We have all heard of fasting; some do it for health reasons, others for religious reasons. All in all, fasting is beneficial for controlling your blood sugar, heart health, weight loss, and some experts say it can even aid in cancer prevention. But, what is the deal with skin fasting?
Well, it is not all that different. Fasting is not feeding yourself, and skin fasting is not feeding your skin. It may sound strange right off the bat but taking a break from all the serums, lotions, toners, and treatments can reboot your skin.
Remember the whole no-poo movement where you don’t wash your hair so that your scalp would care for itself and your natural oils could balance themselves? Well, this is the same general idea, and it is as easy as breaking from your routine one night a week.
That may sound amazing to those who struggle to stick to their skincare routine. You still need to wash your face and make sure it is free of any makeup remanence, but you forego the moisturizer.
On the other hand, for those addicted to elaborate routines and adore the feeling of drenching the skin with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants, it can be daunting to go to bed without that goodness, even just once.
This is especially true for those of us beauty junkies who are obsessed with our routines and different products like masks, peels, and exfoliators. But, it is just for one night, so if you hate it that badly, you can go right back to your comfort zone in as little as 24 hours.
So, what are the benefits of taking a break from skincare? It is quite common for skin issues like acne, eczema and other inflammation to clear up faster when your skin is free from additional substances. This does not mean that all the skincare you have invested in is pointless. It just means giving your skin a breath of fresh air every so often boosts its natural protective barriers.
As you may know, over-cleansing or even piling up on too many ingredients can throw your skin out of whack. It can dry it out, cause it to produce excess oils, and cause plenty of other less than beneficial results. And with this, things like age spots and wrinkles become more prominent than we would like.
We take so much time researching the best skincare products, but overuse of them can make your skin lazy in a way. Constantly loading on the serums can stop your skin from regenerating its natural oils and halt its recovery process. This can cause your skin to become dependent on outside help.
Do be aware that a whole week of skin fasting can be brutal. Your skin is withdrawing from what it is used to, and you could be dealing with insane oiliness or painful dryness. This is a detox, and your skin will crave skincare. But, about halfway through this experiment, your skin should start looking better. Plus, this can help you realize your true skin type.
A week may sound excessive, and it sort of is. Experts that support skin fasting say one night a week is all you need for your skin to breathe. And here is how to do it right:
1. Gently cleanse the skin in the evening. Use a non-stripping cleanser. Avoid ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, alcohol, and fragrance. Rinse and pat the skin dry.
2. Stop there. Do not use any toner, treatments, oils, or serums. Just skip it all.
3. Make sure your environment is not arid. If your room is too dry, skin fasting will not work correctly.
4. Cleanse with water. Since there isn’t any excess product on your skin’s surface, cleansing with just H2O in the morning is best. This will prevent your skin’s natural oils from being stripped.
5. Drink plenty of water. No matter your skin type, there is a good chance your skin is dehydrated, so make sure you are keeping yourself replenished.
6. Skin fast once a week. You can go twice a week if you really enjoy it, but if your skin fasts too often, it can actually cause harm to your skin, making it even drier. So stick to once a week, and you should be good.
Do remember, though, if you struggle with a serious skin condition, skin fasting is probably not for you. If you are unsure about it, discuss it with your dermatologist before testing it out.
