Another month, another major viral beauty trend. Recently, you may have seen people on TikTok raving about skin fasting, touting it as the secret to refreshing your skin.
But is this a legitimate beauty hack, or actually more likely to harm your skin? We had our founder, Dr Alexis (and her decades of dermatologic expertise), weigh in on the debate.
What Is Skin Fasting?
Put simply, skin fasting is eliminating all skin care products from your daily ritual, and letting the skin function free from any topical interference.
“The theory goes that stopping your multi-step skin care routine will let the skin recalibrate, and improve skin barrier function,” Dr Alexis explains.
Akin to a detox cleanse for your skin, if approached with care skin fasting can support healthy skin - but Dr Alexis advises caution:
“I would not recommend going cold turkey from all your skin care products for any of my patients - but this is especially important if you have a specific skin concern being treated such as eczema, acne, rosacea or melasma. You wouldn’t enter a detox and not consume any water, vitamins or minerals as that would compromise your health - and the same goes for your skin.”
Cleanser, moisturizer and SPF are critical to maintaining a healthy, high-functioning skin barrier, essential not just for glowing skin but in protecting from infection and keeping you in peak physical health.
“The skin barrier acts as a protective shield, preventing water loss and shielding against environmental aggressors like pollution, irritants, and microbes. Furthermore, a strong skin barrier is essential not just for health, but also for ensuring other skincare products work effectively. Prioritizing hydration and nourishment is the foundation for healthy skin and any effective skincare routine.”
Benefits Of Skin Fasting
When it comes to the benefits of skin fasting, you might see some success if you are suffering with an increase in itchy skin, inflammation, blemishes, dryness or sensitivity (or just struggling to keep up with a complicated skin care routine).
“Multi-step skin routines can sometimes lead to irritation, as the likelihood of encountering an ingredient that doesn’t agree with us increases, and we’re not giving our skin the space and time it needs to absorb active ingredients and acclimatise to their impact. Gradually eliminating one product at a time can help identify any potential skin-triggering ingredients, or scaling back to a very simple routine of cleanser, moisturizer and SPF can give your skin a rest from active ingredients and help reduce inflammation and sensitivity.”
However, as mentioned above, this will only work in very specific scenarios. People with a skin condition that needs close management or who are trying to treat a specific skin type are unlikely to see any benefits. Dr Alexis advises.
“It is always important to make sure to consult with your dermatologist or doctor before taking a break from any topical or oral medications when you are treating a skin condition such as acne or rosacea. Also, If you are considering skin fasting for treating ongoing oily or dry skin, I would not recommend it, consistency is key when treating these skin types.”
But Does Skin Fasting Work?
There are no scientific studies to support the theory that skin fasting rebalances your skin - and while anecdotally people may see improvements, there is an equal amount of discourse that skin fasting negatively impacts your skin, with many commentators complaining of dryness, blemishes and sensitivity. Furthermore, stopping products rich in active ingredients abruptly can also cause adverse reactions - as can their reintroduction.
“When adjusting your skincare routine in any capacity, my rule is always to go slow," mentions Dr Alexis. “While this may feel frustrating in our world of instant gratification, a measured approach can help truly understand the impact on your skin.”
How To Do Skin Fasting
If your skin feels compromised, and you feel a dermatologic-detox might suit you, Dr Alexis has devised her skin fasting dos and don’ts below:
Do keep using cleanser and moisturizer, as these are essential to maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Our MOON SWIM Hydrating Body Wash and LITTLE LOVE Nourishing Body Lotion are both engineered to keep skin healthy and happy with a powerful blend of botanical ingredients.
Don’t consider skin fasting if you are treating a skin condition like eczema, acne, rosacea or melasma.
Do take a gradual approach - remove one product at a time over the course of a few weeks to allow you to closely monitor your skin. The same applies for reintroduction, it's imperative to give your skin time to adjust.
Don’t consider stopping your use of sunscreen, as there is no doubt this will damage your skin. La Roche Posay’s Anthelios is my ideal sunscreen for the body.
Discover more dermatologic insight on the beauty trends everyone is talking about via our journal.
