We can all relate to the simple joy of freshly exfoliated skin that is as smooth as a baby’s bottom and free of those pesky strawberry-like bumps. Given the praise skin exfoliation has gotten over the past decade and the increased popularity of scrubbers and skin masks, it’s no surprise that some of us have gotten a bit carried away. Over-exfoliating our skin is a common mishap that can cause discomfort and even damage to our sensitive skin.
If you’re suffering from excessively dry, irritated skin, your exfoliating routine could be the culprit. Keep reading to discover the symptoms of over-exfoliation and how to recover quickly.
Symptoms of Over-Exfoliated Skin
When we get a little too enthusiastic about ridding ourselves of dead skin cells (ew!), we can accidentally cause more harm than good. Over-exfoliation can result from exfoliating too frequently or with too harsh ingredients.
Symptoms of over-exfoliated skin can vary but most commonly include:
- Redness, irritation, and/or peeling
- Dry patches of skin
- New sensitivity to skincare products
- Increased oil production
If you’ve ever gone a little crazy with your face scrubber, you know the unpleasant consequence of an over-exfoliated face.
Some common over-exfoliated face symptoms include:
- Itchy facial skin
- A burning sensation all over your face
- A tight, wax-like texture
How to Treat Over-Exfoliated Skin
You might be miserable now dealing with your over-exfoliated skin, but don’t worry– there are super easy ways to heal your skin ASAP. Here are a few easy peasy ways to speed up recovery and ease the misery of over-exfoliation.
Stop Exfoliating (For Now)
If your skin is showing signs of over-exfoliation, the obvious step to take is to stop exfoliating. Give yourself a few weeks to recover and regenerate new skin cells. The average time it takes for our skin to have a new regenerative growth cycle is four weeks, so aim for about a month-long break from exfoliating.
Avoid Harsh Ingredients
Just like with healthy skin, over-exfoliated skin can become easily inflamed and irritated from products containing harsh ingredients.
While your skin is healing, take extra care to avoid common chemicals like:
- Parabens
- Fragrance
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Formaldehyde
Instead, get back to basics with your beauty routine and opt for a gentle cleanser with natural ingredients. Also, make sure to use a mild moisturizer and avoid toners, which can be drying.
Keep Your Skin Hydrated
It’s always important to keep your skin moisturized and hydrated, but it’s even more critical when recovering from over-exfoliation.
Over-exfoliating can damage your skin’s protective barrier, causing dryness and irritation. To help heal this barrier, regularly apply a moisturizing cream to your skin. Doing this creates a moisture barrier and protects it against further damage. Some moisturizers are better than others when it comes to restoring skin that’s been over-exfoliated. You want to look for moisturizers that contain ingredients known for their restorative properties.
Use Products With the Right Ingredients
Your over-exfoliated skin needs some serious TLC to recover. Luckily, there are a lot of great products on the market that contain ingredients to help speed recovery and heal damaged skin.
When healing from over-exfoliation, your skin could use products with these ingredients:
- Peptides
- Ceramides
- Amino Acids
- Antioxidants
Another major player in the skin recovery game is Vitamin C. Vitamin C is often praised for its ability to curb the sniffles, but it’s also a powerful antioxidant for your skin as well.
Add Vitamin C Serum to Your Skincare Routine
Vitamin C has become wildly popular in skincare products over the past few years, thanks to its incredible restorative and antioxidant powers. Additionally, vitamin C has been shown to promote collagen production and ward off fine lines. You can find it in many products from almost every major skincare brand. Although moisturizing creams are great, when you need an extra dose of vitamin C, you need to use a good quality serum.
So, how do you choose the best vitamin C serum?
There are so many Vitamin C products out there; how’s a gal supposed to know which is best? Vitamin C comes in many varieties, and each kind has its beauty benefit. To ensure your vitamin C serum can get the job done, you want to look for a high-quality form. Kakadu plum is one of the most concentrated forms of vitamin C on the planet, and it just so happens to be found in our Glow Berries Dreamy Glow Drops serum. Use this little miracle in a bottle 3x a week after cleansing your skin for dewy, healthy skin.
Vitamin C serum will get you on the fast track for healing your over-exfoliated skin, but its benefits don’t stop there. Vitamin C is having a major moment in skincare, and there are lots of reasons why. Check out our Verified Vitamin C Guide for Glowing Skin post to learn how vitamin C can help give your skin a glow-up.
So, there you have it. Now you know what to look for if you suspect you overdid it on the exfoliating and how to help your skin recover. To learn even more skincare tips and tricks, or discover your new beauty BFF, check out more from our blog’s Skin Concerns or Skin Routine categories.
