Here's Exactly How To Practice Skin Cycling In The Fall, From A Top Derm

In a recent TikTok video, board-certified dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., FAAD (the very derm who coined the term "skin cycling"), tells her viewers how to get the most out of their recovery night during fall. Here's what you need to know. 

First, a quick definition of this buzzy term. Skin cycling is a helpful way to rotate your skin care products to ensure you avoid over-exfoliation and get the most out of each step. Bowe's classic routine consists of a four-night schedule: The first night calls for exfoliation, the next retinol, and the final two nights are meant for recovery (read: no strong actives). After that, the cycle repeats itself. To dive deeper into the why behind each step and which products to use, check out our guide here. 

"When you start to layer your clothing and throw on that jean jacket, that's when you want to start thinking about layering your skin care," Bowe says. Here, find her full recovery night routine: 

She recommends a serum with hyaluronic acid in it—you can find a list of our favorite clean HA serums here, if you're in the market. 

When selecting a moisturizer for the cooler months, look for one with ingredients like ceramides, peptides, squalane, sunflower seed oil, etc. "Ideally one that's going to repair the skin barrier," Bowe explains. If you have drier skin in general, you may want to opt for a thicker cream. For those with oily skin, a gel or gel-cream consistency may work better. 

"When it comes to oils, I recommend oils that are not going to clog the pores, so things like squalane or rose hip oil," she says. However, some people still don't like the feeling of oils, despite knowing that many do not, in fact, clog pores. If that sounds like you, then a balm may be a better fit. "The mix of oils with the other ingredients in the balm is less likely to break some of my patients out," Bowe says. When shopping for your favorite balm, just be sure to use one specifically formulated for the face. 

If your skin starts to feel drier than usual, you may want to consider layering your hydrating products to lock in moisture and repair your skin barrier. Bowe is an expert on epidermal repair, and when combined with skin cycling, this routine may be the answer to keeping your skin hydrated, even while using retinol and exfoliants.