What is Skin Cycling? Dermatologist Tips to Add Retinoids & Exfoliants to Your Skincare Routine
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- If you’ve been on social media lately, you might’ve heard about “skin cycling.” So what is it? And do you need to do it too? In this video, I talk all about it from a dermatologist's perspective.
More skincare videos:
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Beginner retinoids: • Dermatologist Explains...
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:25 What is Skin Cycling
01:19 Benefits
02:12 Exfoliants
04:05 Retinoids
07:09 Who is it Best For
08:35 My Version
09:13 Product Recommendations
14:33 Subscribe!
DISCLAIMER: The information in this video is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician. Some of the links in this description may be affiliate links (marked with *). Affiliate links help support my TH-cam channel so I can continue to create fun, informational skincare videos for you. Also, some products may have been received as PR. Thanks for watching!
I use Tretinoin 5x a week, exfoliate once a week, and slug with Vaseline once a week!
🙌🏼🙌🏼
Can I ask why you don’t use it every night
@@Ohkeh640 irritation
Slugging is everything. I use Trentinoin Mon-Thurs , slug with Pycnogenol and Multi-peptide serum Fri& Sat., and use lactic acid on Sunday. My skin glows!
I love how you break down “skin cycling” as a starting point. Skin care is so personal so we really need to figure out what our own skin needs and build from there. My skin cycling is 5 days of retinol, one day of exfoliation, and one day of “recovery” which does not involve any actives at night. It is working for me, but I will adjust if my skin changes. Thank you for you input and knowledge!
These topics are so informative especially to understand when to use what and how to think about the entire skincare stack
Ooo I like this term better than the term I’ve used to downplay my obsessive regimen (complete with excel spreadsheet) 😅 . Your approach and contribution is so valuable in the midst of skinfluencer media! And I got a hydrafacial yesterday because of you - thanks, Dr. Ellis!
Amazing how many times I come back to you when I have questions. I trust you, and you always know.
Perfect timing! I have been using the Cerave Resurfacing retinol for a while, and I was using it 6 times a week. I just switched to adapalene, and wow is it a lot stronger than retinol! So I’ll be going back to every 4 days for the next month or so. But I’m always working toward daily use!
This is such a great video! Thank you so much for making this!
Your videos are so helpful and easy to follow ❤
This is the nicest background/set you’ve had in a video thus far.
Wonderfully helpful video Dr Ellis! Funny how these terms crop up and leave a lot of confusion. I've been collecting all the products I need as I make the jump from retinol/retinaldyhide to tretinoin and was wondering if I even needed to worry about "cycling." I'll be looking at your tips for getting started too. Thanks!🙏🌺❤
I luv this idea. I’ve been using a retinol and trying to figure out when to exfoliate. I’ve never used an exfoliant every day and not all over my face, but the retinol is new to me.
Thanks for the great content! I use Retin A (retinaldehyde on neck/chest) five nights per week and a lactic acid (5%) or PHA on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. I use a PHA wash every morning, which is another great exfoliant but it's less irritating b/c it's a wash-off product. Every six weeks, I get a chemical TCA/Jessner's peel. I've done this for 30 years and practice rigorous SPF 50 adherence every day, rain or shine.
Hi Dr Sam as someone with both rosacea and eczema I've been doing my own version of this for years lol. When my skin is in it's "normal" state I alternate nights with prescription 15% azelaic acid and my retinaldehyde. If my rosacea flares then I back off the actives and if I feel I need some extra exfoliation then I use an exfoliant that night instead. I pay attention to what i think my skin needs and do that, but mostly I'm azelaic acid alternating with retinaldehyde. In the morning I use a super super gentle exfoliating toner (the cosrx refreshing ABC toner - it has a tiny amount of exfoliating ingredients, but it's mostly hydrating and doesn't irritate my skin, yet still boosts my cell turnover a little bit). I rarely do anything approaching a strong exfoliant, but my two picks for an exfoliating evening are either the paula's choice calm 1% BHA or the by wishtrend 5% mandelic acid toner - depending on whether it more surface or pore exfoliation I want. This system sounds a bit too regimented for me and for very sensitive skin using the actives one after the other with two rest days at the end is a little strange. Why not do an active, then a rest day, then an active and then other other rest day which is probably even less irritating? In any case this is mostly for those who have no idea what to do when or where and are starting out, or struggling with skincare. As with most trends it's just a fancy new name for something many people have done for years, without even thinking about it. Best wishes.
