Cycle-syncing your routine

If you've noticed you only seem to get one good skin week a month, your menstrual cycle is often part of the story. As hormone levels rise and fall across the month, your skin can shift too, drier at some points, oilier at others. Cycle-syncing just means adjusting your routine to roughly follow those changes instead of being caught off guard by them.

The main hormones behind it are oestrogen (which rises in the first half of the cycle), progesterone (which climbs in the second half), and testosterone. You don't need to track them precisely. The phases are a useful enough map.

What each phase tends to look like

• Menstrual phase (the bleeding days): Hormones dip to their lowest, and skin can feel dry, dull, or a bit sensitive. A good moment to focus on comfort and hydration, like a richer moisturizer or a few drops of face oil.
• Follicular phase (just after your period): Oestrogen rises and skin often settles into a good place. If you want to introduce gentle actives like exfoliating acids or a retinoid, this can be a comfortable window to do it.
• Ovulation (mid-cycle): Skin often feels its most balanced and hydrated. You can usually keep things light here.
• Luteal phase (the run-up to your period): Oil production tends to climb, and this is when many people notice premenstrual breakouts. Lighter, non-clogging products and a gentle ingredient like a mild acid can help you stay ahead of it.

A gentle reality check

Every cycle is different, and some are irregular enough that pinning down an exact phase isn't realistic. So the most reliable version of this is simply listening to your skin: notice whether it feels dry, oily, or calm that day, and work from there. If breakouts are persistent, painful, or clearly tied to your hormones in a way that bothers you, a doctor or dermatologist can help you sort out what's going on.