The Rise of Skin Cycling: Should You Try It?

Overview

Skin cycling is a trending regimen that alternates active ingredients and recovery periods over several nights. Popularized on social media and by brands like The Ordinary, it usually involves a -night cycle: Night – exfoliation, Night – retinoid, Nights –4 – gentle recovery .

The idea is to enjoy the benefits of potent ingredients (like AHAs and vitamin A) without irritating the skin. By spacing them out, skin cycling prevents overuse and gives your skin time to repair between treatments.

Here’s a typical skin cycling schedule:. Night – Exfoliate: After cleansing, use a chemical exfoliant (AHA/BHA) to remove dead skin cells and promote turnover.

What’s happening in your skin

This brightens skin and clears pores. The Ordinary warns against daily over-exfoliation, so limiting exfoliant use to once per cycle prevents barrier damage.. Night – Retinoid: Apply a retinoid or retinoids-and-retin-a.html">retinol product.

Retinoids boost collagen and cell renewal, improving texture, tone, fine lines and acne. By using it on its own night, you let it work without competing with acids. Start with a gentle retinoids-and-retin-a.html">retinol if you’re new to actives and build up frequency gradually..

Nights –4 – Recovery: Skip acids and retinoids. Instead, focus on hydration and barrier support. Use rich moisturizers, hydrating serums (hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides), and soothing products to replenish skin.

What to do

This downtime helps skin heal and adapt to the actives used earlier. Why it works (for many people): Skin cycling aims to reduce irritation. Using exfoliants and retinoids separately mitigates sensitivity because those ingredients both increase cell turnover.

A combined use can over-stimulate skin. By cycling, your skin can enjoy the “glow” benefits (smoother texture, clearer pores) while preserving the barrier. The concept is also beginner-friendly: it phases in strong actives slowly, so someone new to retinoids can ease into them.

According to dermatology experts, skin cycling is indeed safe and beneficial if done correctly. Dr. Whitney Bowe (who coined the term) and Ohio State dermatologists note that a basic routine (gentle cleanser, retinoid, moisturizer) is all you need to start.

An intermittent schedule helps reduce the risk of redness or flaking. Over time (usually weeks), many notice smoother, clearer skin. Patience is key – you won’t see overnight miracles, but consistent cycling often leads to gradual improvement.

Bottom line

To try it yourself: first, make sure you have good basic skincare (mild cleanser, sunscreen, moisturizer). Introduce one exfoliant product (like a lactic acid or mandelic acid serum) and one retinoid.

Begin Night with the exfoliant, Night with the retinoid, then give at least two nights to hydrate only. Always apply sunscreen each morning – these active ingredients make skin more sun-sensitive.

If irritation occurs, you can lengthen the recovery period (3 nights of moisture) or use milder formulations. Skin cycling isn’t mandatory for everyone, but it’s worth a try if you’re dealing with dullness or acne and want a structured way to use strong treatments.

Many find it convenient since it’s predictable: your “to-do” each night depends on the schedule. And it’s adaptable – you can shorten the cycle or substitute products (for oily skin, stick to once-night hydration; for dry skin, do three nights of moisture).

In summary, when followed thoughtfully, skin cycling is a sensible approach to incorporate acids and retinols without overtaxing your skin .

Note: This content is for education only and is not medical advice. Sunscreen and retinoids can increase sun sensitivity, and pregnancy or medical conditions may change what is safe for you.

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