Before you run off and attempt to give up exfoliating all together – don’t. It’s so essential.
It keeps your skin healthy, your pores clear and helps you say bye to any unwanted dead skin cells… in turn keeping your regular skin cell turnover happy, and your face feeling glowy and bright.
Plus, when you are exfoliating properly (FYI: how often is very individual based on skin type and is hard to determine) your serums and moisturisers will work more efficiently and penetrate a lot better into the skin.
However, when you exfoliate, you want it to leave your skin looking fresh and healthy, not red/irritated or sensitised.
So, let’s take note of some of the common signs you may be over-exfoliating below.
Signs of Over Exfoliating
What does over-exfoliated skin look like? These are some of the common signs of over-exfoliating
1. Blemishes & Breakouts.
You might actually be thinking that exfoliating your skin is helping you deal with your acne (which it can), however when you’ve over-exfoliated, this tiny step can actually be the cause of your acne too.
You see, over-exfoliating weakens the skin barrier and when your skin barrier is compromised?
Your face just won’t have the power to defend itself against bacteria and infections leading to… you guessed it – developing acne.
A strong, healthy barrier is a must in the fight against breakouts so take note of your pimples.
Are they not going away no matter how much you exfoliate? Maybe it’s time you stripped it back and focused on hydration instead.
2. Redness, Sensitivity & Irritation.
Have you ever exfoliated your skin and been left with a red face? It’s super common.
However, if your face remains red for the days that follow, or you can’t seem to tolerate/it stings to use your usual serums, then maybe the exfoliator you used was too harsh for your skin.
Which is why it’s important to know the strength of the products that you’re using, are suited to your skin type.
In many instances sensitised, red or irritated skin is something that can be avoided (this is also why it’s important not to blindly follow an Insta model’s skincare routine, hoping for the same result.)
Check out this YouTube video on how to fix your damaged skin barrier below.