I Tried Skin Fasting So You Don't Have To

After one week of adopting the latest "less is more" skincare trend, I came to a very serious conclusion.

Amidst all this chaos, you may have forgotten to complete your 14 step daily skincare routine, but the new "Skin Fasting" movement argues that this might be the break that your skin needs. The idea of abandoning my ever so carefully curated skin routine was terrifying to even think of. Still, I gave in to Instagram's peer pressure and decided to give it a try.

@verabaida

DAY 1:

Right after my morning shower, I almost grabbed for my Glossier Cleanser, totally forgetting that today was the beginning of a new era. Instead, I cleansed my face with WATER. After that? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I left the bathroom and went about my day (at home).

Later in the afternoon, we decided to go for a walk outside for some fresh air, so I slapped on some SPF right before, but I promise that's it.

I made sure to stay hydrated during the day, and according to my Daily Water Tracker, I drank exactly 2.36588 liters of water.

In the evening, I started getting ready for bed. I brushed my teeth, and once again washed my face with WATER.

DAY 2 & 3:

The second day was awkward. Too early for any noticeable results, but I felt naked. I increased my water intake throughout the day to keep my skin hydrated, and of course, applied some SPF before going outside (dermatologists agree that the one product you should never neglect is your sun protection).

Now the third day…. The third day hit a little different. My skin felt lighter and brighter for some reason. Was it the 500 gallons of water I had been drinking? Or was it my skin thanking me for allowing it to reset? Who knows.

Day 4 & 5:

These last two days were fun. At this point, I had totally forgotten what a vitamin C serum was, and honestly, I wasn't mad about it. My skin was noticeably different (in a good way), and I felt ready to end this little experiment.

Dermatologists recommend fasting until you feel that your skin has returned to its baseline. This dry period is a time for your skin to remember how to behave without the help from the active ingredients in your daily skincare products, especially those with retinol, AHAs, BHAs, and Vitamin C.

So the final verdict? Do it if you feel like it, no pressure if you don't. Everyone's skin needs are so different, and there's no universal key to great skin (maybe SPF and H2O, but don't quote me). My moderately dry skin appreciated the break, and I was rewarded with a clearer, brighter complexion. However, my skincare shelf gives me a sense of security and makes me feel like I'm doing something right. Going back to my normal skin ritual was a little confusing and I found myself cutting out products that just seemed useless at this point. My process went from a handful of products morning and night, to just 4 simple steps: cleanse, tone, serum, moisturize.

This detox taught me to listen to my skin, and to stick with the bare necessities. The outcome of all this? I've started to adapt to a new regimen where I do a micro fast one day of the week, allowing my skin to do its own thing, and it feels good!

Love Always,

Melania