The Truth About Skin Cycling: Will It Really Improve Your Skin?

 This viral beauty trend, which involves cycling formulas like retinol and acid-based exfoliants, has been recommended by dermatologists for years.

The latest buzzword making the rounds on TikTok? Skin cycling. Though the term just recently got its viral name, many dermatologists have been recommending the practice to patients for years. "Skin cycling is a trending term used to describe the process of rotating active ingredients in your skin care," says Nkem Ugonabo, MD, MPH, board-certified dermatologist.

Before jumping on the bandwagon, there are a few things you should know about skin cycling—like how to do it properly, the skin concerns it's ideal for treating, and the best ingredients to include in your routine.


Here's the skin cycling schedule Dr. Julie Russak, MD, FAAD, board certified dermatologist recommends sticking to:

Night 1: Cleanse. Exfoliate with a chemical exfoliant, such as an AHA or BHA product. Moisturize: https://www.marykay.com/bstillings/en-us/products/skincare/collection/timewise-repair/timewise-repair-revealing-radiance-facial-peel-300524

Night 2: Cleanse. Apply a retinol, which will have better absorption followed by the exfoliation of dead skin cells the night prior. Moisturize: https://www.marykay.com/bstillings/en-us/products/skincare/mary-kay-clinical-solutions-retinol-05-set-990280260

Night 3: Cleanse. Focus on hydration and barrier repair with a product that contains lipids, ceramides, triglycerides, and peptides: https://www.marykay.com/bstillings/en-us/products/skincare/collection/clinical-solutions/mary-kay-clinical-solutions-ha-ceramide-hydrator-990284879

Night 4: Cleanse. Continue focusing on hydration and barrier repair: https://www.marykay.com/bstillings/en-us/products/skincare/product/mask/timewise-moisture-renewing-gel-mask-990273687


****PROS****
Dr. Russak says that these products will help improve fine lines and wrinkles, dullness, mild acne, congestion, brown spots, and more.

****CONS****
Despite the many upsides of this type of skin care routine, there is one key drawback to skin cycling—it takes time to adjust to. "You may notice redness, dryness, or flaking when starting any retinol or AHA or BHA based product," Dr. Russak says. The side effects typically last up to two weeks or so, but the recovery days are designed to minimize irritation.

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Bree Stillings
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704-502-4253
https://www.marykay.com/bstillings

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How Do Eye Creams Reduce Dark Circles and Puffiness?

Dark Circles happen to virtually everyone, but they occur for many reasons.  The main culprits are genetics, aging, and chronic rubbing and irritation from allergies or eczema.

They impact various skin types and tones differently.   Those with lighter skin may have dark circles that result from the visibility of blood vessels, giving a blue-grey color.  Those with darker skin types may be more prone to hyper-pigmentation underneath the eyes.  

The best way to treat dark circles is to invest in an effective eye cream that incorporates ingredients to lighten and brighten the area.  Eye creams also nourish, support, and strengthen the skin and boost collagen production that prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

When searching for a formula, look for these ingredients: coenzyme Q10 which protects against sun damage, peptides to support collagen, ceramides which maintain strong skin barriers, hyaluronic acid provides moisture, Vitamins C, E, and K improve skin health under the eyes.  If you are dealing with hyper-pigmented skin look for hydroxy acids.

Discover these picks below, then choose the right formula for your skin type and tone.

Hydrogel Eye Patches - $40  https://www.marykay.com/bstillings/en-us/products/skincare/product/mask/mary-kay-hydrogel-eye-patches-pk30-pairs-302099

Timewise 3D Age-Minimizing Eye Cream - $36   https://www.marykay.com/bstillings/en-us/products/skincare/collection/timewise/timewise-age-minimize-3d-eye-cream-301070

Timewise Volu-Firm Renewal Eye Cream - $42   https://www.marykay.com/bstillings/en-us/products/skincare/collection/timewise-repair/timewise-repair-volufirm-eye-renewal-cream-100905?pageVar=you%20may%20also%20like

Indulge Soothing Eye Gel - $16  https://www.marykay.com/bstillings/en-us/products/skincare/product/eye-care/indulge-soothing-eye-gel-990285197

Timewise Firming Eye Cream - $32 https://www.marykay.com/bstillings/en-us/products/skincare/product/eye-care/timewise-firming-eye-cream-100722

Are electrical products worth the price tag for increasing skin plumpness?

Do devices like the Skinvigorate Sonic Massage Head actually put professional-grade facials in the palm of your hand?  Can they actually reduce aging?  

Here are what the dermotologist have to say:

💜sonic micromassages help increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage and reduce the effects of sun damage, acne, wrinkles, and pigmentation.  

💜 By reprogramming muscel memory, the massage head leads to skin tightening.

