One active per night, with rest nights built in.
01 / 06
Night 1: exfoliate. Night 2: retinoid. Nights 3 and 4: recovery with no actives. Then repeat.
02 / 06
Acids and retinoids both make skin dry and reactive at first. Spacing them out with rest nights is easier on it.
03 / 06
Use a leave-on chemical exfoliant after a gentle cleanse, then moisturiser. Skip gritty scrubs.
04 / 06
Just a gentle cleanser and a barrier cream with ceramides, glycerin or panthenol. Nothing else.
05 / 06
Sensitive or dry? Add more recovery nights. Humid summer? Switch to lighter textures.
06 / 06
Wear SPF 30 or higher daily. Skip retinoids if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and cycle without them.
Skin Cycling for Beginners: A 4-Night Routine for Indian Skin (2026)