Skin Fasting v. Skin Cycling: The concept of skin fasting likely came from the overuse of actives and the negative effects they can have on your skin barrier when used without taking breaks. Totally get that! However, why am I camp skin cycling and NOT camp skin fasting? A few reasons: Your skin is still “facing” the day, and that includes exposure to UV rays and pollution. You always want to proactively protect your skin from those environmental stressors each morning, so taking a break from vit C serums and sunscreens just doesn’t jive with my skincare routine. By the time evening rolls around, your skin will have accumulated dirt, sweat, and pollutants that are adhering to your skin after a full day of exposure to the environment. Going to sleep without cleansing, hydrating and nourishing your skin - Skin Fasting - isn’t a strategic method to optimize your skin’s health, in my opinion. Choosing not to cleanse your skin at the end of the day with a gentle, pH balanced cleanser can generate free radicals while you sleep, leading to breakouts in acne prone skin and promoting hyperpigmentation and uneven tone. With Skin Cycling, we take breaks from active ingredients like retinoids or exfoliating acids which can be irritating to the skin. On those “recovery nights”, we focus on nourishing our skin with gentle, hydrating ingredients that support our skin barrier function. This is especially helpful if you have sensitive skin, are new to active ingredients like exfoliating serums or retinoids, or have rosacea. In contrast, total avoidance of products, Skin Fasting, doesn’t seem necessary to me and may lead to breakouts and other issues for your skin. #skincycling Original Video: @malihaihenacho