You really need to syne your skincare to your cycle

No doubt about it, cycle syncing is a buzzy trend—and for good reason.

- BY LISA DESANTIS

Adjusting your diet and workouts between your follicular and menstrual phases can boost your mood, improve your overall well-being and even help with pesky period problems (looking at you, cramps). And it turns out going with the, um, flow makes sense for your skincare lineup, too.

As your hormones fluctuate throughout the month, your complexion may respond better to different ingredients at different times (if you've ever experienced a pre-period breakout, you know what we mean).

While switching up your skincare as often as your sheets might sound like a lot, it's not about creating a totally new routine for each phase.

"Cycle syncing your skincare isn't about completely overhauling products every few days," shares Yanghee Paik, CEO of feminine health and skincare brand Rael. "It's about making small, intentional tweaks to your routine to align with your skin's fluctuating needs."

The key for most skin types is maintaining a consistent routine (aka a good cleanser, moisturizer and SPF) then rotating or introducing targeted products as needed. Have eczema or persistent acne? Try tracking your flare-ups to see if they align with specific points in your cycle. That way, you can discuss the patterns with your dermatologist to develop a tailored solution.