​Your face is a major contributor to your overall appearance — it’s often the first impression people have about you, and you want that impression to be glowing and confident. That means taking good care of it!

For many, finding the right facial routine can be overwhelming. Every day we’re bombarded by marketing hype for various skincare and cosmetic products, as well as advice from social media influencers and other beauty gurus… which makes caring for your face not only expensive, but all the more frustrating when you don’t get the results you’re looking for.

I’m a firm believer that when you transform your face, you transform your life. Here are some tips for how you can take the guesswork out of your facial routine and feel your best inside and out.

The truth is, skincare is personal — and has everything to do with your genetics, hormones, and lifestyle. That means the facial products that work for your best friend or favorite beauty influencer might not work for you… and in fact, can even be damaging to your face or make skin conditions worse. So when it comes to skincare for the face, the first step to finding the most effective facial routine is to get familiar with your unique skin type.

When you look in the mirror, do you see facial blemishes or age spots? If you suffer from acne, is it cystic or hormonal? Skin types can be surprisingly complex, and can even vary in different areas of the face or during different times of year (especially here in San Diego!). If you’re unsure of what skin type you have, an esthetician consultation is a great place to start.

​There’s a reason they call it “routine” skincare and not “whenever-you-have-time” skincare or “when-you’re-breaking-out” skincare. That’s because it doesn’t matter how good your facial routine is if you can’t commit to it. Plan to devote a few minutes every single day — yes, even if you’re tired, and yes, even if your skin looks and feels fine.

Here are the skincare routine steps that should be non-negotiable (and the facial products that should be on your shelf):

​And of course when it comes to your skincare routine, nothing you do at home can replace professional attention — which means you’ll only see real payoff if you put effort into maintaining a facial regimen. As an esthetician, one of the questions I hear from new clients is “How often should I visit in order to see results?” Another way to think about this might be, how many times should you exercise if you want to lose weight?

Much like diet and exercise, the success of any facial care routine depends on consistency. Facials are best performed in a series, and getting them on a regular basis provides more long-term impact than a single procedure.

The frequency of your facial regimen will depend on the type of facial and your skincare goals. Those with oily and acne-prone skin benefit from facials more often than those with sensitive or dry skin. That said, a good rule of thumb is to plan for a facial at least once a month. Because our skin cell turnover cycle is 28 days long, that’s enough time for your skin to go through the full lifecycle of growth and repair between treatments.

Having a regular facial ritual is a great way to enrich your commitment to self-care. Not to mention, the more often you get facials, the more informed you will be about your skin and which treatments and at-home facial products will be best for your specific skin type and conditions… making after facial care even more effective.

​Proper skincare is a marathon, not a sprint, and here at Simply Skin, I'm your vested partner to create long-term results. Whatever your skincare goals (acne, anti-aging, scar reduction, and more), I'll create a facial routine that is sustainable and personalized to you — and help you reveal a healthier, more radiant complexion so you can feel confident inside and out.

Schedule your free consultation today, and let’s get started.

​If you follow skincare TikTok trends, you may have seen the words “skin cycling” buzzing around recently. Videos explaining the regimen have racked up more than 90 million views.

But as we all know, not every popular skincare trend is worth pursuing. (Remember snail facials?) So, what actually is skin cycling, what are the benefits, and is it worth incorporating into your skincare routine?

​There are some simple rules of achieving clear skin that are practically a given at this point — we all know how important it is to cleanse regularly, moisturize, and always apply SPF. But when you start adding more products, like anti-aging serums or exfoliants, it gets a little more complicated. What products should you use, in what order, and when? Figuring how to layer active ingredients can be confusing — and getting it wrong can create ingredient cocktails that are irritating to your skin.

That’s where the concept of skin cycling comes in. Rather than layering the same products on top of each other every day, skin cycling is a way of being strategic with how and when you apply certain products so that they complement one another (literally “cycling” through skin products). It involves using active ingredients only on certain days and following them with “rest days” to align with the growth and repair cycle of the skin.

​So, why has this particular skincare trend taken the internet by storm? It turns out there are several benefits of cycling for skin:

​While the #skincycling trend may be new, the technique is not: Dermatologists have been recommending intermittent or alternating use of active ingredients for a long time. That’s because certain products can be harsher on the skin than others, so this practice allows you to reap the benefits of your exfoliants and retinoids without overdoing it and causing irritation.

​A healthy skin barrier protects you from infection, harsh chemicals, and allergens. On the other hand, a compromised skin barrier can contribute to a wide range of skin conditions — including acne, eczema, and atopic dermatitis. Over-exfoliating and using powerful retinoids may harm this barrier (leading to redness and irritation), which is where rest days come in handy. That’s probably why when TikTok stars post about skin cycling, acne (or their lack thereof) is referenced often.  

​Recovery nights also become especially beneficial in fall and winter, since cold, windy, and dry climates can cause dry skin and worsen certain skin conditions. Skin cycling may help prevent your skin from getting dry in the first place, so that your face can handle the elements better.

​One of the best things about this technique is that it doesn’t require a massive investment — since skin cycling uses routine products that are probably already on your shelf at home. To get started, the only skin cycling products you’ll need are:

​With skin cycling, your morning routine won’t be affected — because the regimen specifically pertains to what you do before bed. Fortunately, these skin cycling steps are super straightforward.

The skin cycling calendar is four days long: The first is the exfoliation night, the second is a retinoid night, and the third and fourth are recovery nights, then you repeat the cycle. (Your esthetician might suggest variations on the method, depending on how your skin responds.)

Each night begins with cleansing and ends with moisturizing, but the skin cycling steps pertain to what varies in between. That skin cycling routine includes:

​On this night, after cleansing you’ll use an exfoliant to clear your pores and remove dead skin cells. This step comes first because it allows other products to penetrate more deeply — making them perform more effectively and in a controlled, predictable way.

​This night is focused on retinoids, which can help speed up skin cell turnover, treat mild acne, fade hyperpigmentation and scarring, and reduce signs of aging. Retinoids are vitamin A -based skin products, and one of the powerful ingredients to include in your skin cycling routine. However, they can also be very irritating when you first introduce them, or if you have sensitive, reactive skin. Which brings us to...

​On recovery nights, your goals are hydration and moisture to support the natural growth and repair cycle of the skin. So, cleanse your skin and apply a moisturizer… and that’s it. By holding off on the exfoliating acids and retinoids, you avoid any irritating ingredients and give your skin a chance to recover — nourishing your skin microbiome and repairing your skin barrier.

​At the end of the day, skin cycling is just another trend that has emerged largely because skincare is hard. Even aside from all the various products and active ingredients, everyone’s skin type is different — so what works well for one TikTok influencer may wreak havoc on your face. So while these tips may be useful, before making any changes to your skincare routine, we strongly recommend that you consult with an esthetician to determine what’s right for you.
 
Are you thinking of trying skin cycling? Have questions about how to optimize your skincare routine? I’d love to hear about it. Schedule your free consultation, and let’s chat.