Skin cycling is a stripped-down routine that encourages you to streamline your skincare into a four-day process: Exfoliation, retinoids, and two days of recovery. The goal is to maximize the daily impact of your skincare products without causing irritation and sensitivity.
Today, we’re taking a look at this skincare trend and showing you the science behind why it works and how to do it like a dermatologist does.
The Science Behind Skin Cycling
Your skin is a living organ, constantly renewing itself by shedding old, dead skin cells and replacing them with fresh skin cells over a 28-day cycle. As these new skin cells are produced in the deepest layer of our skin (dermis), they gradually move up to the surface, where they harden and slough off. This continuous renewal is what keeps our skin looking youthful, but the process slows down as we age, and the quality of the new cells starts to diminish, leading to dullness, discoloration, and rough patches that show our age.
Unfortunately, our skincare routine, stress, poor nutrition, and external pollutants often interfere with this process, leaving our skin looking worse for the wear. The goal of skin cycling is to align with your skin’s natural rhythm, supporting each phase with what it needs at the time rather than working against it.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Skin Cycling
Daily Routine
In the Morning:
- Wash with a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser.
- Follow up with a 30 SPF or higher moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and protected from UV radiation.
In the Evening:
- Wash with a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser.
- Apply your exfoliant, retinoid, or recovery products, depending on where you are in your skin cycling process.
- Finish with a moisturizer to soothe irritation after treatment nights and to deeply hydrate and repair your skin barrier on recovery nights.
Day 1: Exfoliation
Goal: Remove dead cells to encourage new cell growth and deeply cleanse pores
Why It Works: Our skin naturally sheds old skin cells to make way for new ones, but the process slows down as we age, leading to the accumulation of dead skin cells on the surface that make our skin look dull and clog the pores, leading to breakouts.
Exfoliation aids your skin in the natural sloughing process, clearing the path for new cells to surface while also improving its texture and tone. Removing these cells also signals to our body that it’s time for cell production.
How to Do It Right: Talk with your dermatologist about the right type of exfoliant for your skin type. They may recommend a chemical exfoliant, which contains some form of acid or enzyme to chemically loosen dead skin cells, or a physical exfoliant with microparticles that scrub away dead skin cells using friction and abrasion.
In some cases, they may also recommend a dual-action exfoliant, like Revision Skincare’s® Pumpkin Enzyme Mask, which features pumpkin enzymes for chemical exfoliation and pumpkin & cocoa micro-exfoliating powders for physical exfoliation.
Our Favorite Chemical Exfoliants:
- Neostrata® Gel Plus AHA 15 – Extra-strength exfoliating gel ideal for oily and acne-prone skin
- Neostrata® 15% Vitamin C + PHA Serum – Combines polyhydroxy acid with l-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), feverfew extract, and green tea for visibly radiant skin
- AST Enriched 15% Glycolic Pads – With vitamins A, C, E, green tea, and CoQ10 to exfoliate, moisturize, nourish, and calm your skin.
- AST 5% Glycolic 2% Salicylic Pads – 5% ultra-pure glycolic acid with 2% salicylic acid to unclog pores and accelerate cell turnover
Our Favorite Physical Exfoliants:
- Clinician’s Complex® Microdermabrasion Cream – Contains diamond-shaped crystals for immediate silky, smooth, revitalized skin
- Revision Skincare® Finishing Touch – With Polynesian volcanic black sand and ultra-fine pumice
- NuCelle® Mandelic Mint Scrub – Fine jojoba beads loosen and remove dead skin cells while algae extract soothes and hydrates
Day 2: Retinoids
Goal: Promote cell turnover and boost collagen production for firmer, more youthful skin.
Why It Works: Retinoids are derivatives of Vitamin A, and they work deep within the skin to promote cell turnover. These new cells are smoother and have a stronger structure, which reflects light better to give you a more youthful glow.
