The popular version of skin cycling usually follows a four-night pattern, exfoliation on the first night, a retinoid on the second, followed by two nights focused on hydration and recovery.
The four-night schedule itself should not be treated as a universal rule. What matters is the principle behind it.
Active ingredients can be extremely useful when used appropriately. Exfoliants can improve texture, while retinoids have a long history of use for concerns such as acne, pigmentation and visible signs of ageing.
But skincare is not a case of “if a little works, more will work better.”
Using several potent actives together, or using them more frequently than the skin can tolerate, can result in dryness, redness and irritation. When the skin barrier is repeatedly stressed, a routine designed to improve the skin can end up making it more uncomfortable and reactive.
FILE – A woman washes her face as she prepares for work in Chicago, on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)