Over Exfoliated Dehydrated Skin

Exfoliation. It's a big deal in skin care. Exfoliation removes dead skin which makes our skin look younger, helps prevent clogged pores and promotes collagen production.

Can it be over done? It can.

Especially in the winter when the skin is in a dryer, more delicate condition.

Signs that your skin is over exfoliated:

Dehydrated, dry and tight feeling skin
Skin has a burning sensation
Skin care products burn when applied
Sensitive, irritated, rashy areas
Flaking
Redness

If your skin is feeling this way, stop all forms of exfoliation and use a gentle, minimal skin care routine to let the skin calm and heal.

Skin Care Products to heal Over Exfoliated Dehydrated Skin

No Exfoliation Products 
There are a lot of exfoliating products and exfoliating ingredients hidden in skin care and makeup products.

Exfoliation products include ultrasonic facial cleansing brushes, grainy scrubs, liquid exfoliators such as salicylic acid and alpha hydroxy acids, Retin A, Renova, loofahs, washcloths, even most facial masks do some exfoliation.

Foundations, bb creams, cc creams and moisturizers can contain anti aging ingredients that have exfoliating properties. Check your labels.

Morning Cleansing 
Just splash with water, pat dry and spray on a healing toner. I love YonKa Lotion PS to soothe and heal dehydrated skin. It is amazing healing mist toner that contains essential oils and glycerin.

YonKa Lotion PS

YonKa Lotion PS is a soothing healing mist. It is called lotion but it is actually a toner full of a Yonka's signature blend of essential oils. It's scent is devine!

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Morning Moisturizing
Use a gentle, basic moisturizer that contains a minimal amount of ingredients. Make sure it does not contain salicylic acid or hydrox acids. Apply it right after your toner to seal in moisture. 

Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Sensitive Skin Daily Calming Moisturizer 

This gentle moisturizer contains zinc oxide which is both a sunscreen and skin healer. It also contains healing aloe, cucumber extract, sweet almond oil and green tea to calm and heal sensitive skin.

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Click here to read about the Yonka Sensitive line

Nighttime Cleansing 
Use a gentle moisturizing facial cleanser that contains a minimal amount of ingredients. Make sure it does not contain salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy acids. 

Use your cleanser in the evening to remove dirt and makeup. Wet your face, apply the cleanser with your hands, massage it over your face to loosen dirt and makeup. Rinse it off well and pat dry. Do not use a washcloth. Spray on a healing toner.

 Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Gentle Milk Cleanser

This is a very gentle facial cleanser containing aloe, green tea and cucumber extract to gently remove makeup dirt and excess oils without stripping the skin.

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Nighttime Moisturizing 
Slather on the emollients! Try shea butter, coconut oil or avocado oil. Apply your emollient product generously right after cleansing and toning for overnight skin healing.

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream

This fragrance free healing cream calms, heals and restores sensitive skin with glycerine, peptides and amino acids.

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Makeup
It will be difficult to find a liquid makeup, bb cream or cc cream that doesn't contain some sort of exfoliating ingredient like retinol. Also, foundation doesn't apply well to dehydrated flaky skin. It tends to cake up. 

Use your fingers, not a brush, for gentle foundation application. Pat with a soft sponge to blend. Avoid applying powder makeups at this time. They with make your skin look even more dry.

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF 30

 Complexion Rescue is a tinted moisturizer so it is lightweight product that improves the look of the skin without look cakey on dry, flakey skin. 

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More Help for Over Exfoliated Dehydrated Skin

Use a Humidifier 
A humidifier is a great device for adding moisture to the air in your living space. The moist air will help the skin retain moisture and heal.

No Hot Water 
Hot water dehydrates your irritated skin even more. Quick warm showers are your best option.

Eat Healing Foods
Add healthy skin healing foods to your diet.

Flax seed oil

Take Vitamin D

Omega 3 Fatty Acids:  Soybeans, walnuts, flax seeds and salmon

Omega 6 Fatty Acids:  Cereals and grains, oils: flax seed, soybean, corn, sunflower, cottonseed, black currant and evening primrose and egg yolks

Mono-unsaturated fats- Avocados, olives, olive oil, nuts

Give your skin a good month of healing time. You can go back to exfoliating once your skin is healed but with a less zealous routine. Your old exfoliation routine will only cause a problem again.

Gentle Exfoliating Products

Use only gentle exfoliating products once your skin is healed.

I highly recommend Beautycounter's Overnight Resurfacing Peel as a super gentle, yet effective, liquid peel. It will make your skin look better with no irritation. It's one of my all time favorite products!

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Triheptanoin, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Diheptyl Succinate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Citric Acid, Linoleic Acid, Malic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Phytic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Gluconic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tartaric Acid, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Vernonia Appendiculata Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Tocopherol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arginine, Coco-Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Arachidyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Phenoxyethanol. Limonene+, Linalool+, Citral+, Citronellol+, Geraniol+

+ Naturally Occurring in Essential Oils & Natural Materials As Defined by International Organization for Standardization 

I hope my tips help your over exfoliated, dehydrated skin become moist and beautiful again!

Brides, I can help you get your skin glowing, beautiful and healthy for your wedding day makeup application!

xo

Jill

Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

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 Wedding, special occasion or everyday makeup and skin care services available in the Philadelphia, Pa. area. Visit my makeup page for more information!