Don’t Overdo It

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should exfoliate, as the skin’s sensitivity and turnover can vary from person to person. But, if you find your face is red, tight, flaky, or itchy after exfoliating, those are signs your skin needs a break, so sideline the product until you can slowly reintroduce it to a more skin-friendly cadence.

Listen To Your Skin

We’ve talked about how important it is to listen to your skin — not the one-ear-on-the-conversation, half-concentrating-on-something-else kind of listening, but the undivided attention kind. Your skin is a pretty clear communicator when it comes to feeling and looking off, and the more you pay attention, the sooner you can quash any irritation before it gets out of hand.

It’s also important to find an exfoliant that works for your skin type. If you have sensitive or dry skin, physical exfoliants (like scrubs or polishes) or chemical exfoliators may cause irritation.

Don’t Over-Scrub

Our faces endure a lot of stress throughout the day. Makeup, sweat, excess oil, bacteria and UV rays all work to clog pores and cause blackheads, whiteheads and other blemishes.

It’s important to exfoliate regularly to get rid of these dead skin cells and keep your pores clear, but too much scrubbing can actually do more harm than good. Banner – University Medicine dermatologist Rebecca Thiede shares some common signs you might be over-exfoliating your face and how to get back on track.

Don’t Over-Moisturise

Using too much moisturizer can actually be counterproductive, especially when it comes to oily skin. When too much moisturizer is applied to the face, it can clog pores and lead to blackheads, whiteheads, and acne spots.

Whether you have oily or dry skin, too much moisturizer can cause a buildup that combines with dirt, bacteria, and other irritants. It can also lead to inflammation, flaking, and itching.