Skin cycling is a type of skincare routine that isolates your use of specific active ingredients to different nights (not mornings!) of the week. “This spaces out the actives to reduce the chances of skin irritation,” says Courtney Rubin, M.D., co-founder and chief medical officer of Fig. 1 skincare.

In simplest terms, skin cycling is a four-night rotational skin care regimen that alternates between using active ingredients and letting the skin rest and recover.

Skin cycling is a skin care regimen that can be followed in a few easy steps and repeated in a three-to-five-night cycle. Dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe coined the term “skin cycling” and highlighted this technique as a simple regimen that everyone can follow. This practice, popular on TikTok, is safe, effective and won’t break the bank.

Skin cycling refers to the practice of alternating which skin care products you use in order to avoid unwanted side effects, such as irritation and dryness. The term skin cycling was coined by Whitney Bowe, MD–a board-certified dermatologist who popularized the concept on TikTok.

“Skin cycling is a deliberate and strategic approach to skin care that involves cycling through your evening skin-care routine to drive results while minimizing irritation,” explains Whitney Bowe, MD, the board-certified dermatologist who invented the skin-cycling method.