Retinoids also stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, the two proteins that give your skin its firmness and elasticity. Age drastically slows down the production of these two proteins, which in turn leads to fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. Integrating retinoids into your skincare routine helps to mitigate age-related collagen and elastin loss so your skin stays taut and supple.
How to Do It Right: After cleansing in the evening, apply a retinoid cream or serum to your face, avoiding the delicate skin around your eyes and mouth. If you’re new to retinoids, start with a very low concentration, as they can be harsh if your skin isn’t used to the potency.
You should also only use this vitamin A derivative at night because it can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Our Favorite Retinoids:
- Revision Skincare® Retinol Complete 0.5% & Revision Skincare Retinol Complete 1.0% – An award-winning serum featuring five antioxidants and hydration-boosting botanical extracts
- Neostrata® Potent Retinol Complex – Night serum designed to minimize irritation with Centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid
Day 3 & 4: Recovery
Goal: Hydrate and soothe your skin to repair and strengthen its natural moisture barrier
Why It Works: After two days of relatively potent skincare products, your skin needs a couple of recovery days that allow it time to rebuild the moisture barrier and drink up all the hydration it can.
There’s a lot of wiggle room here, depending on your skin type and preferences, but you should avoid any product that contains potential irritants or harsh actives. Otherwise, you risk pushing the sloughing process too far, leaving your moisture barrier vulnerable and your skin extremely dry.
How to Do It Right: Stick with a gentle cleanser followed by products that contain hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients. You can also use a face oil or soothing mask if your skin is feeling particularly dry and sensitive.
Our Favorite Recovery Products:
- Neostrata® Cellular Restoration – Rejuvenates cellular function and strengthens skin with collagen, peptides, glycolic acid, maltobionic acid, antioxidants, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
- Elta MD® PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer – Oil-free, fragrance-free formula for sensitive skin. Contains ceramides, niacinamide, and small rice protein to strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier while increasing collagen production
- Elta MD® Barrier Renewal Complex – Clinically proven to moisturize the stratum corneum and improve dry, compromised skin with a selected blend of ceramides and other essential lipids
- CeraVe® Hydrating Cleanser & CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion – Ceramide and hyaluronic acid-rich formula that won’t irritate sensitive skin
- CeraVe® Facial PM Lotion – Nighttime moisturizer with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to repair and restore your skin’s natural protective barrier
- Revision Skincare® Gentle Foaming Cleanser – Leaves skin smooth and soft with an amino acid surfactant that gently cleans without drying
- Exuviance® Professional Restore Polyhydroxy Biocellulose Sheet Masque – Provides intense, replenishing hydration delivered through a form-fitting biocellulose mask
Tips for Successful Skin Cycling
Always Start With a Clean Slate
It’s crucial to cleanse in the morning and the evening. Washing your face twice a day ensures that you’ve removed all impurities and dead skin cells, which allows your treatment products to absorb more effectively.
Recovery Days Are Just as Important as Exfoliation and Retinoids
Treat your skin with extra TLC on your recovery days. Exfoliants and retinoids can strip away your skin’s natural oils, leading to irritation and dryness. You need to bring balance back with deep hydration and nourishment in the form of humectants, ceramides, peptides, and essential vitamins.
Invest in High-Quality, Dermatologist-Approved Products
Your skin deserves the best, and many drugstore brands simply don’t contain the active ingredients in the correct potencies to be as effective as dermatologist-trusted brands. The initial cost may be more than you’d normally spend, but the results will be undeniable.
Work With a Dermatologist
Who better than a dermatologist to help you create your perfect cycling routine?
Dr. Elizabeth Briden specializes in skin rejuvenation, using her extensive knowledge and nearly four decades of experience to tailor the precise skin cycling formula to bring out your natural glow. Schedule an appointment today, or visit our skincare shop, Advanced Skin Therapeutics, to browse our selection of dermatologist-trusted skincare brands. We hope to see you soon!
