What’s All the Hype About Skin Cycling - Does It Actually Work After 40?

 

Written by an independent, certified dermatologist

 

If you’ve spent any time scrolling through TikTok or browsing skincare forums lately, you’ve probably seen “skin cycling” popping up again and again. This trending skincare routine, popularised by dermatologists and beauty influencers alike, promises clearer, smoother, and more youthful skin - without the irritation that often comes with actives like retinol or exfoliants.

But how effective is skin cycling for women over 40, especially those dealing with fine lines, loss of firmness, rosacea, or perimenopausal dryness and eczema?

Let’s break down the science, see who can benefit, and explore how to adapt skin cycling for mature skin. Plus, we’ll look at how tools like the DermaGlow LED & EMS Mask and the DermaGlow red light glasses can complement your cycle and improve results.


What is Skin Cycling?

Skin cycling is a four-night skincare routine that rotates active ingredients with rest and repair days to avoid irritation and support long-term skin barrier health. A typical cycle looks like this:

  • Night 1: Exfoliation (chemical exfoliants like AHAs/BHAs)
  • Night 2: Retinol or Retinoids
  • Night 3 & 4: Recovery (hydration, barrier repair)

This approach prevents over-exfoliation and helps your skin benefit from powerful actives without becoming inflamed - a common issue as skin matures.


Why Skin Cycling Can Work for Women Over 40

After 40, your skin’s natural regeneration slows down. Collagen and elastin production decline, the skin barrier weakens, and concerns like sagging, wrinkles, dryness, and redness become more prominent.

Skin cycling gives your skin a rhythm: stimulation followed by recovery. This mirrors what your skin naturally needs - periods of cell turnover followed by rest to repair and rebuild. It’s especially useful for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who may be more prone to irritation and inflammation.


Best Actives to Include in Your Cycle After 40

When cycling skincare, the actives you choose matter. For mature and sensitive skin, we recommend:

  • Night 1 – Exfoliation:
    • Lactic acid (gentler than glycolic)
    • Mandelic acid (great for rosacea-prone skin)
  • Night 2 – Retinoids:
    • Retinaldehyde (less irritating but highly effective)
    • Encapsulated retinol
  • Night 3 & 4 – Recovery:
    • Ceramides
    • Niacinamide
    • Hyaluronic acid

And here’s where you can take things a step further…


How LED Therapy Fits Into Skin Cycling

LED therapy enhances the effects of skin cycling, especially on recovery nights.

  • Red Light (640 nm): Boosts collagen and elastin production, reduces fine lines, and accelerates healing.
  • Deep Infrared Light (up to 780 nm): Penetrates deeper into the skin to promote elasticity and long-term skin regeneration.
  • White Light (600 nm): Supports skin cell turnover, helping sensitive or eczema-prone skin recover after active nights.

Using LED light therapy on rest days maximises your skin’s healing response and reduces irritation. For women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, it’s one of the most effective ways to encourage firmness and reduce signs of ageing - especially when combined with the right topicals.

The DermaGlow LED & EMS Mask includes both red and deep infrared light - a crucial point, since many at-home masks only offer near-infrared (around 850 nm), which targets muscles but doesn’t provide the same deep skin rejuvenation benefits as deep infrared (up to 780 nm).


Add EMS for Enhanced Firming

One of the most overlooked benefits of tools like the DermaGlow is EMS (electrical muscle stimulation).

Used 2–3 times a week (including recovery nights), EMS gently tones the underlying facial muscles - helping to lift jowls, firm the neck, and reduce sagging. For women experiencing loss of elasticity around the lower face or turkey neck, this can complement your topicals and LED therapy beautifully.


Can You Overdo Skin Cycling?

Yes - especially if your skin is already dry or sensitive. Some women over 40 find that a 4-night cycle is too frequent. You might try a 5- or 6-night cycle (e.g. exfoliation once a week, retinol once a week, 4 recovery nights).

Always listen to your skin. If you’re using LED therapy regularly, especially with soothing modes like yellow light or green light, your skin may need fewer exfoliants overall.


Adapting Skin Cycling for Common Concerns After 40

Here’s how to modify your cycle based on your skin concern:

  • Wrinkles & Fine Lines: Retinol + red/deep infrared light + EMS
  • Loss of Firmness: Add EMS and collagen-stimulating red light 2–3x per week
  • Rosacea: Avoid strong acids, prioritise white and green light therapy
  • Eczema: Skip exfoliation, use white light and barrier creams nightly
  • Dullness: Try a gentle exfoliant weekly and follow with yellow light


Final Thoughts

Skin cycling is not just a trend - it’s a smart, science-backed way to get better results from your routine while protecting your skin barrier. For women over 40, combining this method with LED therapy and EMS is a powerful way to treat multiple concerns simultaneously, from collagen loss to inflammation.

Consistency is key, but so is choosing the right tools. While many masks offer limited functionality, DermaGlow products are designed specifically with mature and sensitive skin in mind - combining red, deep infrared, and white light modes with EMS to enhance skin cycling results, without overloading the skin.