With a quarter of a million video views on Tik Tok, Skin Cycling is the most talked about skincare trend for 2023, and if it’s a question of skincare sensitivity, it may just be the answer your skincare regime’s been looking for. Here’s what you need to know about it and what to add to your cart to give it a try…
WHAT IS SKIN CYCLING?
Firstly, Skin Cycling slots into your schedule just before bedtime and works on a four-night cycle. Rather than doing all the skincare steps in layers on any given evening, you spread out the steps; exfoliating on night one, applying retinoids on night two, and giving your skin a chance to recover on nights three and four by focusing on hydration and barrier repair.
NIGHT ONE: EXFOLIATION
Think of this step as prepping your skin, giving it a chance to start with a clean slate. The trend’s biggest fans suggest using a chemical exfoliator rather than a physical one to prevent over-scrubbing your delicate epidermis but still achieve the desired effect – “Bye-bye!” dead, dull skin cells, “Hello!” glow-getting cell turnover. Here are the two exfoliators we love and why we love them…
Lamelle Correctives Cathepzyme 1 is an innovative product used to restore normal skin shedding, which starts slowing down in our early twenties as the levels of an essential skin enzyme called Cathepsin D to start to decline. By our 40s, the replacement of epidermal cells slows down by as much as 30 – 40%, which is why the presence of 15% Cathepsin D in this product is a game-changer. So, if you’ve noticed flaking, a dull complexion or the appearance of fine glyphic lines in the skin, it’s time to consider adding this exfoliator to your Online Skin Shop shopping list.
NeoStrata Smooth Surface Glycolic Peel is a potent addition to the resurfacing range, bringing you the benefits of a chemical peel in the comfort of your home. Containing Glycolic Acid to exfoliate the surface layers of your skin, this product removes dead or dull skin cells, leaving your skin looking healthy and radiant while it targets fine lines and wrinkles; stimulates collagen and elastin production; strengthens your skin; and – with regular use – improves skin texture.
NIGHT TWO: RETINOIDS
The beauty of Skin Cycling is that it enables the more cautious among us and those with sensitive skins to introduce a potent night-time active, in this case, retinoids, in a controlled, ‘slow and steady’ way. Here are the two products we recommend whether you’re a newbie or a Retinoid veteran…
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 contains a high concentration of 0.5% pure Retinol, making it suitable for blemishes from problematic skin types, fine lines, pigmentation, and acne. But it’s the presence of stabilising ingredients – one of which being Bisabolol – that ensures safe, deep delivery and maximum results, calming irritation while the Retinol gets to work turning back the clock. It’s important to mention that while this product is suitable for most skin types, red and rosacea-prone skins should give it a skip, as should those suffering from eczema or psoriasis.
Lamelle Correctives 3.0 RA Serum is a safe and effective form of high-concentration retinoic acid for age prevention that’s been proven to be tolerated well by most skins. What makes this serum unique is that, in addition to Retinol, it gently delivers powerful anti-oxidant Vitamin A (3%) while the Avocado Oil in each drop helps to nourish your skin, leaving it soft and healthy.
NIGHT THREE & FOUR: RECOVERY
Think of nights one and two as being the nights you give your skin a good workout, putting it through its paces to get stronger and ‘fitter’. With this in mind, think of nights three and four as being your skin’s well-deserved recovery period, the time it needs to rest and reap the rewards of all that exfoliator and retinoid action.
Here are two moisturisers we recommend to really meet the requirements of the recovery part of Skin Cycling, delivering not only the must-haves, hydrating and barrier repair properties, but some nice-to-haves, too.
Lamelle Dermaheal Cellular Repair Cream is fast becoming a ‘favourite child’ among Lamelle fans. With more added Growth Factors, this corrective moisturiser (for normal, dry, or sensitive skin types) powerfully rejuvenates photo-damage and ageing skin, utilising natural pathways of repair to reduce visible lines and wrinkles, address thinning and come to the rescue when unwanted textural changes start showing up.
SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3 includes multi-corrective ingredients to treat all the early signs of skin ageing, from dullness and discolouration to wrinkles, fine lines and loss of elasticity. Containing Niacinamide to strengthen your skin's protective barrier and pure Glycerin to deliver intense hydration without leaving your skin greasy, this moisturiser definitely ticks the hydrate and barrier repair boxes of this skin cycling phase.
READY TO GIVE SKIN CYCLING A GO?
Chat with your Skin Renewal therapist or doctor at your next appointment, or get in touch with the Online Skin Shop team to discuss which products are best for your skin type and current skin concerns. Oh, and if you’re into a bit of research, hop onto Tik Tok (via your teen’s account if need be) and search #skincycling to see why it’s finally a social media skincare trend that those in the skincare know can get behind.