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Your skincare shelf might look like the beauty aisle at a top cosmetic brand's warehouse—AHAs, BHAs, retinoids, peptides, serums in rainbow glass bottles, and about five different moisturizers labeled for "morning," "night," and "emergencies." But now, a countertrend is pushing back: skintermittent fasting. It's not about starving your skin—it's about finally letting it chill.
Think of it as a beauty detox. A pause button. A moment for your skin to recalibrate without the daily assault of active ingredients that might be doing more harm than good.
What is skintermittent fasting, exactly?
Inspired by the concept of intermittent fasting (minus the hunger pangs), skintermittent fasting is the practice of temporarily ditching all those "active" ingredients—like glycolic acid, salicylic acid, retinol, and exfoliators—that promise glow but often leave your skin dry, red, or just plain fed up.
Instead of layering ten-step routines filled with potent formulas, this trend advocates for a skincare diet: gentle cleanser, protective moisturizer, and reliable sunscreen. That's it.
You're not ghosting your skin—just easing off the overachieving for a bit. Especially if you're someone who tends to switch between multiple firming facial serums or exfoliants, this might be the low-effort reset you didn't know you needed.
Why dermatologists are backing it
Skin experts are comparing it to gut health: sometimes your system just needs to rest. By avoiding stronger acids like AHAs and BHAs or exfoliating agents like retinol, you allow your skin's natural barrier to reset. The skin is a self-healing organ. The more we pile on, the more we risk disrupting what it's naturally good at.
What to use while skin fasting
This trend isn't about giving up skincare altogether—just simplifying. Here's your no-stress lineup:
A mild, non-stripping cleanser (if you're oily, try a gentle oily skin face wash)
A natural face moisturizer
Broad-spectrum SPF (every single day—no negotiations)
Some people also stick with barrier-boosting products like ceramide creams or fragrance-free sensitive skin care products—basically, anything that comforts and supports the skin, not challenges it.
How long should you fast?
There's no set time limit. Some do it for three days, others for a week or longer. The idea is to tune into your skin—if it's red, flaky, dull, or feels tight and overworked, it might be a sign that your actives need to take five.
If you suddenly start glowing mid-fast, that's your barrier quietly clapping in gratitude. Slowly reintroduce actives, one at a time, and notice how your skin responds. You might realize you don't need that many anti-aging products or that daily triple-acid toner.
Skincare burnout is real
With trends like skin cycling, double cleansing, dermaplaning, and multi-masking constantly circulating, it's no wonder our routines—and our skin—are overwhelmed. Skintermittent fasting is a reminder to stop chasing newness and start listening to your skin.