my routine is: 1.) exfoliation with 10% pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, mandelic acid, 2.) barrier recovery cream and moistrurizer, 3.) retinol The Ordinary 0,5%; 4.) barrier recovery cream and moistrurizer. And repeat. But you convinced me to increase on retinol :) thank you!
Couldn't agree more with all you've said, Dr. Ellis! When I first heard of skin cycling I rolled my eyes because it's what most experienced skincare users already do naturally and is simply about listening to your skin and dialing back when at risk of compromising the skin barrier. But I do see the value of the concept for those new to skincare or those who may be overwhelmed with all the actives out there and want guidance. I do worry that it sets another arbitrary standard for people though, and again, prevents them from listening to their skin (whether it means hey, I need to dial back or hey, I can actually tolerate retinoids more frequently). I "skin cycle" between Tretinoin and Copper Peptides because I've seen excellent results from both for anti-aging and hyperpigmentation, and copper peptides tend to be finnicky so I choose to use them separately from Vitamin A. For exfoliating products that help with my concerns regarding melasma, the La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 is excellent. It has tranexamic acid as well. So yeah, if skin cycling can help folks with establishing a good routine, I'm all for it. But we shouldn't blindly try to adhere to a formula that is likely not necessary for most people and could cause detriment to those with specific skin concerns.
I cycle retinoid with retinol instead of retinoid with exfoliation. I use Arazlo (tazarotene) every other night and Avene Retinal 0.5 (retinaldehyde) every other night. The results are amazing. Every Sunday is my night off that I just double moisturize (thick after thin moisturizer). Retinoids exfoliate just fine and there is no need to use acids.
I have sensitive acne-prone skin that was having a hard time tolerating a retinoid, so I stated skin cycling. My routine is: retinoid, BHA or AHA, recovery day, retinoid, azelaic acid, recovery day (and then I start over)
I'm about to start a low dose Tretinoin for the first time, so my routine for the past few weeks has been focused mostly on preparing my sensitive dry/combo skin for Tret, and getting my skin barrier ready.
AM - water only cleanse, Arbutin serum, caffeine serum for my puffy morning face, a tiny bit of a vit C suspension mixed in with my daily moisturiser, then SPF.
PM - oil cleanse, milk cleanse, arbutin serum, niacinamide serum, ceramide moisturiser, heavier moisturiser/night cream.
I slug 6x week and exfoliate the other night. I've found slugging after exfoliating to be too harsh for me.
I second the LRP Toleriane: it's the best line!
Hmmm. I guess I was doing it and didn't know it! I am on the lowest prescription of tretinoin. I worked up slowly so that I am now using it 6 out of 7 nights. But on the 7th night, I like to use Drunk Elephant Sukari Baby Facial one week, and then shave the next week. I can't shave and use the chemical peep on the same night. Way too harsh. I am 61 with very fair, super dry, sensitive skin. Love your channel! I learn a ton!
I would alternate 1 night exfoliate and 1 night retinol and ive done this for 3 years, i tried the 4 night skin cycling and found my skin HAS improved but after listening to this video my skin probably was just being over exfoliated. Im for sure going to try 5 nights retinol 1 night exfoliation and 1 recover and see how that works because i love the next day results after my retinol :)
I've been doing this a few years now, not even knowing there was a name for it, lol! It works though. Absolutely.
Thankyou for this information ❤️❤️❤️
I use toner, tretinoin, and moisturizer for 6 nights , I exfoliate 1 night. In the morning I use toner, Niacinamide and spf /moisturizer 4 times a week and 3 times a week I add my azelaic acid in the am. But I also take notice of what my skin needs.
