Skin Cycling: What it is and Why the Internet is Obsessing Over it

By: Claire Bader

TikTok has been my safe-haven recently. I find myself using it more than Google when I need to look up pretty much anything from recipes to advice. But let’s be honest, Tiktok is full of questionable wellness advice. I saw a video this morning of someone advertising a $15 device from Amazon that supposedly melts your fat— like I said, questionable. Needless to say, every once in a while a tip from the app that seems valuable goes viral. My most recent obsession that I discovered on my For You Page is skin cycling, a newfound skincare method created by Whitney Bowe M.D. (She is a real dermatologist too). 

Skin cycling was born from the idea that we need to give our skin time to heal. So many people are far too harsh on their skin, layering on products hoping they will wake up looking like a poreless, porcelain doll. Mixing so many ingredients can be damaging to the skin and cause far more harm than good. When it comes to skincare, less really can be more and Dr. Bowe has calculated what some may say is the perfect routine. Search “skin cycling” on TikTok and countless people describe their experience and how it has helped heal their skin. The method is a 4 day cycle that gives the skin barrier a chance to heal between treatments. 

Night 1 is exfoliation night, but this is 2022 and dermatologists do not recommend those grainy, rough scrubs anymore. Chemical exfoliants are in, and a lot of people seem to be loving the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant— it’s all the buzz. The salicylic acid is lightweight which helps unclog pores and even skin tone while maintaining your moisture barrier. First, use a gentle cleanser (I like the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser), a thin layer of exfoliant, and lock it all in with a moisturizer. That’s it for night 1. Simple, easy, effective. 

Night 2 focuses on the use of a retinoid. What is a retinoid you may be wondering— only one of the most effective and critically acclaimed skincare ingredients on the market! Retinoids are Vitamin A-related chemical compounds that are incredibly successful at healing acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles. Use that same gentle cleaner, apply a pea sized amount of retinoid, then seal it in with your moisturizer. 

Nights 3 and 4 are what Dr. Bowe calls ‘recovery nights’. These are the simplest and most important nights. Your only skincare steps are to gently cleanse and apply a nice, heavy moisturizer. My favorite moisturizer is the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream— it really gives you that glazed donut look. Do not use any active ingredients on recovery nights and let your skin breathe. 

I started skin cycling about a month ago and have seen a huge difference in my skin. For so long I had been layering on products that were packed with harsh, acne fighting ingredients. Simplifying my routine and turning to more gentle brands such as Cetaphil have actually made my acne better and allowed my skin barrier to heal. My skin feels so much softer and I swear I have more of a glow now. Safe to say I’m obsessed. 

With over 3.5 billion views on the hashtag, skin cycling has given a lot of people great results with healing their skin. Everyone’s skin is different, the essence of it all is finding a routine that works for you. Skin cycling might just be a good place to start.

*Edited by Molly P.

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