Okay, let’s discuss the trendy practice of torturing our faces, often referred to as “skin fasting.” The premise is to abandon your carefully crafted skincare regimen—the one you’ve dedicated immense time and money to refining—to allow your skin to “breathe.” Sounds like a mini spa retreat for your face, doesn’t it? Not quite. It’s more akin to sending your complexion off to a wilderness boot camp with no supplies.
What in the World is Skin Fasting?
Skin fasting can be thought of as a detox for your skincare routine. Picture your skin embarking on a small uprising against the overwhelming number of serums, creams, and treatments it endures. According to board-certified dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, this process allows your skin to take a “time to breathe, rest, and reset,” enabling it to “naturally perform as it was designed to without reliance on skincare products.”
It sounds like a dream, right? Imagine releasing a spoiled housecat into the wild to tap into its primal instincts. But chances are, you’ll return with pesky fleas and a sour mood instead.
How Does This Torture… I Mean, Technique Work?
The approach can differ significantly, as skin fasting seemingly has its own tiers. Karen Fernandez, the head esthetician at SkinSpirit, compares it to dietary fasting, where you remove certain items to enhance overall well-being. The underlying idea is that by peeling away the layers (both figuratively and literally), you enable your skin to rejuvenate its protective outer layer, thereby increasing its resilience.
It’s a clever method to channel your inner detective, revealing which products could be leading to irritation, breakouts, or other skin issues. Consider it a skincare intervention, compelling your products to divulge their misdeeds.
Before you joyfully discard your entire skincare collection, it’s important to recognize the subtleties involved. It isn’t always necessary to stop everything at once. Often, it’s more effective to gradually eliminate one product at a time—similar to easing off caffeine, but for your skin.
Who Should Subject Themselves to This?
Fernandez suggests that individuals with skin sensitivities may find skin fasting advantageous. This practice allows the skin to rest from active ingredients that could provoke inflammation. She emphasizes that it’s particularly helpful for those with dry skin, while those with oily or acne-prone complexions should continue with their usual skincare routines.
Natalie Aguilar, a skincare nurse and renowned aesthetician, recommends that individuals looking to refresh their skin consider this approach, particularly if they’re dealing with increased blemishes, dryness, or irritation. It’s akin to pressing the reset button on your complexion, with the hope that it returns free of any additional issues.
Fernandez wisely suggests focusing on the essentials—cleanser and SPF—to avoid a major skin crisis. After all, no one wants their fasting journey to result in a skincare nightmare.
Who Should Run Screaming in the Opposite Direction?
Dr. Zubritsky cautions against skin fasting for those with conditions such as eczema, severe acne, rosacea, or melasma. She states, “I do not support abruptly cutting out all skincare products at once—particularly if you have a skin issue that necessitates active ingredients.”
Aguilar emphasizes the importance of consulting your dermatologist prior to discontinuing any prescription treatments. And for the sake of everything sacred, never neglect sunscreen, particularly after using acids or retinol. Unless you’re going for that lobster-inspired aesthetic, make sure to shield your skin from the sun’s rays.
Moreover, if your skincare regimen is effective, why change it? It’s akin to removing a Jenga block from a solid tower just to observe the outcome. Spoiler: it will topple.
Skin Fasting: The Dos and Don’ts
Customize Your Torture… I Mean, Approach
Aguilar highlights that skin fasting is tailored to each person. Some may gradually reduce their skincare products, while others might take an abrupt approach. Fernandez notes that a full skin fast means halting all skincare routines completely—this includes avoiding cleansers, toners, serums, hydrators, and moisturizers.
The aim is to allow your skin’s natural oils to take care of all the balancing and protection. It’s similar to relying on your body to manage a Thanksgiving feast without needing any antacids. Good luck with that!
Dr. Zubritsky suggests paying close attention to your skin during this process, which may take anywhere from several days to a few weeks. Should your skin begin to raise any red flags, it’s important to take a step back and reevaluate.
Stick to the Basics (Unless You’re Feeling Wild)
Aguilar recommends focusing on a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen while removing other products from your routine. Dr. Zubritsky, on the other hand, firmly believes that sunscreen is essential. “That is one step that cannot be overlooked,” she emphasizes.
Dr. Zubritsky cautions that completely removing all products can have detrimental effects on your skin. “For instance, if you cease using a cleanser for your face, dirt, debris, makeup, and oil may accumulate, leading to an increase in breakouts.” Essentially, it’s like welcoming a swarm of irate invaders to take residence on your complexion.
The Grim Reality: Potential Side Effects
Side effects can differ based on your skin type and fasting approach. For individuals with dry skin, omitting moisturizer could worsen dryness levels. Those prone to acne might encounter breakouts or skin purging. Additionally, if you use products to address dullness, you may temporarily lose your radiance.
It’s akin to taking away the filters that obscure your life and confronting reality directly. It may not always be beautiful, but it’s often essential.
The Final Verdict: Is Skin Fasting Worth the Agony?
In the end, skin fasting proves effective depending on individual circumstances. It’s not a universal solution, and paying attention to your skin’s needs is essential. Aguilar recommends it as an excellent method to evaluate the efficacy of your current skincare products.
Dr. Zubritsky suggests gradually eliminating one product at a time to observe how your skin responds. She emphasizes that the concept of “detoxing” your skin lacks scientific support. Therefore, if you’re aiming for a sense of virtue, perhaps just opt for a salad instead.
A daring individual at Refinery29 embarked on an extreme experiment by refraining from skincare for two weeks. During the initial week, they experienced an overwhelming amount of oiliness upon waking, and their skin felt parched only after washing it with water. Although the tightness and unpleasant texture were bothersome, Dr. Hextall proposed that this could be a positive indicator, suggesting that the skin might thrive from a break.
In the second week, hormonal acne emerged, accompanied by an unwelcome array of bumps near the hairline. Even though my skin felt tight, oily, dehydrated, and dotted with blemishes, I began receiving compliments on my “fresh” and “glowy” appearance. While my skin had a plumpness and a healthy sheen, the overall sensation was dull and uncomfortable.
The conclusion? It wasn’t worth it. The experimenter discovered her deep appreciation for her skincare routine as a means of self-care and relaxation. Although the “glowy” appearance was a bonus, the unpleasant sensation and interruption of a cherished ritual rendered it unappealing for any future attempts.
In Conclusion (Or Not)
Skin fasting is akin to those popular diets that people embark on for a week, only to find that pizza and ice cream are crucial for life. It might yield positive results for some, but for many, it could lead to chaos. Therefore, before you overhaul your skincare regimen completely, think carefully about whether you’re prepared for the possible fallout. Your skin could express gratitude, or it might just go on a rebellious rampage.
Keep in mind, everyone, that skincare is a marathon, not a race. Unless you’re making a quick getaway from a burning building—then skincare can take a backseat.