Skin fasting is a natural solution in its own right. It is, as the term implies, a fast: a way to repair skin, since too many skincare products, and too many products in general, contain too many chemicals, dyes, additives, perfumes, and allergens that irritate and inflame the skin and can intensify already painful skin conditions.
The fast is no different than a cleanse. Which means it is a chance to rid the body of the very things that ail it. Give it a reprieve from ingredients that have little or no value for the body, a respite from excess consumption of certain ingredients, even natural or healthy ingredients. Too much of a good thing can in fact be a bad thing; a thing to acknowledge, a thing to address, and a thing to avoid.
1. What is Skin Fasting?
The purpose is skin fasting is to give the skin a sabbatical, so to speak. Skin fasting can also cause you to be more aware of how you treat (or fail to treat) your skin. It also forces many to recognize how sensitive their skin is, how susceptible the skin is to injury and infection, and how soft the skin can be. A skin fast is a way to start a new habit and break an old, harmful one. The body has muscle memory and can form routine, but like anything that requires repetition, a routine can lose value. This concept is applicable to your skincare routine as well. Routinization leads to some degree of ruination. When your skin regularly absorbs the same sprays, washes, and creams, containing the same chemicals and toxins, it can damage the skin, require additional treatments, and cause both physical and fiscal ruin. Simply stated, it costs a lot not to fast.
2. Why is Skin Fasting so Popular?
Skin fasting is becoming more mainstream in the West, and it is a longstanding tradition in Japan. Japanese customs regarding skincare, including the artisanal practice of soapmaking, are centered around educating consumers about health and wellness and not necessarily just making money and selling products. Product and company transparency is becoming more normalized and social media and news outlets allows us to talk about this issue with greater ease and frequency. Speaking to peers and readers expands that conversation and highlights natural solutions to otherwise insoluble health-rated matters.
3. What Precautions Should Someone Take Before a Skin Fast?
If you have a serious or chronic skin condition that requires medical attention or if you are currently under a doctor’s care for a skin condition, talk to your health practitioner before you begin a skin fast. It is not recommended for those who have skin disorders like eczema, uncontrolled acne, rosacea, melasma, or other skin disorders that require topical products to do skin fasting. Many skincare professionals are not a fan of total elimination of all skincare products at once, especially if you have a skin condition that requires active ingredients.
For an effective skin fast, it is recommended to stop using most products and try switching to just a gentle cleanser and a lipid-rich moisturize. Hold off on any chemical barrier sunscreens and switch to a physical barrier sunscreen that contains zinc or titanium oxide. Any other chemicals, including retinol or hydroquinone, should be stopped, too.
4. What are the Benefits of Skin Fasting?
The benefits range from more supple and hydrated skin to just overall better-looking skin. In this case, abstinence can be very fruitful, indeed. It can spare you from irritants that damage or dry your skin, while freeing you from a debt paid in pounds of your own flesh through itching, scratching, and stress.
Skin fasting is a great way to calm skin down and rebuild its lipid barrier. Your lipid barrier is the outermost layer of skin and a strong barrier that “prevents allergens and particulate matter from pollution from entering and harming skin, and also protects skin’s moisture,
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.
5. What to do After a Skin Fast?
Invest in natural solutions. Choose quality products over mass merchandised soaps, sprays, shampoos, and washes that, pardon the expression, do more to clean your pockets than cleanse your skin. Ask questions and read ingredients lists because you have a right to know what is or is not in a product.
