For a time in my life, the Korean beauty routine with its 10 steps was part of my skincare. Then I realized that what I did to feel good and take care of myself had become an obligation that looked less and less like something intended for self-care and more and more like a product-filled tyranny. He left me a fortune and although my skin wasn't bad, it wasn't good either.
I was looking for something that would make my skin look healthy but without going crazy with a million products. After starting to pursue minimalism for my skin, at the beginning of the summer I tried skin cycling. This routine format beauty at night it is done every four days and its objective is to deeply cleanse the skin.
My routine skin cycling
Created by dermatologist Whitney Bowe and as beauty expert Pepa López explains to us, the skin cycling “It is based on three phases: exfoliation, retinoids and skin recovery to avoid excess cleansing that damages the skin barrier.” It is spread over four days in which the first we exfoliate, the second we apply retinol, and the third and fourth we let the skin rest from more aggressive active ingredients and hydrate.
Day 1: Chemical exfoliation
The first step in the routine is chemical exfoliation with glycolic acid, salicylic acid or other hydroxy acids such as lactic or citric acid. After the usual cleansing (double cleansing if I'm wearing makeup and if not, using only a Cerave cleanser), we use the exfoliant. In my case I use The Ordinary's glycolic acid applied to a cotton pad on clean, dry skin. No dragging the disc over the skin. Pat it on and let it act for at least 10 minutes.
This day we could leave it as is, but I listen to Dr. Macarela Alfaro and after the glycolic I apply the Cicaplast Baume B5 cream, a very hydrating balm designed to reinforce the skin barrier. With this I go to bed until the next day.
Day 2: Retinoids
I have been using retinol since last December and after many errors corrected, I am finally completely at peace with this active ingredient. Now that I've run out of the Vichy retinol I used, I'm trying Celimax retinal but the concept is the same. The second day is to use the more “aggressive” treatment with retinoids. Again, I double cleanse if I'm wearing makeup and if not, just with cleanser. I let the skin dry well for 15-20 minutes and apply the retinal. Nothing else.
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Day 3 and 4: Hydration
If my skin was much more sensitive than it is, these two days would be just using a moisturizer and that's it, but on the third day I apply a gentle serum with PDRN which not only helps with hydration, but also helps brighten my skin. After cleansing I use Medicube's PDRN Pink Peptide serum. Without anything else, I'm going to bed. On the fourth day, after cleansing, I apply a very light moisturizer, like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel with hyaluronic acid, and nothing else.
When this four-way routine ends, I start again. As for my daily morning routine, I just wash my face with water (no cleanser) and ALWAYS apply facial sunscreen. And I say “ALWAYS” in capital letters because I do it even if I am not going to leave the house and it is summer or winter. Always.
What he skin cycling it has done to my skin
Although the objective of skin cycling is to optimize the results of active products and avoid irritation, allowing the skin time to recover, the truth is that my skin, beyond looking good, has never been so hydrated. What's more, I feel that it is more hydrated than when I used the skincare Korean and spending much less.
The most visible result on my skin is that it is illuminated and it feels cleaner than ever, less heavy and with more glow. I feel rejuvenated, and in fact my skin looks younger because it looks healthier. During this summer, more than ten people who met me for the first time were surprised when I told them that I was 40 years old. “It's impossible,” they repeated to me. And without any intention of making me love bombing or anything like that.
Now my skin looks very healthy, like a well-fed girl who barely gets the sun on her face. And without spending a fortune in the process.
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