Read our Four Easy Remedies here.

Experience AETHEION® 

Trust our formulations to give you results. Choose from a range of products to protect your skin. 

Each solution contains the best technology in skincare. It combines natural ingredients to harness optimal nutritional value. 

Whether you want to treat an uneven skin tone or premature aging, AETHEION® offers products of high quality, satisfying the concerns of skin imperfections. 
Maintain your beauty and prevent skin damage with AETHEION®.