Ms. Abbott started skin cycling because her skin was irritated from retinoid use every other day, but about one month in, her facialist told her to take just one recovery night. Together, they created a new four-day cycle: exfoliate, night off, retinol, night off and repeat. Ms. Abbott said her skin is less red and appears healthier overall.
Luisa Parra, a 25-year-old nanny in Washington, D.C., is also doing modified cycling.
For two months, Ms. Parra has been on a three-day cycle, which Dr. Bowe recommends for acne-prone skin. After a month of exfoliating, applying a retinoid and taking one recovery night, Ms. Parra said that her acne “basically stopped.”
Anyone can skin cycle.
“At the essence of it — going gently on your products and alternating days or nights — the dermatology community is all saying the same thing but going about it in different ways,” said Dr. Adeline Kikam, a dermatologist in Florida and owner of Skinclusive Dermatology, which will open in Fort Lauderdale later this year.
Dr. Kikam prefers a five-night cycle. Hesitant about recommending back-to-back active ingredients, she urges people to take an extra recovery night between exfoliation and retinol nights.
Dermatologists also like that skin cycling is brand and price agnostic.
For example, Ms. Feiler prefers Dr. Dennis Gross exfoliating pads, which cost $88 for a 30-day supply, while Ms. Parra sticks to a $14.99 Neutrogena exfoliant. For moisturizer, Dr. Bowe suggests CeraVe healing ointment, about $10, or Glossier After Baume, $28, as budget-friendly alternatives to the $95 moisturizer from her own line, Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty.
Dr. Bowe said almost everyone can skin cycle, even those who have never used a retinoid. Routines are easy to modify for sensitive skin (add a third recovery night) or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding (swap the retinoid for bakuchiol, peptides or another alternative with similar effects to a retinoid).
