Starting Skin Cycling
I had struggled for years with blackheads, acne scars, hormonal acne, hyperpigmentation and inflammatory acne. For as long as I could remember I used only spot treatments for acne. I dont want to down play spot treatments because they can be truly amazing products. Though I have found they are typically only useful when you already have a flare up. I wanted to learn how to stop the flare ups from even happening.
I first heard about Skin Cycling a couple years ago online, and was immediately excited to try it out. I spent weeks learning about the concept, what skin cycling was and who benefited from it. I learned about different types of products and what they would do for my skin. Lastly which products were the highest rated online, by dermatologists and customers alike, and had better cleaner formulas.
I soon realized that my skin was thriving with this new routine. Overall, skin cycling made a huge difference in my skin and my confidence. I would also like to note diet and lifestyle can make a difference in your skin health as well. Well before starting skin cycling I also took out allergens of mine, including dairy and gluten.
What is Skin Cycling?
Skin Cycling was coined and created by dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe. The dermatologist was worried about skincare ingredients not getting the attention they deserved when they were all used everyday. While all these products can be amazing, their effects can be muted when mixed together.
Also, some of these ingredients can be harsh on your skin, especially with sensitive skin. Separating ingredients and giving your skin recovery days can keep your skins healthiness intact.
Who is this for?
Becoming more aware of your skins needs and which products can get you to your desired effect, is a journey. A good start is using the right ingredients in the right way. I hope that this article provides you with a place to start that I didn’t have, and grow as you learn more.
Something to remember is everyone’s skin is different and this routine might not work on everyone. Some people have combination skin, while others may have oily or dry skin. So this might not work on the first try, you might need to adjust products or brands. Maybe you need more of one product and less of another. Possibly this doesn’t work at all and you can take this off the list of things to try.
This routine is more for younger audience who is struggling with acne. Aging skin is better to target with different products.
Why is a Good Skin Routine Beneficial?
First it is just fun! Selfcare is not only relaxing it is beneficial to your skin, hair, nails, and overall health. Your skin deserves to be taken care of just as any other organ. Also, like I said above, getting the skin you want requires prevention and not just treatment. It is a lot harder to take care of a bunch of problem spots then to keep up with a routine to keep them from even coming up in the first place. Once you start you will see how addicted you get to going about your skin routine everyday.
At first to stay on top of my routine I used a skin cycling calendar. This was very helpful to remember which day I was on. Especially because some of these ingredients can be hard on the skin at first. Doing them two days in a row could cause my skin to get red and irritated. Here is my personal favorite skin cycling calendar. Put “ROOTSBOOTS” in at checkout for $1 off any of their listings.
Importance of Each Product
Exfoliate: This is the first day in the skin cycling calendar. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, dirt and oil in pores. Chemical exfoliants seem better for sensitive skin than physical. Especially individuals new to skin cycling. There are three main exfoliants; AHA, BHA and PHA. It recommend placing an eye serum or cream on before application. Dont place on eyelid or directly under eye.
Retinoid: This is the second day in the skin cycling calendar. Retinoid is a vitamin- A based skin care product meant to treat acne prone faces before they occur. I have found that it can also help mild fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Take these products slow and give it time, many people can develop irritations to this product at first. I recommend only a pea size drop to a dry face. I would also recommend placing a bit of eye serum or cream on eyes before application and to not get on eyelids or directly under eyes.
Recover: This is the third and fourth day in the cycle. Because the other two days can be hard on your skin I give my skin two days of rest, or more at first if needed. I like my skin by using a product that with soothe or restore my skin barrier. A good moisturizer can do this. I prefer something that doesn’t have harsh ingredients in it that will irritate your skin further. I like ceramides or snail mucin ( I know sounds gross but works wonders) which both provide maximum hydration to the skin.
