Is Skin Fasting the Secret to Clear, Refreshed Skin? We Asked Experts

For some, skincare is a 10-step process, morning and night. Which occasionally makes us wonder: Are we going overboard with the products? Cue skin fasting, a rising trend over the past few years, and your skin's very own version of a detox cleanse. To find out more about the pared-down skincare routine—or lack thereof—we tapped top skincare experts. Read on to get their lowdown on all things skin fasting.

What Is Skin Fasting?

“Skin fasting is taking a break from all of your current skincare products or routine to give your skin time to breathe, rest, and reset,” explains board-certified dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky, MD. “Theoretically, it allows your skin to naturally function the way it was intended to without the help of skincare products.”

How It Works

While the concept is fairly straightforward, the methodology can vary from person to person. “Like food-related fasting, there can be different levels of how much you eliminate and for how long,” says Karen Fernandez, lead esthetician at SkinSpirit. “The theory is to let your skin rebuild its protective stratum corneum layer to foster better skin health and resilience. It can also be a good way to detect products that are causing irritation, breakouts, or other skin problems.”

While information as to what products work best for certain skin types, what products work best with one another, and what products you should avoid all exist, it’s easy to get caught up with new launches, fads, and trends. Skin fasting doesn’t have to be a full elimination of your skincare products; sometimes, it can be as simple as phasing out one product at a time to test what works best for your skin type. Similar to following an elimination diet because you've been experiencing adverse reactions where you remove certain foods for a length of time to discern which ones are causing negative effects. When you start to introduce each thing back in– whether it's food or skincare– you'll see how your body reacts and be able to decide if you should cut it out for good.

Who It's For

“Those with skin sensitivities may benefit from skin fasting,” says Fernandez. “It gives the skin time to not have any active ingredients that can trigger inflammation.” She adds that skin fasting is more beneficial to those with dry skin and that oily and acne-prone skin will not benefit from a full skin fast of any length.

Any person experiencing trouble with their daily skincare routine can also benefit from a less severe form of skin fasting by eliminating one product at a time until the skin irritant is identified. “Anyone can try skin fasting, especially those who feel like their skin needs a reboot,” says Natalie Aguilar, a dermatological nurse, celebrity aesthetician, and the founder of N4 Skincare. “It is especially beneficial for those experiencing more blemishes, dryness, or irritation than usual.”

“What I recommend is occasionally just using the basics [cleanser, SPF] and giving your skin time to rest and rebuild," adds Fernandez. This will keep your fasting from becoming a disaster that sets you back in your fight against acne or any other skin disorder.”

Who Should Avoid

“I do not recommend skin fasting for those who have skin disorders like eczema, uncontrolled acne, rosacea, melasma, or other skin disorders that do require topical products to help,” says Dr. Zubritsky. “I am not a fan of the cold turkey, total elimination of all skincare products at once, especially if you have a skin condition that requires active ingredients.”

“It is advisable to speak to your dermatologist or prescribing physician about taking a break from any prescription products that you are currently using, as some should not be stopped,” adds Aguilar. “Not protecting your skin with sunscreen [is a risk]. If you've used any acids in the last three days, especially retinol, then you must continue to wear sunscreen and limit sun exposure.” Those who have skincare routines that work may want to skip this method, too.

Skin Fasting Tips 

Customize Your Approach

“Skin fasting is unique to the individual,” says Aguilar. “Some slowly eliminate products while others go cold turkey.”

“For a complete skin fast, you stop using all of your skincare products entirely,” adds Fernandez. "No cleansing or toning, or applying serums, hydrators, or moisturizers. Letting your skin’s own natural sebum [oil] do all the balancing and protecting is the main action.” It’s important to listen to your skin throughout the process, which can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks according to Dr. Zubritsky.

Stick to the Basics vs. Going 'Cold Turkey'

“I recommend sticking to the basics like cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen, and eliminating all other products cold turkey,” says Aguilar, offering a different angle on skin fasting. “If you’re going to eliminate sunscreen, then you should eliminate sun exposure as well.” HoweverDr. Zubritsky says that if skin you're fasting, you should at least wear sunscreen every day. "That is one step that is non-negotiable," she stresses.

“Eliminating all products can potentially wreak havoc on your skin, so this is something that I don’t recommend,” Dr. Zubritsky tells us. “For example, if you stop washing your face with a cleanser, dirt, debris, makeup, and oil can build up, resulting in more breakouts.”

The Results

While skin fasting may appear to work in the short term, skin could become tolerant eventually. “Skin is very smart and will become resilient over time,” Fernandez notes.

According to board-certified dermatologist Papri Sarkar, MD, skin issues can have more than one root cause. "Acne, for instance, has multiple causes, including hormones, genetics, oil production, etc." So, while removing something the skin doesn't tolerate well could work for some, it might not work for others. "The triggers are different for each patient."

Side Effects

Side effects will vary depending on your skin type, as well as your skin fasting method (e.g., eliminating all products or only some). For instance, if you have dry skin and remove your moisturizer, this may exacerbate dryness, albeit initially. On the other hand, those with acne-prone skin may experience breakouts and skin purging. Finally, if you use products to address your specific skincare concerns, like dullness, you may temporarily notice your complexion has lost some of its glow. This is the result of having removed ingredients, such as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, that would have combated these symptoms.

The Final Takeaway

Ultimately, skin fasting is successful on a case-by-case basis. The method is not a one-size-fits-all process, and listening to your skin in real-time is the safest way to proceed when trying out skin fasting. “You can explore what your skin might be lacking, or have too much of. It’s also a great way to test if your current products are truly working for you," says Aguilar.

“If one wants to try this, I do recommend slowly taking away one product at a time to see how your skin reacts,” says Dr. Zubritsky. “Skin fasting in the sense of 'detoxing' your skin has no physiological or scientific basis.”