The deep dive
TikTok is always buzzing with new – and sometimes questionable – skincare tips, but the latest one to pedal through (sorry) is derm-approved. Here’s EYNTK
A very quick glance at my TikTok will show that I do indeed like cat videos. But the topic dominating my algorithm? An endless stream of beauty hacks. If it’s something that’ll save me time and money, I’m here for it. In fact, it was during a late-night scroll sesh that I stumbled upon my now fave skincare trend – and it’s one that’s also science-based and dermatologistapproved. Enter: skin cycling.
There’s a never-ending stream of viral trends out there, but many are, at best, highly debatable – looking at you, hand-whisked foundation and using lube as primer – and, at worst, verging on dangerous. But skin cycling is one that’s generated over 3.5bn views on the platform for good reason and has been praised by experts, including celebrity aestheticians Shani Darden and Amber Rose Johnson. And it’s going to get bigger. Beauty Pie’s 2023 trends report saw a 26% surge in searches around ‘skin cycling’. So, what’s all the fuss about?
The low-down
Skin cycling doesn’t require a uni-level degree in chemistry. In simple terms, ‘it’s a way of strategically organising your skincare regime by cycling and planning your use of products’, says skin specialist Tara Francis. ‘It helps optimise the effectiveness of your products and reduces irritation often caused by active ingredients or not giving your skin enough time to recover between applications.’
Dubbed ‘the 5:2 diet for your face’, skin cycling involves using actives two nights a week – this could include retinol or AHAs, as well as BHAs or PHAs. Pick your active according to your skin type and needs. On the third or fourth day, called ‘rest’ days, trade them in for barrierboosting, hydrating ingredients. Then repeat.
The term was coined by US dermatologist Whitney Bowe. The lightbulb moment came through Dr Bowe’s work in a clinic. In a TikTok video, the New York-based skin exper explains, ‘I’ve treated thousands of patients for over a decade as a dermatologist, and I find that one of the top mistakes people make when it comes to their skicare is that they don’t build in nights for their skin barrier to recover. People were taking a kitchensink approach to their skincare, mixing and matching ingredients that simply don’t play well together in the sandbox.
Skin cycling streamlines your routine in a way that’s effective and easy
‘There’s also been a huge focus on ingredient-specific products, looking at the percentages of each active, with a “more is better” obsession,’ she continues. According t