Moisturizer: A great addition to your everyday skin care routine to make sure you are not drying out your skin. If you have dry skin in general make sure to do this step. If you have oily skin I would experiment with this. Your skin might actually have too much moisture and you need to cut back. Possibly, like in my case, you just needed a good moisturizing routine because your skin is supplementing poor moisture with access oil. After your skin is used to
Exfoliate and Retinoid nights you can start using a moisturizer after these products to enhance or trap their effectiveness. For oily or combination skin I like a water based moisturizer. For dry skin I also like water based moisturizers because they just seem less oily and I am particular about how something feels. But if you need more hydration I would switch over to a oil based moisturizer.
Sunscreen: This is a very important feature of your skin care routine. Especially if you want to start a retinoid. Retinoids can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Sun damage can hurt after spending time outside in one day, I have been there, causing sunburn, redness and dry skin. But long term sun damage can increase the appearance of aging skin, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and even skin cancer. I personally prefer a sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast on my skin and is easy to re-apply. I would recommend buying a suncreen that is meant for your face and not a body spray or lotion. Facial and body sunscreens aren’t the same. Body sunscreens tend to be oil based and a thicker substance, and not meant for the delicate skin on your face. Find a water based non toxic sunscreen.
Eye Cream: As mentioned above eye cream can be helpful in protecting the eyes when using these products. Your eyelid and the skin under your eye can be very sensitive and protection is key to prevent dryness or discoloration. I also just like the feel of waking up in the morning and using an eye cream on my tired eyes, especially one with caffeine in it. Make sure to be gentle with your eyes when applying dont use too much pressure, try to dab and not drag. Sometimes applying only with one finger can remind you of this.
Spot Treatment: Some of my acne goes away fast on its own with my normal skin care routine. Other times it can be stubborn and stay around. When I get frustrated or have a painful pimpled that won’t go away I do one of two things, I use a salicylic spot treatment or a pimple patch. When I have a full pimple with a white head I use a pimple patch and this works great for me. By the morning the pimple usually breaks and the puss can be released without me trying to manually pop it and risk creating a scar. Then I can focus on healing the skin. When I have a sore pimple under the skin, when I know its about to form, or its a stubborn little red spot I use a salicylic spot treatment and after a day or two this does the trick.
Warning: If skin irritation, burning or redness doesn’t go away stop using the product. It could be doing more harm than good, or you might just be allergic or have sensitivity to an ingredient. If no extensive reactions occur make sure to give this treatment plan six weeks to start seeing good progress. It might get worse before it gets better. Your skin needs to purge and sometimes that means more acne and spots. After the six weeks if things dont start to improve I would try switching out some of the products and listen to your body and if things dont feel right.
Product Recommendations
(prices are current as of last edit date but are subject to change)
It is important what you are putting on or in your body. So make sure it is doing more good than progressive harm. I stay away from products with fragrance or other known carcinogens. These causes extensive redness, irritation or stinging. To make sure the ingredients in my products are clean I use the YUKA app (non sponsored). The app lets me know if any of the ingredients might be toxic and what they might cause. I have found this extremely helpful.
I personally recommend the products listed below because of their cleaner ingredients. I value that in a product, especially one I will be using daily or weekly. I also like these products because they aren’t an all in one type. When a product claims to do everything I tend to start doubt its effectiveness.
Eye Cream: Good Molecules Eye Cream $6
Cleanser: Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser $39
Exfoliate: COSRX AHA/BHA Toner $20
Retinol: Differin Gel Adapalene 0.1% $14
Recover: COSRX Snail Mucin Cream $25 OR I have also heard
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 $17
Moisturizer: Youth to the People Air-whip Cream $48
Sunscreen: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sunscreen Rice + Probiotics $13
Vitamin C: Youth to the People 15% Vitamin C $72
Alternatives Under Twenty-five Dollars
Vitamin C: COSRX Vitamin C Serum $25
Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Hydrating Facial Cleanser $18
Moisturizer: COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Cream $19
Though cheaper these are still very solid products and brands. Just because something is cheaper it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is less adequate at completing your skin care goals.
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Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. I am not a healthcare professional, and the content provided should not be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
