Look, you know it, at Skin Actives Scientific, we know it. There are more fads under the sun than you can count. Fads are everywhere, and they just don’t stop. Whenever the current (often annoying) fad is going away, it seems like there is a brand new one coming around the bend to roll your eyes at.

Why are fads so annoying, at least to those of us who aren’t participating in them?

Well, in the contemporary era of just mass market noise competing for attention, there seems to be this idea that basic, fundamental concepts need to be completely reworked every couple of years. This is done to generate novelty. This is done to get attention.

If you’ve been around the diet and exercise space for even a short amount of time, you’ve seen the trends come and go. The truth is, people know how to diet, and they know how to exercise. It’s just that dieting and exercising are hard, and we all wish there was some way around it. Meanwhile you have a whole host of blogs, magazines, and books that need to get sold, that need to attract readers and need to just…make noise.

So what are they going to tell you? That diet and exercise has been figured out for decades? That you could learn everything you need to know in a forty-year-old manual you can buy at the used bookstore for five bucks? No way! You gotta get the real hot right now branding of some wacky new idea. You can read about it while eating your keto ice cream bars.

BUT.

Sometimes through all that noise, you can find a new-style fad that is a real gem.

Have you heard of “Skin Cycling”? It’s a hot trend right now that emerges from a different buzzword: social media. In today’s blog, we take a look at Skin Cycling and how it lines up with what our Founder, Dr. Hannah Sivak calls, “The Skin Actives Way”. 

Let’s take a look.

What is Skin Cycling?

Skin Cycling is a way of approaching your skincare routine developed over the course of the pandemic by Dr. Whitney Bowe, a New York based dermatologist.

While it might have a catchy name that makes you mind go in a lot of different directions, it’s based on a simple premise: don’t overwork your skin.

So right away, we’re happy to say that our very own Dr. Sivak’s advice for years is right in line with what Dr. Bowe has to say. As we’ve always said at Skin Actives Scientific, “less is sometimes more!”

As a dermatologist Dr. Bowe was finding that her patients, even though they were following standard routines, were not achieving the results that they desired. While contemplating her exercise routine, she realized that rest days were integral to making progress. She experimented with her own routine, allowing her skin to have a “rest day” that will be familiar if you are into exercise routines yourself.

Is it just that simple? Well no, but we’ll give you the broad strokes on how you can start Skin Cycling yourself!

How Do You Start Skin Cycling?

Integral to the process of Skin Cycling is the “rest day” on rest days you aren’t going to use any exfoliating products. This includes chemical exfoliants like our Vitamin C 15% and 20% but also cleansers like our Salicylic Cleaner.

Dr. Bowe recommends that Skin Cycling influence your evening routine and she keeps her morning routine consistent. While she acknowledges that everyone’s tolerance and need for exfoliation will be different, she only exfoliates once every four days.

This is perfectly in line with what we have always recommended, especially for our Vitamin C 15% and 20% which we recommend for one or twice a week, but which we continually field questions regarding whether it can be used daily.

Now this is where things are going to get tricky. Dr. Bowe recommends people develop their new Skin Cycling routines based on their own needs. (This is one of the things we like about it! This advice is very reasonable and avoids prescriptive, one-size-fits-all recommendations.)

Here is the basic concept:

• Cleanse nightly, but with a cleanser that will nourish your skin, not strip it. For this we recommend our Skin Cleansing Oil.
• Start the cycle by exfoliating one night to get rid of dead cells and keep your skin rejuvenated and fresh. For this, our Vitamin C 15% or 20% is a fan-favorite winner.
• Moisturize the next night to “prime” your skin to accept the vitamins and nutrients that are coming its way shortly. For your Skin Cycling adventure, consider Skin Actives’ Ultimate Moisturizing Cream with ROS* BioNet and Apocynin.
• On the third night, it’s time for a retinoid like what’s found in our Vitamin A Cream.
• On the last night of the cycle Dr. Bowe recommends nourishment. For this step consider either a thin layer of our Every Lipid Serum or Hyaluronic Acid Serum. At this step in the routine Dr. Bowe is emphasizing soothing with few or no active ingredients.

Now all of this is taken with the understanding that your skin and its needs are not static. They will change based on the season, the weather, and the hormones in your blood. You should be aware of what’s going on with your skin and be able to change things up here and there as need be. This is a very flexible routine, and one that puts your health and well-being at its center.

Some people have taken it upon themselves to create Skin Cycling journals. This is not a bad idea. If you’ve ever done a weight loss routine or a fitness routine, you can understand the benefit of such a journal. A simple notepad will do but you can find all sorts of inspirational diaries on Etsy. 

Who Should Try Skin Cycling

As we often like to stress: not every skin routine is for every person. So when should you try Skin Cycling?

If you’ve been working towards a skin health goal and you are just not seeing it, maybe Skin Cycling is for you!

Keep in mind though, we are often our own worst critics. Dr. Bowe created Skin Cycling to address the frustrations of her patients who were engaged in very intense skincare regimens and not seeing results. Does this mean that you should try more before you try less? Not necessarily.

At Skin Actives we are always most concerned with your skin health and well being. If you have tried a comprehensive routine and aren’t seeing the results you want, or if you have overexposed your skin to exfoliants and actives and need to give yourself a break, we recommend Skin Cycling. Because Skin Cycling is so gentle on your skin and safe, you could give it a go, just to try something new! But as always, we recommend to listen to yourself and make sure you are taking care of your skin in a healthy, sustainable way first and foremost.

Where Dr. Bowe Meets Skin Actives Way

As you can see, here at Skin Actives Scientific, we’re very excited about the work that Dr. Bowe is doing. We find that her message of health and wellness is right in line with the culture we are creating here. Meanwhile, Dr. Bowe stresses that the changes you want to see in your skin take time to achieve in a healthy way. 

Being too hard on your skin can actually hurt you. As much as we might want a new fad to give us the quick and easy way to being thin, fit, and with perfect skin, there is no substitute for patience, taking your time and being healthy.

So, we feel really good about the message of Skin Cycling in your routine. Thanks for reading another installment of the Skin Actives blog. We post new content here twice a week so join in for other educational topics as well as tips, tricks, and DIY recipes!