If you’ve found yourself on #skintok or searching the internet for the latest skincare trends recently, chances are you’ve seen a lot about “skin cycling.” Dermatologist-approved, this fad is rightfully gaining popularity rapidly for its transformative benefits. But what exactly is it?
Though diving in may be intimidating, the definition is as simple as it sounds. Skin cycling is the process of using powerful ingredients in cycles throughout the week so as to not irritate your skin from an over-concentration of actives. In other words, it’s alternating the nights in which you use your exfoliants, vitamin C, retinol, et cetera to ensure you benefit the most from every product.
Of course, we bring topics like this to the experts, so we tapped Perricone MD’s Director of Education, Rosalba Martone, for the scoop. Read on for everything you need to know about skin cycling so you can begin your youthful transformation stat.
Pros & Cons of Skin Cycling
Essentially, skin cycling is like a science experiment whose instructions need to be followed carefully to avoid an explosion. Ok, not literally but figuratively, of course. In your skin’s case, the “explosion” occurs when you’ve concocted a regimen with too many active ingredients that don’t get along. This excessive combination of highly concentrated ingredients can lead to dry, red, flaky or broken-out skin, which we want no part of!
Alternatively, when done correctly, skin cycling can lead to unmatched results, helping to repair your skin barrier to protect against harmful external factors and, thereby, smoothing, firming, brightening and more. To avoid the side effects and jump straight to the benefits, it’s essential to know exactly what you’re doing.
How to Skin Cycle with Perricone MD
Now you’re ready to get started! According to Perricone MD’s Director of Education, Rosalba Martone, there are a few things to keep in mind before kicking off the new regimen.
First, you’ll ideally want to skin cycle at night to give your skin barrier time to recover while you sleep. This is because it helps you avoid exposure to the sun and other environmental factors that could cause potential side effects with some active ingredients (example: your skin has a higher risk of sun burn with retinoid use). Additionally, this process should be done consecutively every night for 12 weeks, then you can take a month break — or a break until the next season starts.
With the logistics out of the way, let’s dive into the actual cycling process.
CYCLING NIGHTS 1-3
The Routine:
Cleanse: High Potency Classics Nutritive Cleanser
Peel or Polish (Alternate): Vitamin C Ester Daily Brightening & Exfoliating Peel or Brightening & Exfoliating Polish
Treat: Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Complex 20%
Moisturize: Cold Plasma Plus+ The Intensive Hydrating Complex
Eye: Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Under-Eye Cream
Start the skin cycling process with a regimen rich in Vitamin C Ester on nights one through three for brighter, more even skin. After cleansing, alternate step two so as to not use the same one on consecutive days. One night, use our Vitamin C Ester Daily Brightening & Exfoliating Peel to resurface and eliminate dead skin cells, getting your skin prepped to effectively absorb the other products in the cycle (bonus for it visibly minimizes dark spots over time). The next night, use our Brightening & Exfoliating Polish for dual exfoliation from ultra-fine, granular silica and gentle enzymatic exfoliation from papaya and mango fruit extracts for polished, radiant skin.
Follow this thorough exfoliation with our Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Complex 20% to begin replenishing skin. This supercharged serum is rich in antioxidants and formulated with our proprietary Vitamin C Ester and two additional forms of vitamin C making it our most potent (though still highly stable). The three forms of this brilliant ingredient work together with vitamin E and ferulic acid to brighten, smooth and lessen the look of discoloration over time. Oh, and it’s designed with a powerful phospholipid delivery system that helps with effective absorption for maximum benefits.
Seal in the brilliance with ultra-rich, intensely hydrating Cold Plasma Plus+ The Intensive Hydrating Complex to saturate your skin in powerful moisture to nourish skin for a dramatically smoother, firmer and more even-looking appearance. End with Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Under-Eye Cream to awaken brighter, youthful-looking eyes in the process.
CYCLING NIGHTS 4-6
The Routine:
Cleanse: High Potency Classics Nutritive Cleanser
Treat: High Potency Growth Factor Firming & Lifting Serum
Moisturize: High Potency Retinol Recovery Overnight Moisturizer
Eye: High Potency Growth Factor Firming & Lifting Eye Serum
Now, it’s time for your retinol nights, courtesy of a simple yet effective routine featuring our High Potency Retinol Recovery Overnight Moisturizer. This ultra-nourishing moisturizer works overnight to smooth the look of lines and wrinkles with the help of three forms of retinol. Use it in combination with our High Potency Growth Factor Firming & Lifting Serum for an extra lift and cap off the routine with our High Potency Growth Factor Firming & Lifting Eye Serum for an eye area that’s equally as firm and nourished. Why choose these two to end your regimen? Well, they’re formulated with encapsulated retinol for accelerated skin renewal so they work to replenish the look of thin, collagen-depleted skin.
REPEAT
Of course, there are no nights off when it comes to skincare so when you’re in a cycling season, this rule remains. After you’ve completed cycling night six, get ready to start from night one the next day! Repeat the above recommended six-day cycles consecutively for 12 weeks.
Remember! Though your skin cycling routine should be done at night, your morning routine should never be skipped either. On days after you’ve skin cycled, add a replenishing moisturizer to a very simple daytime regimen (cleanser, treatment, SPF, eye cream and neck cream) to help feed back and renew your complexion. Moisturizers like Cold Plasma Plus+ The Intensive Hydrating Complex and our Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Rejuvenating Moisturizer are ideal options for this.
Now that you’re on your way to perfecting skin cycling, don’t wait another night. Drift off into your skin’s reparative state after completing this routine repeatedly and you won’t believe the transformation you’ll wake up to in three months’ time.