Gone are the days of a simple three step cleanse-tone-moisturise skincare routine; in this age it’s all about double cleansing, multiple essences, serum layering, and facial oils. And for the most part, our skin is thankful for it. However, sometimes (particularly after ODing on AHAs and BHA) less can be more when it comes to skincare. Skin fasting is a trend that entails stripping back your skincare to the bare essentials, sticking to a couple of key products.
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While it may not make for a beautifully maximalist shelfie, skin fasting can have some very real benefits. To understand the ins and outs of skin fasting, we’ve enlisted the help of Biologi’s Dermal Specialist Lucy Macdougald. Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about skin fasting.
What is skin fasting?
“Skin Fasting is a trend that proves that less really can be more when it comes to your skin. It focuses on minimising your skincare products down to those multi-purpose products that work wonders on the skin,” Macdougald told Albert Review. “It’s where you strip back your routine to those must-haves and remove anything that might not really be working. Oftentimes people apply a complicated routine on their skin but never stop to check what products are effective and reveal positive results. Many people are caught up on 10-step routines where there’s cleansers, exfoliators, toners, moisturisers, skin boosters, serums and the list goes on. The truth is, as long as you have a cleanser, an exfoliator for once a week and a great multi-purpose serum that’s potent in actives, that all your skin needs.”
What are the benefits of taking a break from your skincare products?
“There are a few benefits of skin fasting. The first is helping to minimise the chance of layering skincare products that don’t actually ‘like’ each other (which can often wreak havoc on the skin or cause harmful reactions). Then there’s minimising the chance of stripping the skin of its natural oils, which is counterproductive for good skin!
“Then the key benefit can be to actually get a chance to understand what is truly happening with your skin – if you’ve constantly been applying an array of skincare products, you could be masking your true skin and not actually getting to the heart of any issues.”
Which skin conditions can skin fasting treat?
“Skin fasting can help skin dryness, acne, fine lines and wrinkles and also has the potential to help more serious conditions like dermatitis and eczema,” says Macdougald.
Are there any skin types that shouldn’t try skin fasting?
“Only those people that have been directed by a dermatologist or professional to follow another type of routine.”
Are there any non-negotiable skincare products you shouldn’t fast from?
“Yes, the non-negotiables are a cleanser (for day and night use) like Biologi’s Bc Refresh Cleanser, and exfoliator (for once or twice a week), a hard-working serum like the Biologi’s Bm Regenerate Serum and a sunscreen! We’re currently loving Biologi’s collaboration with Ultra Violette that features summer skincare essentials – sunscreen and Biologi’s Bf Restore Face and Body Serum, another great multi-purpose serum for all skin types.”
Words by AR Staff
Feature image courtesy of Mario Sorrenti
