A strategic skincare routine for healthier, stronger skin.
The process of cell turnover in our skin is a continual cycle of cell death and renewal. New skin cells are formed deep in the dermis and ascend to the more superficial layers as they mature, ending in cell death where they are shed from the surface of the skin. Depending on your age and skin health this cycle takes on average 4-5 weeks.
When we look at skincare on the market what we find is most skincare contains actives that are aimed at a specific part of the skin process. For example, AHAs for exfoliation of dead cells, retinols for cellular renewal, hyaluronic acid for hydration, oils for lipid barrier nourishment and so on. If you are not entirely overwhelmed and paralysed by choice, then perhaps the complete opposite is you and you are tempted to try and use all these products at once! Either way your skincare routine is either missing what you skin needs or overloading your skin with too many actives, both leading to poor skin health, irritation, and inflammation.
So where do we find the balance? Is there merit in “cycling” through your skincare actives to support the entire lifecycle of your cells and can this help you reach your skin goals? Let’s find out….
A term first coined by dermatologists Dr Whitney Bowe on social media, skin cycling is the practice of strategically using certain skincare actives on certain nights in your routine. In the simplest terms skin cycling means your evening skincare routine looks like this:
Night 1 – Exfoliate ; Night 2 – Vitamin A/Natural Retinoid ; Night 3+ 4 – Rest and Recover; Repeat
The premise of skin cycling allows you to get all the benefit from potent actives without exacerbating any irritation or sensitivity. To achieve the best results from skin cycling it is important to use good quality pure, potent actives. Buy the best quality actives you can afford and because you are using them on average only twice a week, they will last much longer, but still give you great results. Making them more sustainable and economical in the long run.
Like changes to our diet and lifestyle, skin cycling your skincare routine is a long-term game, so be patient. The most effective skincare takes time to work and improving the health of your skin cells throughout their entire life cycle can take several cell cycles, meaning 8-12 weeks at least. Short -term superficial results don’t necessarily mean healthy skin, stay invested in the long-term goals and reap the benefits for years to come.
If you have specific skin concerns, you may need to adjust your cycling just a bit. Oily and acne prone skin may need additional exfoliating or a shorter three-day cycle, dry or sensitive skin may require three days’ rest and recover before repeating the cycle.
It’s also still important to follow your usual ritual of cleanse, tone/mist and moisturise and there is no change to your morning routine. This is about boosting your skin to the next level and getting the most out of potent actives found in your serums. Let’s break it down and find the best products for your new skin cycling routine.
As we know exfoliating helps remove those stubborn dull, dead skin cells and really boosts glow. But like good daily cleansing the real benefit from exfoliating is that it preps the skin for better penetration of the actives that follow. But don’t be tempted to apply your Vitamin A directly over freshly exfoliated skin tonight, that can lead to irritation. Here we are prepping the skin for night two with a good natural exfoliator.
We know that AHA’s and BHA’s in skincare make great chemical exfoliants, and seeing that our new skin cycling routine is focused on powerful actives some of our very best exfoliators are AMALA’s Skin Perfecting AHA Sleep Serum or their Retexturising Gel Aqua Peel. Both contain potent levels of natural AHA’s for powerful skin resurfacing, and a small amount goes a long way, so they are sustainable and economical in the long run. You can read more about finding your perfect exfoliant in our journal How to Exfoliate and Why it Matters.
Retinol is often heralded as the holy grail of skincare. A derivative of vitamin A, it’s a powerful antioxidant that can address a range of skin concerns from acne to anti-ageing. However, it comes with a downside, in its potent form it can lead to disruption of the skin barrier, irritation and chronic low-grade inflammation. This can be exacerbated by layering it with other actives, so often it needs to be used alone, meaning your skin doesn’t get the benefits of other actives.
All this can be largely avoided by using by choosing a good quality natural Vitamin A. Vitamin A is readily absorbed by the skin and can assist in promoting and maintaining a healthy dermis and epidermis. When incorporated into your skin cycling routine natural plant-based retinols work to accelerate the turnover of skin cells while stimulating collagen production, giving you the long-term gains without the drawbacks. The AMALA Rejuvenate Illuminating Pro-Retinoic Treatment Oil is a powerhouse of active Vitamin A and pro-retinoic oils to retexturize and renew the skin. This one is suitable for sensitive skin and is even safe for use during pregnancy.
For the ultimate natural retinol boost look no further than VENN’s supercharged Collagen Intensive Phyto-Retinol Renewal Mask. With clinically proven levels of Bakuchiol at 0.5% concentration to deliver visible skin benefits, this natural Retinol alternative may reduce multiple signs of aging, including dryness, the look of fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dullness, and the loss of elasticity and firmness. Apply the hydrogel mask for maximum penetration of actives and when you’re done dab in any excess and let it keep working overnight.
Collagen Intensive Phyto-Retinol Renewal Mask
VENN's groundbreaking supercharged collagen boosting sheet mask with 0.5% Bakuchiol is a power surge booster to help reduce multiple signs of ageing.
Best for: firming and lifting mature skin, brightening dull skin and reducing the appearance of uneven skin tone.
Volume : 23ml x 2 masks per pack
The rest and recover days are to promote skin repair, restoring skin hydration and protecting the skin barrier. Focus on nurturing your skin microbiome and building a strong and resilient skin barrier with deep hydration and moisture.
We recommend an low-molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid for deep absorption, providing your skin the hydration boost it needs. Amala’s Skin Plumping Hyaluronic Serum is a turbo shot of Hyaluronic Acid and age-fighting actives to redensify and rehydrate the skin. Read our Complete Guide to Hyaluronic Acid in Skincare to help you get the most out of this essential skincare ingredient.
For sensitive and problematic skin VENN’s Probiotics Circa Complex Biome Booster is a secret weapon of pre and pro-biotics for restoring and protecting the delicate microbiome. Certified microbiome friendly it is designed to visibly calm, rebalance and strengthen the skin. Used in your skin cycling routine it boosts your skin ready for the next dose of actives, and because you only use it one or twice a week for skin maintenance it last for months. Well worth the investment.
Probiotics Cica Complex Biome Booster
VENN’s microbiome balance system™ in a supercharged serum that soothes, strengthens and renews the skin barrier. Lifts the skin for a perfectly revitalized and balanced complexion.
Best for: All skin types, including for post-treatment, reactive and sensitive skin.
Volume: 30ml
Offering unmatched results for both skin concerns and those who are experiencing a plateau in results every skin type can benefit from skin cycling. It could well be the perfect fit for you too, and now that we have you skin cycling routine sorted, the only thing left to do is REPEAT and REAP the REWARDS….
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