THE EXPERT
Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, founder & medical director of Adonia
It’s the skincare hashtag that’s racked up an impressive 3.5bn views on TikTok. But far from being a Gen-Z led beauty trend, skin cycling is a new phrase for something dermatologists and aestheticians have been promoting – and practising themselves – for years.
To put it simply, it’s the method of rotating key ingredients in your skincare routine every few days, allowing for rest days; this means you’re not always using the same actives, such as vitamin C, beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) and retinoids. The goal? Maximising results while minimising skin barrier irritation – the consequences of which range from acne to eczema.
Before we get into the how to, first make sure your daily routine is up to scratch (see right for a morning and evening example). Next, consider your skin concern. For example, for ageing or blemishes, you’ll need two actives: a BHA, such as salicylic acid for tackling spots, and a retinoid (vitamin A) to reduce the appearance of fine lines. If your concerns are purely about ageing, then cycle in a vitamin C serum and a retinoid.
Now you can get started. As above, if you want to cycle in a BHA and a retinoid, use the latter as your treatment step on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. Then you can use a BHA cleanser both morning and evening on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Saturday and Sunday will be rest days, where you’ll use no BHA or retinoid products.
Or to address ageing on its own, cycle in your vitamin C serum as your treatment step every morning. Then use your retinoid as your final step on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. The weekend will be your ‘rest’.
