Skin Fasting: Benefits, Risks & How to Do It Safely

Discover what skin fasting is, its benefits and risks, and how to try it safely for healthier, calmer skin without overloading products.

Look in your bathroom cabinet. Or those cleansers, face serums, exfoliating scrubs, sheet masks, toners, and moisturizers? That seems like a lot, doesn’t it? It has become routine among most of us throughout the years to layer our skin care as though it is a morning shake- a spoonful of this, a drop of that, and pray all good things fall through.

However, there is another trend that is becoming more prominent in the beauty sphere: skin fasting. There is nothing like quitting skincare overall, though. You can think of this as a skincare detox or a minimalist skincare routine that lets your skin rest.

The big question is: does it work, or is it a viral beauty trend? So let us take a look.

What Is Skin Fasting in Skincare?

Skin fasting refers to a temporary pause (or minimalization) of your skincare routine so your skin can have time to normalize and restabilize naturally.

The trend started in Japan, where beauty companies and certain dermatologists thought using active ingredients more than recommended would cause the skin barrier to be disrupted (Byrdie, 2024). Now, it is all over TikTok, beauty blogs, and skincare podcasts.

The Reasons Why People Try Skin Fasting

This is what you need to know: skincare does work, but it does not. An excess of retinol, AHA exfoliants, or vitamin C serums may irritate your skin. Too much cleansing will wash off the natural oils. And even when we do follow a 10-step skincare routine, our skin is dull sometimes.

People attempt to skin fast in order to:

• Calm acne breakouts, redness, or irritation.
• Skin in its natural state.
• Minimize overloading of the skincare routine and save time.

According to dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, simplifying will also assist you in establishing which products are effective (Byrdie, 2024).

Possible Results of Skin Fasting

Some people observe without continuous interference:

• Reduced skin irritation and sensitivity.
• Normal sebum production.
• Removal of flare-ups by exceeding the product.
• Increased knowledge of the most effective skincare products.

These benefits are frequently advertised, but no significant clinical experiments have demonstrated that skin fasting is better than a regular gentle procedure (HUM Nutrition, 2024).

Skin Fasting Risks

Skin fasting is not suitable to all people. In case you are affected by eczema, rosacea, dry, or acne-prone skin, you might even experience flare-ups when the product breaks suddenly.

• Winter: Skipping moisturizer during the winter months will make the skin dry and cracked
• Do not skip sunscreen– skin fasting does not guard one against UV damage (AAD, 2024).
• The cessation of the prescription treatment without any instructions may exacerbate skin problems (HUM Nutrition, 2024).

Safe Skin-Fasting Guide

1. Begin with a small fast– 2-3 days work, instead of a week.
2. Keep skincare essentials: a gentle cleanser and SPF 30+ sunscreen.
3. Apply a light-weight moisturiser that contains ceramides or hyaluronic acid, especially if dry.
4. Check each day to see whether there is irritation.
5. Reintroduce products gradually to check their impacts.

Minimalist Skincare Alternative

Minimalist skincare: Try this instead of a complete skincare detox, in case the idea worries you too much:

• Morning: Cleanser + Moisturizer + Sunscreen
• Night: Cleanser + Moisturizer
• Optional: Gentle exfoliant or serum twice a week

This method helps your skin to rest without causing significant problems (Byrdie, 2024).

Before vs. After Skin Fasting

Final Thought

Skin fasting is a minimalist skin care trend that could diminish irritation and help you understand what your skin wants. However, it is not an alternative to tried-and-true, regular habits and should not be used to bypass other necessities, such as sunscreen.

Skin Fasting Q&A