In theory, skin fasting helps your skin function naturally — without external assistance. During this time, your skin is expected to restore a healthy and natural protective layer, making it more resilient to external factors. The skin’s own natural oils keep it moisturized, so there’s no need to worry about a lack of hydration during those days.  

Many people have likely practiced this before — just unconsciously, without knowing the name for it. We all have days when we skip makeup and even forget to apply face cream. The goal of skin fasting is to do this mindfully, meaning you intentionally observe the changes and reactions that start happening in your skin. The recommended duration for a skin fast is between 3 and 7 days. The first few days are usually the easiest, but afterward, your skin may start reacting to the lack of external support — it might become drier or oilier, and small pimples or blemishes may appear. This is completely natural, as your skin begins to cleanse and renew itself — a kind of detox effect. During this process, the skin seeks balance, and its natural defense mechanisms start to function again. Many people don’t realize how many different products they use daily, or what their skin would actually be like without any of them. A skin fast is a great opportunity to observe how your skin truly reacts and what it needs.  

In addition to a full skin fast — where you stop using all products for a certain period — there’s also a gentler version. You can remove only some products, such as makeup, while keeping your skincare routine. There are many variations: for example, you could try cleansing your face for a week without applying any cream.
A skin fast can also help you identify how your skin reacts to specific products. Suppose you’re experiencing irritation or a rash and don’t know the cause — by removing products one by one, you can determine which one might be responsible.
Makeup and skincare products often contain a wide variety of ingredients, and many people are unaware of how skin-friendly these substances truly are — trusting the brand blindly. This applies even to natural cosmetics; unfortunately, the industry today is not as strictly regulated as it should be. Sometimes, even a product with only a few natural ingredients can be labeled as “natural cosmetics,” so it’s important to be informed and mindful about ingredients.

It’s also quite common for acne, eczema, and other inflammations to improve more quickly when no products are used on the skin. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should throw your entire beauty arsenal in the trash — rather, it’s a chance to reflect and determine what your skin truly needs and whether the ingredients in your products are actually beneficial.  

How to do a skin fast by eliminating all products?

Take a free weekend for yourself, or if possible, a few more days. During the days of the fast, you can cleanse your face in the morning and evening using only water. It’s good to slightly adjust your overall lifestyle during this period — drink plenty of water, do some light yoga, spend time outdoors, eat lightly with lots of fresh foods, and reduce your intake of caffeine and sugar. The most important thing is awareness — your mindfulness toward your skin during this time will give you answers about what to change afterward. Observe your skin and, if needed, take notes. You can even take a picture at the beginning and again at the end of the fast.  

What should you pay attention to? 

How your skin feels at the beginning of the fast. 

Whether your skin feels dry, oily, or balanced. 

What your pores look like. 

Whether there is any redness anywhere. 

Whether your skin feels elastic. 

Whether there are any pimples or comedones — and on which day they appeared and disappeared. 

What your skin tone or complexion looks like.

How you feel overall — what you miss the most, and what you don’t miss at all.

The spring sun is already quite intense, and when spending time outdoors, it’s a good idea to use a light SPF cream to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UVA and UVB rays. 

Skin fasting is also commented on by natural cosmetologist Katre Abel.

@rosehippie_

“Any kind of fast is a cleansing of both body and mind — an opportunity for a new direction or a fresh start.”

I would always recommend doing these small rebirths with a clear intention. If you don’t yet know what that intention should be, simply notice when and why the impulse arose within you to begin this journey. From there, you will find the answers to what should be left behind in your life — and what you wish to create moving forward —  anew, pure.

Skin fasting seems to primarily support themes related to self-love, as well as the various roles and masks we wear. And if we consider that the skin, as an organ, is connected to the heart center, it allows us to consciously heal and lighten the matters and burdens of the heart.

It feels like the skin can finally breathe again — and you can breathe again too. 

On the other hand, summer is approaching with its wonderful possibilities for skincare — sun-charged floral waters, spring water, dew drops, berry masks… Such a fast is a beautiful way to prepare, to enhance the skin’s purity and sensitivity, allowing it to fully receive the gentle energies and powerful effects offered by nature and plants.