The world of skincare can feel overcomplicated. There are countless ingredients, and it’s only natural to want to try a bit of everything.

But when it comes to your skin, more isn’t always better. Mixing and matching too many ingredients can overwhelm the skin, compromise the skin barrier, and even clog pores. This can lead to increased irritation, blemishes, and sensitivity.

Enter skin cycling. Popularised on TikTok, skin cycling is a method of rotating skincare ingredients over a multi-day cycle. Adopting this simpler, more streamlined routine can improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of breakouts, prevent irritation, and optimize the results from ingredients.

Skin cycling is rooted in a repeatable 4-night routine:

Night 1: Exfoliation

The first night of the cycle is focused on exfoliation. Exfoliants remove dead skin cells and support skin cell turnover to target congestion and improve skin texture.

Here’s the catch: over-exfoliation can disrupt your skin’s natural balance and barrier. Some people can experience irritation, redness, breakouts, or flaky skin as a result. With time, over-exfoliation can lead to complications like sensitivity, dryness, and signs of premature aging. Skin cycling helps you avoid these concerns by keeping exfoliants separate from other products that, when combined, can lead to over-exfoliation and sensitivity.

It’s important to note that daily exfoliation (using the right product) can also have incredible benefits for your skin and yield faster results. Skin cycling provides a transitional period for your skin to adjust to exfoliating ingredients and understand which products are best for you.

Night 2: Retinoid

Retinoids are one of the most powerful ingredients to include in your skincare regimen. They work to target the appearance of skin concerns associated with collagen loss and cell turnover. Using a retinoid can help make skin firmer, smoothing out the look of wrinkles and improving the look of uneven skin tone.

Since exfoliants and retinoids both support skin cell turnover, using them on the same night can increase your risk of skin sensitivity. Reserving retinoids for the second night of the cycle helps mitigate that risk.

Night 3 & 4: Recovery

For the last two nights of the cycle, give your skin a chance to recover. Hold off on exfoliating acids or retinoids. Focus instead on supporting your skin’s microbiome and repairing the skin barrier. This can be accomplished through hydrating moisturizers and soothing, yet supportive, serums.

A recommendation from our lab: Before starting any new routine, it’s a good idea to establish a gentle, consistent regimen first. Slowly integrate new products one by one and always patch test before use.

There are two main types of exfoliants: physical and chemical. Physical exfoliants are often gritty scrubs that some may find can irritate the delicate skin of the face. Instead, opt for a more gentle chemical exfoliating acid for the first night of the cycle.

Mandelic Acid 10% + HA, for example, is an exfoliating serum that gently improves skin clarity and texture. Another great option is the Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner, a water-based exfoliant that reduces textural irregularities while enhancing luminosity. It contains a plant extract derived from Tasmanian Pepperberry, which is a known anti-irritant.

Retinoid Products

Retinoids are not one-size-fits-all. Your skin type, experience with retinoids, and specific skin concerns can all factor into the retinoid product you choose for night two.

Retinol products, like Retinol 0.2% in Squalane, offer a more gentle solution for first-time retinoid users. This particular formulation is supported with squalane, a moisturizing agent naturally found in your skin that enhances surface-level hydration and helps combat dryness associated with retinol use.

For slightly more experienced retinoid users, Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is our highest-strength retinoid formulation that rapidly firms and smooths skin, while reducing the appearance of dark spots.

Recovery Products

The last two nights of skin cycling are like self-care for your skin. This is when hydrating and barrier-repairing products, like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, can replenish lost moisture and protect the skin against environmental stressors.

It can also be helpful to incorporate nourishing serums during recovery nights, like Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides) and Soothing & Barrier Support Serum. These formulations help repair the skin barrier while soothing discomfort and reducing the look of redness.

Skin cycling tends to work gradually. You likely won’t notice a difference overnight, but you may experience clearer, smoother skin over time.

Several factors can impact the results of skin cycling. Individual skin types, for example, can react differently to ingredients like exfoliants and retinoids. Some people might experience sensitivity during skin cycling, while others may require higher frequency or ingredient concentration to see results.

As with most skincare routines, consistency is key. The more diligent you are with your skin cycle, the more likely you’ll see improvements.

If you’re new to skincare regimens or more advanced ingredients, skin cycling is an ideal routine to get you started. Since the purpose of skin cycling is to prevent the overuse of actives and reduce the risk of irritation. It allows beginners to ease into potent ingredients like retinoids.

Once the skin has built up its tolerance, you can transition to more regular application. For example, using a gentle exfoliant daily can provide faster and more effective results. You can also alternate between a retinoid or an exfoliating formulation on a nightly basis. It’s all about choosing the right products for your skin and giving your skin time to adjust through a transitional routine, like skin cycling.

You can also modify your routine to support sensitive skin. For example, choose a milder exfoliating acid, like Mandelic Acid 10% + HA, or start with a longer cycle to give your skin 3 or 4 nights to recover before exfoliating again.

Your skin is unique. Your regimen should be too. Depending on your skin concerns, you can benefit from adding targeted treatments to your skin cycling routine.

• For blemish-prone skin, our Balancing & Clarifying Serum can help reduce signs of skin congestion and excess oil.
• For fine lines and wrinkles, the age-supporting Multi-Peptide + HA Serum enhances skin elasticity and firmness.
• For uneven skin tone, our Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA serum can minimize the appearance of dark spots.
• Not to mention ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide—both powerful solutions for brighter, clearer skin.

There are so many ways to build a routine that supports your specific skin needs. And once your skin has adapted to the 4-night cycle, you can experiment with stronger, more advanced techniques. For example, swapping your gentler retinol serum for a high-strength retinoid like Retinol 1% in Squalane.

Remember to listen to your skin as you play with different products. Always patch test before use and take a break if irritation occurs.

The power of skin cycling is in its simplicity. 4 nights, 2 actives, 2 chances for your skin to repair and replenish. For beginners and skincare enthusiasts alike, skin cycling is a way to ease product overwhelm and lean into a more refined, intentional regimen.

The simplicity of skin cycling also makes it more sustainable. It provides a more balanced approach to using ingredients, helping to prevent irritation and ultimately optimizing skincare results long-term.

As you build your skin cycling routine with our suggested formulations, remember to be patient. Your skin will tell you how it feels about certain ingredients and methods. Be sure to listen, and to take your recovery nights seriously. Your skin, like you, needs rest to be at its best.