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. There is an enormous emphasis on exfoliation in the skin care industry right now. Maybe too much emphasis.
Can exfoliation be over done? It can indeed be over done.
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
Use No Exfoliation Products, at All!
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, such as retinol, that have exfoliating properties. Check your labels.
There are many gentle products, cruelty free of course, I recommend for over exfoliated dehydrated skin. My Amazon Affiliate links are included to help you find these great products.
Morning Cleansing
Just splash with warm water, pat dry and spray on a healing toner. I love YonKa Lotion PS
to soothe and heal dehydrated skin. It is an amazing healing mist toner that contains essential oils and glycerin which attracts water to the skin from humidity in the air.
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!
Morning Moisturizing
Use a gentle, basic moisturizer that contains a minimal amount of ingredients. Make sure it does not contain retinol, 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.
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.
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 glycerin, peptides and amino acids.
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 which makes it a lightweight product that improves the look of the skin without looking cakey on dry, flakey skin.
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 time
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. No physical exfoliating products meaning products with grains. Grains scratch the skin causing micro abrasions which lead to inflammation, sensitivity and dehydration. The abrasives in a physical exfoliating product include rice, almonds, seeds, salt and sugar.
Use only liquid or cream exfoliating products on your face.
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant
This is an all time favorite product for me! This liquid exfoliant contains Salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid) to gently remove dead cells. Use it in the evening instead of your toner. Pour a small amount on a cotton ball and apply it to your face. It is suitable for all skin types. For very sensitive skin types, I recommend using it every other day.
Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, Melissa Officinalis (Balm Mint) Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria (Meadowsweet) Extract, Alcohol Denat., Ethyl Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Fragrance, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA
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! See me at Styling Point in Media, Pa for a healing YonKa facial.
xo
Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist
PS: Thank you for using my amazon affiliate links💋
I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you that keep my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸
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