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7. SkinCycling - A TikTok Trend That's Worth The Hype!

TikTok is full of trends - some bad and some good. One such trend that is in vogue is – Skin Cycling.

Skin cycling took off immensely during the pandemic when everyone was stuck at home and there was a shift away from makeup towards skincare.

Dr. Sravya C. Tipirneni, Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetologist & Trichologist at Manipal Hospitals in Bangalore, highlights the viral TikTok trend and helps us understand skin cycling a little more in-depth!

So, how does skin cycling work?

Skin cycling is a straightforward process to get used to. If you’re new to all this, you’ll simply repeat a four-night cycle:

Night 1 :

The exfoliation night— this gets you to clear your pores and remove dead, dull skin. The steps include:

1.) Cleanse with a gentle face wash and pat your skin dry.

2.) Then use a leave-on chemical exfoliant (having alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids). A physical scrub (exfoliant) tends to be harsh on the face.

3.) Lock everything in with a moisturizer before bed.

Night 2 :

The retinoid night - Retinoids, a vitamin A-based skin product, helps treat mild acne and fade hyperpigmentation and scarring. It can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The steps for night 2 include:

1.) Cleanse your face first and then make sure it’s 100% dry before applying the retinoid (as damp skin increases the penetration of the retinoid, which can cause more irritation for some people.) A pea-size quantity is a plenty for your entire face.

2.) If you haven’t used a retinoid before, applying a light layer of moisturizer to sensitive areas would be advised. Then add retinoid followed by another layer of moisturizer on top. This is also known as the “sandwich” technique! It helps to reduce peeling and dryness and also allows skin builds up some tolerance.

Nights 3 and 4 :

Recovery nights: Now you should ease into recovery nights. These two days simply cleanse your face and apply hydrating serums/moisturizers of your choice that don’t include active ingredients like the ones mentioned above—and that’s it!

It is advised to:

Look for fragrance-free products

Products with skin-repairing add-ins like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides. Holding off on the use of exfoliants and retinoids will help your skin rest and stay hydrated!

Skin Cycling in a nutshell!

“Giving your skin ‘work days’ and ‘rest days’ helps improve your skin without overdoing your routine every day.” But like any new routine, unless you try it, you will not know if it is suited for it. Please get your skin analyzed and speak to your dermatologist before you start this new trend!