Skin fasting means to abstain from using any products of your skin. Yep, no toner, no moisturizer, not even sunscreen. According to Dr. Utsuki Ryu from Japan, when the skin is not “helped” by any product, it is forced to self-repair and normalize to its natural state, and this could help with a myriad of skin problems.
The concept is quite similar to fasting from food. When one has indulged too much, one should try to eat less to give the body some time to de-stress. When the skin becomes too reliant on skincare products, it will lose its ability to adapt to the environment. That means any changes to one’s health, her surroundings or the climate could wreak havoc. Reducing the application of skincare products may actually stimulate the skin to rebalance itself, thus becoming more resilient.
If you feel that your skincare products do not seem to be having any effects, you may be using too much of them, not too little. Your skin could be overwhelmed and has stopped absorbing them. The best thing to do at this time is a cleansing detox.
How to begin skin fasting: clean your face using only water, no other products. The water temperature should not be too warm, and it will help if you gently massage your face with your palm. When you are done, blot your face dry. The operative word is “gentle”. Don’t rub your face, don’t massage too hard, and be wary if the water pressure is too high.
Here is my skin fasting diary：
Day 1
I am washing my face with water only, both morning and night. The skin can naturally repel and excrete dirts, but you have to have a gentle hand and avoid rubbing. With no makeup or moisturizer, the skin feels a bit tight. It is a sign of dehydration, but it is not uncomfortable.
Day 2
Same as the previous day, but the skin tightness seem to have gone down.
Day 3
Again washing with water only, no make up, and I am staying indoor. The tightness is completely gone now–perhaps my skin has balanced itself now?
Day 4
I think my skin has reset — it no longer feels dry without the use of products, but my nose is definitely getting greasier and I can see black heads breeding in my pores. I can just about resist the urge to do something about them…
Day 5
I feel as if my skin has adapted to not having any products on it, but I can feel dead skin building up on my nose… I actually found a layer of white scum on my fingertips when I scratched my nose!
Day 6
I haven’t experienced any discomfort in the last five days, but this morning, I began cooking right after I washed my face, and the steam and fumes from cooking stung! Also, I can feel dead skin building up not just on my nose but on my chin as well.
Day 7
Last day of skin fasting. Aside from the buildup of dead skin, there has not been any issues. Also, I started cooking an hour after washing my face, and there was no more stinging from the kitchen fumes. I think the skin is just more sensitive immediately after washing, so it needs some time for natural sebum to form a protective barrier.
Day 8
Easing back to my normal routine, I washed my face with a cleanser and followed up with a toner, and I can’t wait any longer for a proper exfolitating scrub. Ahhhh, now my skin finally feels clean, but the scrub also burned my face a little and is now a bit red. I would suggest to hold off the scrubbing when you are just coming out from skin fasting, especially on more sensitive areas. The skin is still quite red by the time I go to bed, so after washing with a cleansing milk, I soaked some cotton with my toner for a cold compress. My skin feels so thirsty now…
Day 9
Everything back to my normal routine: toner, serum and lotion, all hydrating products. My skin is absorbing them like a sponge, but my makeup looks especially smooth.
I tried skin fasting when I was in a 14-day self-quarantine. Since I cannot go out, there was no need to put make up on, so it was easy for me to try this (non-)regimen. If you do need to head out, you are not supposed to use sunscreen, so be sure to wear a hat, put on your sunglasses and carry an umbrella, as you still need to protect your skin from UV rays.
If you feel that seven days is too long, you can try it for three. Any shorter, and you probably will not see any benefits. Also, try to pay attention to any changes to your skin during the course. You may want to gradually reduce the number of products you use to allow your skin to slowly adapt. If any conditions arise, you may want to seek advice from skin care professionals.
As for the effects of skin fasting, I feel that products seem to be absorbed better afterwards, and although I don’t see any obvious improvements, I would still say it is worth trying. Some people say skin fasting is particularly beneficial to those with over-reactive skin, but I think that it is a good exercise for skin the is in good condition to start with, especially when products don’t seem to be making any difference. Once or twice a year, free your skin from products and let it find its natural beauty.
Personally, I think skincare products hold huge benefits for the skin. The key is to find the right products and use them properly to help your skin achieve harmony.
