Trending Social Skincare: What Is Skin Cycling?

Here at Skin + Me, we’re all about exploring a skincare trend, especially  if it has science behind it. You might have heard about skin cycling (or #skincycing) on TikTok – it’s been mentioned billions of times, with influencers sharing their routines and shouting out their ‘skin rest days’ to make progress.

What is skin cycling?

Leaning on the idea that ‘rest days’ are for recovery, skin cycling is the practice of using the same routine products but giving your skin a ‘day off’ certain ingredients. The theory is that this can reduce irritation, inflammation and prevent the delicate skin barrier being compromised.

The classic skin cycling recommendation that you’ll see most often is (chemical) acid exfoliation one evening, using a retinoid the next and then two nights ‘recovery’ from active ingredients with just your basic cleansing and hydrating routine.

Does skin cycling work?

Now, if we’re drilling down on skin cycling, the metaphor between skincare and exercise is useful. When it comes to fitness, you need to maintain balance and consistency to make progress. 

Skin cycling isn’t about fitness but about routine.

When it comes to skincare, you need to choose (with expert support) which ingredients are right for you and apply them in the right doses, consistently. 

Taking ‘rest days’ is common sense if your skincare routine includes combining acid exfoliants with a retinoid treatment that can increase skin cell turnover. As a general rule, dermatologists don’t recommend you combine certain ingredients in the same session. 

Some of this is about educating yourself. You know your skin best and what it can tolerate in terms of best results.

Skin cycling vs. microdosing

If you’re at the stage where you think you don’t know what your skin needs best, then skin cycling can make you feel in control when it comes to introducing more potent active ingredients into your routine. 

The other, more reliable option to maximise results and minimise reactions is microdosing. That’s taking the bespoke dermatology route with a personalised treatment like the Daily Doser. Your formulation is blended to increase in concentration each month so your skin builds tolerance with minimal side effects. Zero rest days (and guesswork) required.

Dr Jason Thomson, Head of Medical at Skin + Me tells us, “By using lower concentrations more regularly, you can gradually build up your skin’s tolerance to the powerful active ingredients. This minimises the chance of side effects, such as dryness and sensitivity, whilst still getting the benefits.”

Making progress with powerful active ingredients is the goal for both skin cycling and microdosing here. Both methods seek to maximise results and minimise reactions (skin purging, we’re looking at you). The joy of microdosing is that you can outsource these decisions to professional dermatologists rather than relying on what an algorithm feeds you on TikTok.

Should I try skin cycling?

Skin cycling isn’t inherently bad for your skin and applying products with a firm eye on maintaining a healthy skin barrier is always a good idea. As a rule of thumb, everyone should avoid overusing exfoliants and never skip sunscreen, whatever TikTok tells you! 

Microdosing is a more sophisticated way to get consistent results when it comes to happy, healthy skin, and if you’re worried about the effects of a powerful retinoid like tretinoin, ‘buffering’ skin with a moisturiser first can help. As with all routines, consistency, commitment and self-compassion are key. Try fitting that into a hashtag.

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