I didn’t know skin cycling was a thing, not on social media. I’ve noticed based on my own experience that when I use retinol every other night, my skin is it’s most flawless than using it every night.
I agree with you. I like my tretinoin every night. I exfoliate with my cleanser-glycolic cleanser and scrub once a week. I do a mix of oil free moisturizer and thicker moisturizer with peptides based on how dry or oily my skin is or the time of year. My skin overall does better with tretinoin every night. Less acne, less bumps, and my skin looks smooth. I don’t think I’ll jump on the band wagon of skin cycling since this seems to be working for me and has for years. I also work in Derm so I get the idea, I do switch products but rarely.
I use adapalene 6x a week and Paula's Choice 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel 1x a week at night. In the mornings, I also use Paula's Choice 2% BHA 2x a week, because I have oily, acne-prone skin that requires BHA a bit more often to keep acne at bay, and a dark spot correcting serum 5x a week. Unless I've been really stressed and it starts to show on my skin, it rarely needs an "off-day" from active ingredients, tbh.
I use the Paula's choice AHA/BHA mask on sunday to exfoliate, and then I'm still pretty new to tretinoin so I do that every other night and do a "recovery" night every other day and use the cicaplast or the laneige hypoallergenic overnight mask a few times a week. It seems to be working pretty well, especially because the paula's choice exfoliant is supa strong and I'm not trying to give myself chemical burns. Then in the morning I keep to a nice gentle cleans, vitamin c, moisturizer, sunscreen routine. So far I've gotten lots of compliments on my skin and I'm so much happier sans makeup
I’m on week 2, heading into week 3, of tretinoin after a few years off of it. I’m doing a combination of Skin Cycling and your Retinol introduction routine, and my skin is loving it!
So excited for you!
Last night, while removing my makeup I noticed some stinging under my eyes, and this morning I have redness and burning 😞 I guess I need to start over?
My skin cycling is similar to yours. I use my retinoid nightly Sunday through Thursday nights, honestly I don't use anti-oxidants much lately as I'm having a hard time finding one that I can use with my retinoid that doesn't irritate my skin (and vitamin a is, afterall, an anti oxidant, so I prioritize that above all else :) )... Friday and Saturday night I give my skin a break from the retinoid and try to use an aca/bha exfoliator one of those nights or days, and one day just off from actives. And similar, if my skin is looking irritated or dry, I'll skip the retinoid whenever I feel like my skin needs it, and I'll "baste" a la Dr. Shereene Idriss with the Baume B5 from La Roche (love that stuff) and a little Cerave Healing Ointment in the spots that need it.
This is interesting. I have found I am sensitive to retinoids and 2% or less salicylic acid products work much better for me. I use Aeenvo anti acne moisturizer everyday twice day morning and night. But, I used to do dermabrasion once a month and haven't done it but once a year lately since pandemic. Been thinking of doing more lately why I am watching this. But, my skin is clear and smooth with my current routine and don't want to irritate it. I find new products and new eye creams can annoy my skin. I stick to Clinque skin clarifying lotion no 2 and makeup products. I like Cerave products lately too. Oh, and Avene water spray is critical with every application of moisturizer for me and makes it work better.
Dr. Ellis, please share the details of the beautiful sweater you’re wearing on this video 😊 Thank you for always sharing your knowledge with us!
Thank you! It’s from Mango (this season).
Great video! Thank you 🙂 One question that has nothing to do with the topic but I can't resist (lol): the sweater you are wearing, can you share where it is from? I love it 😍
I was going to ask the same thing 😊
Great video! Just wondering if it’s even necessary to exfoliate if you are using Tretinoin???
I learned about this several years ago from Dr. Obagi and to increase as you age. 💋
A sight of blue sky,a beautiful colourful tree, also a green tree, me lying in bed watching my fav person and getting knowledge! what a video
🥰🥰🥰
What would be your ideal standard skin care routine for the week?
