We all know that the internet can be both a blessing and a curse. With so much information out there, it can be difficult to know which advice to trust. This applies to whatever conundrum you have, but today we’re going to talk about skincare.
If you’re a beauty fanatic, you’ve heard about flooding, slugging, skinnimalism, skin cycling, moisture sandwiches, and more. Probably thanks to something like: tick tock.
But if you don’t have one yet, you’re in luck. Because FEMAIL spoke with a team of experts to break them down and tell you which ones are actually beneficial to your skin.
skin cycling
Although the concept has been around for some time, the term “skincycling” was popularized on TikTok by a New York dermatologist. Dr. Whitney Bowe.
celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas Dermatologists and estheticians alike have recommended the procedure for more than a decade, she told DailyMail.com.
“It’s the concept of switching skin care products according to a cycle or schedule, giving your skin time to repair, moisturize, and treat specific blemishes,” she said.
For example, the first night she uses an exfoliating acid, the second night she uses retinol, and days three and four she devotes herself to hydration to “help the skin heal.” Maybe, a famous esthetician Rene Rouleau explained.
And our experts also endorse skincycling.
“I’m a fan of this trend because it gives people a good blueprint for building good skincare habits,” Rouleau told DailyMail.com.
“Once you get used to this basic routine, you can start adjusting it based on your needs and tolerance (e.g. two nights of retinol or just one recovery day). I think it’s actually beneficial for people’s skin and can be applied long-term.”
The esthetician likened skin care with active ingredients to a workout.
“Instead of doing the same exercises every day, you’ll want to do a variety of different exercises for the best overall results. The same goes for your skin,” she added. rice field.
“You need a variety of ingredients to look and feel your best. Just as you don’t do all your exercises on the same day, you shouldn’t stack multiple active ingredients at the same time. Your skin will absorb them. There’s a limit to how much you can do, so it can cause irritation.For these reasons, I’m a fan of always rotating serums.”
Vargas, meanwhile, said he “best sees” skincycling used when it comes to retinol.
She advised people to incorporate retinol into their routine two to three times a week, depending on their skin type.
Vargas also said it’s “important” to go through the day “especially at night” with a moisturizer or restorative serum, like her brand’s Twilight Night Serum.
Long hit power
Experts have mixed opinions about this trend.
Slugging involves using a petroleum jelly-based product, such as petroleum jelly, and applying a thin layer to your face before bed. Dr. Diane Davis I will explain.
“This is thought to prevent transcutaneous water loss and help keep the skin hydrated,” she told DailyMail.com.
But Davis warned people against applying petroleum-based products to their face, adding that he recommends gentler alternatives like Burt’s Bees Hydrating Gel-Cream.
Rouleau, on the other hand, dubs it a “band-aid” solution to a damaged skin barrier.
“Barrier damage is often the reason behind the inherent problems with slugging power. A healthy barrier keeps irritants out while keeping you hydrated. This is what keeps skin cells hydrated. It’s made up of lipids that bind together, think of it as the skin’s personal bodyguard,” she said.
“Because petroleum jelly and other petroleum jelly products do not contain lipids, we do not see them as a long-term solution to a damaged barrier. Think of it like a band-aid that helps in. That said, slugs are a safe way to temporarily protect damaged skin from water loss and irritation.”
Vargas, on the other hand, is a big fan of the practice, saying he “loves it”.
“Some people may be afraid of getting pimples, but the reality is that if your skin is too dry, it’s because you’re overly sensitive and you get pimples.” , it can lock in moisture and soothe your skin while you sleep,” she added.
“I prefer to use products like Cerave Healing Ointment that are both sealing and moisturizing. I bathe here most of the winter months.”
moisture sandwich
According to Davis, this skin care technology can be applied in two ways.
The first is used to lock in the skin’s moisture by “layering the product over damp skin.”
This will help lock more moisture into your skin. This works best when paired with petroleum jelly-based products and thick creams,” the dermatologist explained.
Another use involves “sandwiching” an active ingredient product between two moisturizers.
The method is aimed at minimizing dryness and irritation, especially “if you’re struggling with side effects from starting retinol,” Rouleau added.
“For example, someone using a product such as retinol would first apply a moisturizer to their skin, then a retinoid, and then another layer of moisturizer. We sandwich the product,” Davis told DailyMail.com.
Rouleau recommends applying a thin layer of moisturizer before retinol and letting it sit for “a few minutes.”
You can then add an extra layer of moisturizer to “give your skin a little buffer,” she says.
This may help alleviate some of the problems that occur when skin adapts to retinol.
“Even if you’re a seasoned retinol user, you can employ this strategy when your skin is a little more sensitive than normal,” the esthetician added.
skin immersion
There are many ways to incorporate this technique into your daily life.
But basically, people are “flooding” their skin with “layers of hydration,” Davis said. And sometimes, judging by some TikTok videos, their faces are visibly wet.
Vargas said it’s common to start with a hyaluronic acid serum and “finish with a ceramide or shea butter cream to lock in moisture.”
“Flooding,” she says, is a method estheticians have recommended to people throughout their careers to keep their skin healthy.
“Instead of looking for just one ultimate product, just layering your skincare will help your skin respond better,” she told DailyMail.com.
Rouleau, on the other hand, advises layering from the thinnest product, which is usually water-based, to the thickest oil-based product, saying, “You’ll be able to get the moisture deep into your skin and keep it there.” added.
“This can be achieved by layering a moisturizing toner or serum under the moisturizer,” she added.
“If you really want to maximize hydration, make sure you apply your first skincare product within a minute of cleansing. I call it the ‘Golden Minute Rule.’ After one minute, your skin begins to lose water through a process called transepidermal water loss. After cleansing, skin care immediately without leaving bare skin on is guaranteed to have moist and hydrated skin. ”
Davis said skin hydration is “absolutely a key component of healthy skin,” but cautioned people against overdoing it.
“Applying ingredients such as hyaluronic acid serum or glycerin to already damp skin can interfere with the absorption of the product or even dry out the skin,” she explained.
“For this reason, it’s always important to check with a certified dermatologist as to which products are best for your skin.”
skinnimalism
Rouleau says the trend is a direct response to the “complicated” 10- or 12-step routines that are trending these days.
‘As the name suggests, this means using less skincare products and sticking to the basics most of the time,” the esthetician told DailyMail.com.
She said the technique is especially beneficial for those with more sensitive skin.
“Like everyone else, I like to try new products, but ultimately the best results come from consistent daily use of the right products for my skin.” Mr Rouleau said.
Mr. Davis said that meant paring down the regime to just what was needed “without sacrificing results.”
“Simply put, less is more,” she added.
“As a board-certified dermatologist, I enjoy educating patients and consumers about how a comprehensive skin care regimen can be achieved using 3-4 key products. 10 Step Skin Care. you don’t have to.
“We want to keep our skin looking and feeling healthy with the least amount of product to minimize possible unwanted side effects.”
The dermatologist said a “skinimalism” regimen could include only “cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreens, and one additional product that may target specific concerns.”
“That ‘target’ product could be dark spot specific, such as Burt’s Bee Renewal Dark Spot Corrector. It could be a targeted ingredient, such as salicylic acid, or it could be an ingredient that helps repair a degraded moisture barrier, such as moisturizers, oils, and squalene. ”
