Biologically, skin is the largest organ in the human body and requires proper care to stay healthy and glowing. Who doesn’t want glowing and naturally bright skin? Apart from a balanced diet and regular exercise, using skincare is one way to take care of your skin! Well, there are various skincare routines and techniques out there that we can choose from. One of them is a skincare method called “skin cycling” technique.
By combining exfoliation and cell rejuvenation, this technique can address skin concerns and reduce the signs of aging. Are you interested in trying it? Make sure to read the full information first!
What is Skin Cycling Technique?
First coined by dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, the skin cycling technique is a two-process combination skincare method: Exfoliation and cell rejuvenation. Exfoliation means that dead skin cells are removed, paving the way for new cells to emerge. Meanwhile, cellular rejuvenation stimulates collagen and elastin production, which improves skin elasticity and helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Broadly speaking, there are 4 benefits that we can feel by following this skincare trend, namely:
- Overcoming dull skin
Dull skin is often caused by a buildup of dead skin cells that prevent sunlight and moisture from penetrating the skin’s layers. The skin cycling technique will rid the skin of these dead cells, resulting in brighter and more radiant skin.
- Improves Skin Texture
With regular exfoliation, we can significantly improve our skin texture! Even rough or acne-prone skin will become smoother and healthier.
- Reduces Signs of Aging
One of the signs of skin aging is wrinkles and fine lines. By stimulating collagen production through cell rejuvenation, the skin cycling technique helps to reduce signs of aging and keep skin supple.
- Solving Skin Problems
The skin cycling technique is also effective in treating certain skin problems, such as hyperpigmentation, acne and large pores. Regular exfoliation can fade dark spots and reduce excess oil production. Say bye to acne!
No wonder why this trend has gone viral in the skincare world! The benefits sound very positive and to the point. But, what are the steps? Will it be simpler or more complicated?
4 Steps of Skin Cycling Technique
This skincare trend is quite short, we only need to do it for 4 days at night. During these 4 days, we will focus on a different process each day. To follow along, just pay attention to these 4 steps:
- First Night – Exfoliate
For the first day, you will focus on the exfoliation process (Chemical). Exfoliation works to remove dead skin cells so we will need products with glycolic acid or salicylic acid!
- Second Night – Retinol
After the exfoliation process, we’ll focus on rejuvenating the cells using retinol-based products. However, retinol can be too harsh on certain skin types! Therefore, as a tip, we can use a moisturizer beforehand especially in the areas of: Mouth, eyes, nose corners, or neck.
- Night Three & Four – Recovery
After the previous 2 days of using rather strong active products, it’s time to give your skin a break for the last 2 days! Soothe the skin with a moisturizer so that the skin is well hydrated and can recover!
So easy, right? Moreover, this skin cycling technique only lasts 4 nights!
But one thing we need to keep in mind is that not all trends will suit everyone’s skin! So it’s best to consult a dermatologist or do some in-depth research first for frequency, product selection and more. In addition, there are also some things that we should pay attention to in order to optimize this skincare!
Additional Skincare to Enhance Results
Want the results of skin cycling to be more optimal? There are a few things we need to use here. First of all, there is moisturizer. We still have to use a moisturizer so that moisture is maintained and the skin barrier is protected. We can use this product before and after doing the skin cycling technique!
The second is sunscreen, a skincare must to protect the skin from UV rays. UV rays are the enemy of the skin because they can cause skin damage and accelerate aging. Therefore, don’t forget to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every time you do outdoor or indoor activities. If your skin needs special care due to certain conditions, it’s also a good idea to consult the compatibility with your skincare routine.
Last but not least, eat a balanced diet that is rich in vitamins and antioxidants! This will strengthen your skin from within and make it less prone to other problems. In fact, a balanced diet can even help your skin heal! Make sure to consume fruits, vegetables, and whole grains regularly. You can read our healthy diet for glowing skin article for more info!
Does Skin Cycling Technique Make Skin More Sensitive?
Overall, this skincare routine is suitable for all skin types and shouldn’t cause any negative reactions such as skin sensitivity or other inflammatory issues.
However, we have to find a safe way by consulting, researching and considering our skin type/problem before doing it. Similarly, when we want to try a new product, we will definitely read the label and ingredients and do a patch test. This is to avoid allergic reactions or negative effects that we don’t want! By consulting with experts, we can get other alternatives if an ingredient is not suitable for our skin problems/types and other tips.
One more thing, skin cycling techniques and other skincare routines will not produce instant results! It takes patience and consistency, not to mention the right products. Instead of doing this trend too often, we should look at our skin condition and changes in a few weeks. If it’s suitable and there’s no negative reaction, then go back to it.
Let’s avoid following trends without researching first! Don’t regret it later on. Stay safe and healthy!