I usually use a three-night cycle: exfoliants, retinoids, rest (peptides, etc), but can delete the rest night if my skin is being more resistant than usual. I do like to have chemical exfoliants in at least every third night because I find they help with shaving and preventing ingrown hairs, whereas retinoids don't really help with that all that much on my skin.
I didn’t realize I was, but yes. Although it was more like using my tretinoin every second or third day with only one day of rest between instead of two.
Great video. I'm been using Renova for years and my skin tolerates it fine. I don't use it every night because I'm afraid my skin will just get immune to it. I alternate nights with peptides, and moisture, etc. I guess I've done my form of skin cycling for years. BUT Should I be using Renova every night?...I have no problem doing that if my skin recognizes the benefits on a consistent basis. And Can I use copper peptides as well as other types during the day?....Thanks much
Love your videos and advice. I’m stumped how to proceed with retinols as even the tiniest amount… less than a pea-size.. make me peel (so far the I’ve tried No 7 and the ROC brands). Badly in some areas and like mildly scaly in all other areas.. This happens after about 3 days. My skin is very fair, delicate, sensitive, mature (66). Even glycolic acid stings and sometimes causes peeling. Would it be better to try a very low strength tretinoin if I have such a strong reaction to OTC products? I know I should maybe bite the bullet and use the retinols more often … but I’d like to go out in public and not look like I’m shedding my skin!!
Dr. Sam love your videos. Very informative. Is adapalene anti-aging too? Most research says it is for acne.would love your input.
Yes, it is. :)
Can you do a video on all types chemical peels?:)
I use Curology. 1% tretinoin w/4%niacinamide, 5% azalaic acid. I then add the Ordinary 10% azalaic acid on top. Ordinary buffet around eyes. And 1% retinol on neck. Btw I have rocacea. I use a thicker night cream at night. In the winter I will use an AHA BHA peel once a week in the cooler months but apply only
for 8 minites. If I show rosacea I will use solantra for a few days.
Dr. Bowe does recommend stepping up the use of retinoids in skin cycling. It only starts at every fourth night.
Please show us your weekly pm routine using tretinoin and other products etc
Very useful
I switch every other night between Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni retinol and TLC Framboos Glycolic serum. And then once a month I’ll stop using both for a few days (usually I’m just being lazy). My esthetician says my skin is looking amazing so I’ll keep it up!
I used tret too much at first and caused my skin to literally peel off. WHOOPS. Now I'm better about gradually working up to to daily.
Hi @dr.ellis! When in my skin care routine should I be using salicylic acid (I have a serum) if I am using vitamin c in the morning and retinol at night?
My derm put me on to tret every night I never had purging I just used it over a moisturiser 30-45min after and it was fine.
I use it every night
wow i have been doing dr. whitney's routine and now don't know what to do as my skin is very used to retinol and now maybe not using enough
Pls do a video on options to remove spider veins. 🙏
What sunscreen do you recommend for under makeup with no white cast for oily skin??
Tretinoin 6x a week, azelaic acid/vit c 7x a week AM, benzoyl peroxide cleanser once a week (non tret day).
Hello, I just watched a short video on a “hack” to help vitamin c be more effective and wanted to know your opinion. The short video stated to use a centella asiatica serum with your L-ascorbic serum. This would “quadruple “ the efficacy of the vitamin c serum.
Off subject Dr Ellis but can you recommend a good body make up? TIA 😊
I would love to get your input on retinoids and hair loss-have you seen this in your practice? I would love to start using a retinoid regularly, but I already have quite a lot of hair shedding and don't want to make things worse. Is anyone else in the same boat?
My skin cycling consist of one day exfoliate AND the other adapelene. I use a really soft exfoliant with 3.5 glicolid acid and 1.5 salicilyc acid content
I alternate nights with Tretinoin and acids (azelaic/glycolic/salicylic) with moisturizer with bakuchiol everynight. If my skin needs a break then only the bakuchiol moisturizer or tallow.
