Fasting glow after the juice cleanse?

The fasting glow exists as an experience, but it is not a scientifically proven effect. Many report fresher-looking skin after a few days of fasting. The reasons are likely very ordinary, namely more sleep, more fluids, and less alcohol, sugar, and stress. There is hardly any research specifically on the fasting glow.

A juice cleanse is therefore not a skincare program. However, it can provide a few days in which your skin has less to deal with. Our article do juice cleanses actually work? provides an honest assessment of what a cleanse can achieve in total.

Sleep, water, and rest

Those who talk about a fasting glow usually describe the same picture. On the third or fourth day, the skin appears less dull, and redness is less noticeable. This probably has more to do with the environment of the cleanse than the juice itself. During the cleanse days, you drink more, often go to sleep earlier, and cut out alcohol completely. Added to this are quieter days with fewer appointments.

Each of these points can show up in the mirror. In a study of 60 women, those who slept well had fewer signs of internal skin aging and a more stable skin barrier than poor sleepers (Study on sleep and skin, 2015). The fasting glow would then primarily be a glow of well-rested days.

What research says about the fasting glow

The body of research on the fasting glow is thin. A 2024 review examined how different forms of fasting affect skin issues such as acne or psoriasis. The researchers explicitly state that the literature is limited and often of low quality. The studies were small, and many participants did not respond at all (Review, 2024). Juice cleanses were not a specific focus there.

With water, the situation is a bit clearer. In a small study, 49 women drank about two liters of water more per day for a month. Their skin was subsequently measurably better hydrated, especially for those who had previously drunk very little (Palma et al., 2015). This is nothing more than an indication. For the fasting glow, this means that the fluids during the cleanse days likely contribute more than any individual ingredient.

The fasting glow is often explained by the gut. The idea behind the so-called gut-skin axis is that gut flora and skin influence each other. In fact, researchers often find altered gut flora in many skin conditions. However, whether this is a cause or a consequence remains open (Specialist article on the gut-skin axis, 2024). Reliable statements for healthy skin cannot be derived from this.

Furthermore, there is a finding that speaks against purely fruit-based juices. A small 2025 study found shifts in oral and gut flora after three days of a purely juice diet; the researchers see high sugar levels and a lack of fiber as the reason (US study, 2025). Those hoping for a fasting glow are therefore better off choosing a vegetable-focused cleanse. You can read more about the connection between gut and skin in our article on the gut-skin axis, and more about sugar in juice in the article on calories and sugar in a juice cleanse.

Not everyone experiences a fasting glow, and some experience the opposite at first. The same review describes that fasting can make skin dry and flaky and trigger spots (Review, 2024). During the first days of the cleanse, the body is adjusting, while at the same time lacking fat and protein from a normal diet. This can first show up on the lips, cheeks, or forehead.

A few dry patches are no reason for concern. It is a different matter if you have a severe rash, itching, or a known skin condition. In that case, discuss fasting with your dermatologist beforehand. Our article clarifies who a juice cleanse is suitable for.

Your skin doesn't need a new routine during your fasting days, but a calm one. That helps more than any new product.

• Drink enough water and herbal tea throughout the day, in addition to the juices.
• Maintain your routine with products you know, and don't test any new ones during the cleanse.
• Apply a richer moisturizer to dry areas in the morning and evening.
• Get to sleep earlier, even if the fasting glow isn't your main goal.
• Remember sun protection, as even well-nourished skin needs it.

Many also use the cleanse days as a little ritual for themselves. An evening mask doesn't replace a proper skincare routine and won't promise a fasting glow, but it turns the cleanse into a conscious time-out. Our article on juice cleanse preparation shows you how to plan these days calmly. You can find all cleanses in our juice cleanse overview.

The fasting glow is primarily an experience, not a proven effect. What many perceive can be easily explained by sleep, water, calm, and less alcohol. There are exciting indications regarding the gut, but no definitive answers yet.

If your skin feels dry or unsettled during the fasting days, that is not unusual. Simply care for it gently, drink enough water, and take an honest look in the mirror on the last day. The most beautiful part of the fasting glow is the habits you keep afterward.