💜  When used with a Serum, these devices emit microcurrents, which target the top layers of the skin, allowing the Serum to penetrate deeper layers of the dermis with less resistance.

💜 This low-level current drives collagen and elastin production.

Our bodies need to work harder to repair damaged skin cells over time, resulting in a loss of firmness and dull, loose skin.  Dr Uchenna R. Okereke, a board-certified dermatologist, explains that as a result, our faces lose fat, collagen, and experience bone resportion when we age. That's where these massage tools come in.  While they are certainly well suited for those seeing the signs of time on their faces, they truly are for everyone.  Perfect for acne suffers or even those with sensitive skin types.  

When used with the Skinvigorate Sonic Brush, the Sonic Facial Massage Head can deliver more than 24,000 sonic-powerd micromassages to your face and neck in a single two-minute session.  The result? A face and neck that appear tightened and toned, fine lines that appear softened and skin that appears younger-looking and more radiant.

Read More Here: https://www.marykay.com/bstillings/en-us/products/skincare/product/skin-care-tools/skinvigorate-sonic-facial-massage-head-302025

I was in the hallway bathroom when it hit me......

 I remember exactly where I was when it hit me!

Do you ever have those pivotal moment in your life when you say enough is enough?  And you can remember the scene for the rest of your life?

I had one of those moments about my skincare.  I had just given birth to Ada.   She was probably 3 weeks old.  I was still at home loving my maternity leave.  I walked into our hallway bathroom.  I can still see the blue walls, silver mirror, and bright down lights...... and my skin.  I looked dull (yellowish), tired, dark circles under my eyes, and the skin around my chin was crepy, with pronounced wrinkles and acne scars on either side of my mouth.

What the HELL!  This had never been an issue before. Of course, hormones were to blame.  But that was just it, our skin issues are exasperated by hormones.  It's not our fault we look like crap, LOL!  Hormones from having babies, from having PCOS, from having endocrine issues, from menopause, affect the tone, texture, and elasticity of our skin.  

This was the pivotal moment I said to myself, "I am not accepting this."  Why should I?  I was feeling my best.  I had 3 healthy babies.  I had a great career and a great marriage.  I felt strong and in shape.  Heck! I delivered that baby with no epidural!!  I'm not going to look like crap when I feel amazing.  

At that moment, I said to myself, "I need to take better care of my skin."  Yes, this was a huge change.  Up to that point I washed my face with water, used moisturizer from Aldi when they had it, and never really wore makeup.  Sound familiar?  When I needed a little bit of makeup, I would dig through my bag of "samples" that I had collected from department stores over the last 10 years.  The samples were probably WELLLLLLLL past their expiration date, lol.  Safe to say, I did not use any skincare products that were promoting radiant skin.

I walked out of that bathroom and felt safe, because I knew a Mary Kay lady.  The rest is history.  

Does my journey sound familiar?

What I know is, I can teach you how to make the same transition physically and emotionally.  I can give you real advice as a busy mom who has walked in your shoes.  I can teach habits that make a real impact.  I can give you more confidence and I can change the glow of your skin.

I am launching my first every small group coaching to repair hormonally damaged skin and taking applications now.  

This is not for you if you are not concerned with the highest quality of ingredients.  I work through solutions that are effective and are safe.  If you just want a Dollar Tree "hack
s", this program is not for you. I don't put crap on my skin anymore.

If you know you are done looking tired with damaged skin, if you know you want to feel as beautiful on the outside as you feel on the inside, this program is for you.

This is the very first cohort of its type.  The next group will not start till summer. 

Apply now to start repairing your skin before summer vacation.

Apply Here:  https://forms.gle/i9RUzqvLxv2trquo7

Should You Boost?

What is the difference between a booster and a serum?  Do you need both products in your skin care routine?

Both boosters and serums hold a valuable place in a skin care routine.  Similar to cleansing and moisturizing, serums serve as an everyday step in achieving your healthiest skin.  Serums take a broader, multi-benefit approach to addressing skin needs.  They often feature several key ingredients alongside a blend of other skin-loving additions such as botanicals and extracts.  

Boosters complement any skin care routine and are a solution-specific skin care option designed to address a very targeted skin concern in order to help take your skin care to the next level.  They harness the power of a very narrow set of high concentration ingredients, allowing you to target a singular benefit like never before.

When would I recommend a Mary Kay Booster to acustomer?

Boosters are recommended for anyone looking to target a very specific skin concern with a next level approach.  If you have a customer who is particularly concern about either lines and wrinkles or hydration, then a booster might be the solution for them.  

Mary Kay Clinical Solutions Boosters offer dermocosmetic solutions using well-known and scientifically acclaimed ingredients.  These products can be incorporated into any skin care concerns: Lines and Wrinkles or Dryness.