How long does it normally take to add actives back in after starting Tretinoin? I’ve used it for three months, currently every third night. I’m able to exfoliate with dr Brandt microdermabrasion once a week without issues but can’t tolerate even 2% niacinamide. I was using it every night before starting tret. Should I just work through the peeling? I would like to be able to add my VitC, glycolic and lactic acids back in. Thank you!
I’ve been using salicilyc acid everyday for like three years (my skin is acne prone and really oily) but when i discover adapalene i had to reduce the acid to two or three times a week. It’s been great for like a year and now all of a sudden my skin is sensitive and kind of burns (really slightly but you get the concept) when i touch certain areas😭😭 so i’m giving it a break from every active sadly
Altreno Mon/Wed/Fri, Uriage cica on alternate nights if super dry. dr dennis gross Sunday mornings and moisturizer and sunscreen daily. Trying to avoid vitamin c for time being but goal is to use it once I get to Altreno 5 times with no irritation
Dr Ellis. What do you think about a dermatologist online who says moisturizers are bad for skincare? Dot
My cycle is 1. Cerave Retinol 2. Recover w cosrx snail mucin and cerave cream, cerave healing ointment as an eye cream 3. Exfoliate w cerave AHA 4. Exfoliate w Paula’s choice BHA. I use two dif exfoliants because I have combination skin with oily blackhead prone T zone that needs BHA and drier cheeks prone to KP that need AHA :( Also I don’t WANT to be such a Cerave nerd, but every time I try and branch out to other brands they do me dirty so… I’ll stay in my safe zone thank you
PS I’ll start tret soon, any advice for how my routine should change? Nix both exfoliation nights? Just one?
I use tretinoin 0,025% 5 x a week with a Hydrating products and 2 times a week I use hidroquinone 4% and my morning routine it's wash my face and moisturizer and sunscreen with color and pretty much thats it I been using that routine for about 5 months and it's working well my skin it's oliy with acne and I have acne marks.
My new routine is Lactic Acid 2 nights, recovery 2 nights, retinol 2 nights, 1 night recovery and start over. I just started that this wwek. I lovecThe Dr. Gross pads, but what are you thoughts on the M-61 peel pads?
My routine is in the morning splash my face with water apply my sunscreen to my face neck and hands. My night time routine is inky list oat cleansing balm then vanicream cleanser then cerave lotion, tretinoin.1%, then lip balm 😇
Great routine! Streamlined and effective!
@@DrSamEllis thank you! I’ve learned over the years more isn’t better I started skincare when I was 14 with sunscreen every day and I’m 28 now and most people think I’m so much younger! Love all the derms on TH-cam including you! Same last name haha
You asked LOL. I'll preface with a bit about me. I'm 50 yo, used sunblock daily since age 15, normal skin. I know retinoids and exfoliates aren't recommended for day use, but I am very compliant with sunblock and using the correct amount. I use a Cerave moisturising lotion that doesn't contain niacinamide. My sunblock is the LRP Anthelios 50. I slug in the winter because I live in the very dry Canadian Rockies, but not on vitamin C night. My vitamin C is greasy, so that's why I use at night.
Day 1
Ordinary amino acids + B5
Ordinary niacinamide 10% + zinc 1% [find 5% product, max rec]
Ordinary 7% glycolic acid
Inkey List BHA
Ordinary Ordinary Squalane/B oil [squalene is antioxidant; this is humectant]
Night 1 (no niacinamide, no benzoyl peroxide)
Ordinary ferulic acid + resveratrol + HA
Ordinary 23% vitamin C [benzoyl peroxide contraindicated therefore no Clindoxyl] +
Vitamin E oil
Day 2
Ordinary matrixyl (no Cu, peptides, AHA/BHA) +
Ordinary niacinamide 10% + zinc 1% [find 5% product, max rec]
Ordinary Argireline [ditch]
0.5% Tretinoin
Night 2
Ordinary niacinamide 10% + zinc 1% [find 5% product, max rec]
Ordinary argireline [ditch]
Ordinary buffet + copper peptide
I can only tolerate Tretinoin 2x a week without my skin peeling.. but i can tolerate differin everyday. In that case, which option is better for stimulating collagen production ?
