Skin Cycling 101: What You Need To Know

If you are on TikTok, you have most likely come across Skin Cycling, the newest trend in skin care regimens. This system is based on a four-night evening routine, alternating more active treatments with “nights off” to let your skin heal. While the term is new, the system itself is really not: it’s simply a different way of saying, exfoliate once to twice weekly, and use a retinol twice a week. 

Here’s our day-by-day guide to skin cycling... 

Night 1: Exfoliation. 

The first night is your exfoliation night. Weekly exfoliation of the face is necessary to help slough off dead skin cells, ensuring glowing skin and helping all of your other skin care products penetrate more effectively. Use our Purifying Gel Cleanser to wash the day away. Pat your skin dry. Then, reach for our Gentle Refining Scrub and massage it into your skin for 60–90 seconds (yes, on dry skin). Once the product has melted into the skin, add water and rinse.  

Night 2: Retinol

Welcome to your treatment night. Retinol is the gold standard ingredient for anti-aging, helping to build collagen, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, and improve the skin’s texture. Apply a pea-sized amount of our Advanced Retinol Serum on clean, dry skin—use nothing under it, and nothing over it. (Please skip this step if you are nursing or pregnant). 

Nights 3 and 4: Hydration. 

Jenna, our resident aesthetician, calls this “Rest & Recovery.” These two evenings are for increasing moisture and decreasing inflammation. Our Kantic+ Nourishing Cream will be your best option if you are feeling dry or dehydrated; Kantic Calming Cream is your go-to if you have more balanced skin.  Jenna also incorporates the Kantic Brightening Moisture Mask on these nights, using it as a 20-minute mask—or as an overnight mask by mixing it with a little moisturizer for extra hydration.

Set out your Gentle Refining Scrub on the final night as a reminder for where you are tomorrow, and repeat the 4 days! 

While Skin Cycling is not reinventing the wheel, it is a great way to maintain a consistent skin care routine—which gets the best results. Watch our YouTube video on Skin Cycling here.