GLYMED'S GUIDE TO SKIN CYCLING

EXERCISING THE SKIN & SKIN CYCLING

Skin cycling is the new skincare trend circulating on social media, with skincare professionals from all over the world buzzing.  

Within the last few years, the natural skin trend has only become more popular, using lighter makeup coverage or none at all. With that emphasis, more and more people are turning to their skincare routines to create a clear, even, radiant complexion they won’t want to cover.   

But in the age of social media and unlimited product recommendations, the average person may not know what ingredients to use and when. Dr. Whitney Bowe, a New York-based dermatologist, would scroll through social media and see women and men layering active product after active product, which is irritating for the skin and can ultimately harm the skin barrier function.   

That’s when she coined and popularized “skin cycling,” a rotational skincare process that alternates between active ingredients and letting the skin rest.

At GlyMed Plus, we refer to this as “exercising the skin” and have been supporting this method of home care for over 30 years!  

A CLOSER LOOK AT SKIN CYCLING 

Skin cycling is a four-day regimen that changes nightly throughout four nights, with your morning routine staying the same:   

• Night one: Chemical exfoliation   
• Night two: Retinol/Retinoid   

• Night three: Rest (gentle, healing products only)  
• Night four: Rest (gentle, healing products only)   
• Repeat  

This process may not seem like anything revolutionary; that's because skincare professionals have been saying for years not to mix chemical exfoliants and retinoids or, at the very least, not to use too many active ingredients at once.   

For you skincare beginners, a skin cycling routine can be a saving grace that helps you benefit from active ingredients without causing irritation. For you skincare enthusiasts, skin cycling can take your regimen to the next level to achieve a brighter, healthier, and more confident you!

 Excited to start your own skin cycling routine? Here's what we recommend:

SKIN CYCLING WITH GLYMED 

For your morning routine, follow the GlyMed Plus 4-Step System by using a cleanse, treat, balance and protect.

• Cleanse – Use one that is gentle and non-irritating like the Vitamin C Cleanser, Mega Cream Cleanser or Peptide Firming Cleanser.   
• Treat – Use serums with antioxidants to protect your skin from the free radical damage it encounters daily. Vitamin C Serum, Restoring Fulvic Elixir and Daily Skin Clarifier are all wonderful options.   
• Balance – Using a moisturizer each morning is key to maintaining skin health. Try Age Delay Cream, Daily Repair Cream or Oxygen Cream as an excellent morning moisturizer.   
• Protect – Always wear your sunscreen! GlyMed favorites include Oil-Free Protective Moisturizer with SPF 15 Moisturizing Protection Cream with SPF 30 and Hydrating Protection Gel with SPF 30.   

Be sure to keep your morning routine consistent to bring out your natural beauty.

For your first night of skin cycling, include an exfoliant to clear away dead skin cells and encourage cellular turnover. This helps your skin better absorb the skincare products you apply on the following days. Here's what that night’s routine can look like:   

• First Cleanse – Use something creamy and gentle, like one of the suggested morning cleansers. 
• Second Cleanse – You can use the same cleanser as your first cleanse, but many people enjoy our Glycolic Facial Cleanser with 10% Glycolic Acid, Foaming Cleanser with Amino Acids or Gentle Gel Cleanser with Amino Acids as a second cleanse.   
• Chemical Exfoliant – Whether you want to use an AHA or BHA is up to you and your skincare professional. Our most popular chemical exfoliants include Accelerator Gel with 20% Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA), Beta Gel with 10% Glycolic Acid (AHA), Age Defying Masque (AHA) and Astringent No. 2 with Salicylic Acid (BHA).   
• Balance – Always use a moisturizer before bed! Age Delay Cream, Atraxi Peptide and Daily Repair Cream are great nighttime moisturizers.   

 For your second night routine, use retinol: a multi-tasking ingredient that reduces signs of premature aging and treats texture, acne and hyperpigmentation.    

• First Cleanse – Your first cleanse will remain the same night to night.   
• Second Cleanse – Second cleanse will also remain the same night to night.  
• Retinol – Our Retinol Rejuvenation Serum is micro-encapsulated to gently deliver the maximum concentration of retinol without causing an adverse reaction to the skin. You may also use a prescription-strength retinoid during this step, but it must be prescribed by a board-certified doctor familiar with your other skincare products.   
• Balance – Use the same moisturizer as the previous night.   

 The third and fourth night consist of only gentle and healing products and processes to give your skin a break from active ingredients.  

• First Cleanse – Same as other nights.   
• Second Cleanse – Same as other nights.   
• Healing Treatments – You can use the same treatments as the ones in your morning routine or other healing products, such as Bio Renewal Serum, Protective Skin Serum with Ceramides, Ultra Hydro Gel.   
• Balance – Use your preferred moisturizer as you have from previous nights.   

Once the four-day cycle is complete, start again!   

NOT ALL SKIN IS THE SAME   

Anybody can do skin cycling. With the help of a skincare provider, you can adjust the GlyMed 4-Step system for your skin type to revive your truest self.

For sensitive or highly reactive skin, consider adding a third rest night to your cycle. Is your skin more resilient and conditioned to active ingredients? In that care, you may want to drop a rest day.  

If you love masques, (we know we do!), you can always use one after the cleansing step and before the treatment step 1 – 2 times a week.   

Perhaps you’ve become a fan of slugging. You can do this on your rest nights, making sure not to add an occlusive or semi-occlusive barrier over your active ingredients as it can do more harm than good.    

These are just a few ways you can adapt skin cycling to work for you, but what’s most important is that you consult with your esthetician before making any drastic changes to your skin care routine. Remember, if you’re happy with your current routine and seeing the results you want, there’s no need to change your regimen to what's popular. 

FIND A GLYMED PRO 

Whether you’re new to skincare or just curious to learn more about skin cycling, a GlyMed professional can help you begin the perfect GlyMed regimen tailored just for you. Click here to find a GlyMed Pro.

Here’s to happier and healthier skin!