for anybody who can give tips!! i'd love some help building a routine!!✨
i've been prescribed benzoyl peroxide & clindaycim i think it's called (it's like a topical antibiotic) for an acne flare up,after maybe a week of using it everyday as guided by the doctor it's burning my skin,it's super painful too put moisturiser on it's literally burning to put any products on🥹
they said i could maybe do 3x a week benzoyl peroxide,missing a day each time if im irritated,how would you guys work it?! i do want to build up the tolerance too it so i can use it everyday because it is working wonders for my skin so far!! to minimise irritation? my moisture barrier is 100% broken or comprised if that's better wording! so would absoultely love some tips on this!! and what routine you guys would follow?❤
Do you use lactic acid by itself?
Just subscribed
Thank you. .1% tazarotene and BR P50V one night a week.
I am 27 .. I too exfoliate every seventh day.. my skin cycling routine is
1. Exfoliate with glycolic/ salicylic
2. Recover with lil Niacinamide
3. Retinoid
5. Recover with Niacinamide
6. Recover with Niacinamide
7. Retinoid
Do let me know Dr. Sam if this is alright? I mean not blasphemous 😅
I use tretinoin for one night, azelaic acid one night, then either repeat or take a night off.
Mam today I watched your video on skincare I want to ask you I got chicken pox three months back nd my doctor told me to use
Doxycycline hydrochloride lactic acid bacillus capsules
Nd
Isotretinoin soft ge again capsules ip20mg
What can I do to remove it fast please help mam . Could you please tell me that?
Cheers
I'm 45. Tried skin cycling and its not for me. my blackheads were more visible😢
I'm alternating tretinoin 0.05% with The Ordinary Copper Peptide Buffet only because I was told they cannot work same night, but lately there are chemists saying they can go on skin together, any thoughts on that? I'm not sensitive to tretinoin so I could use just that, but I love copper peptides...
You can do them the same night as long as you leave about 30 minutes in between. Tretinoin 1st because it works better with your skins natural pH. Copper peptide has a higher pH, which why you should avoid AHA and BHA, they have lower pH.
@@JH-ii8xm thank you, good to know! I'm glad my two favorites don't have direct conflicts. I usually put tretinoin later tho so it's on dry face
@@w.w.w.w.w they technically do compete with each other, but the active takes about 20 - 30 minutes to completely absorb into your skin. If they didn't compete, you'd only have to wait a couple minutes in between.
@@JH-ii8xm I can easily leave them an hour apart, but from the point of view of a cosmetic chemist, both ingredients take way longer to activate in skin especially tretinoin so it's hard to say exactly how far apart will help
Thank you for the info! I kind of stopped watching after you mentioned retinoid measured for daily use.
When would i use niacinamide when i use vitamin C in the AM and use Tretinoin at night?
U can use it anytime provided your skin can handle it. Niacinamide is pretty stable ingredient. Most of the time it Doesn't react with other ingredients
I use niacinamide before followed by Cosrx snail mucin, then Trevino in the moisturiser. Has been working well for me. AM is still cleanser, HA, snail mucin again, moisturiser and of course SUNSCREEN
I can't tolerate exfoliants or retinoids. My "skin cycling" is just endless recovery.
I skin cycle not because my skin can’t tolerate damn near any ingredient, but because I can’t for the life of my stop trying new products 😂 how’s a girl to choose?!
🙋🏼♀️
On recovery days I always opt for Stratia over LaRoche Posay because Stratia recognizes we are in 2022 and don't need to be animal testing.
seems like skin cycling is just having a skincare routine…all props but nothing revolutionary 😆
Ah, _Skin Cycling_ aka *listening to your body needs* 🤷🏻♀️ My hair, my work out, my skin, everything is and feels different depending on the menstrual cycle day, the season, the frequency of job travelling... What a labelling obsession of common sense things🥱
🧛🏻♀️🖤