TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING: WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE OVER-EXFOLIATED

EXFOLIATION IS A BENEFICIAL AND ESSENTIAL PROCESS FOR YOUR SKIN'S HEALTH 

Exfoliating is crucial for maintaining healthy, radiant skin. It helps remove dead skin cells, bringing out your natural glow and supporting your skin barrier. But because of the variety of methods available, it’s generally recommended to exfoliate only two or three times a week to prevent over-exfoliation and skin irritation.

WHAT IF YOU'VE OVER EXFOLIATED?

Read on for simple tips to heal your complexion quickly.

WHAT KEEPS SKIN HEALTHY?

The outermost layer of your skin, known as the skin barrier, plays a vital role in keeping skin healthy. It’s your primary defense against toxins and pollutants, helping you maintain a balanced complexion. But what exactly makes up this barrier?

Think of your skin barrier like a brick wall: the skin cells are bricks, and the barrier is the mortar holding it all together. This "mortar" consists of lipids and ceramides that naturally keep your skin hydrated and nourished. Part of keeping skin healthy is regular exfoliation to sweep away dead cells, allowing fresh, healthy ones to surface. This process also keeps your skin barrier functioning optimally.

However, like all good things, exfoliating should be done in moderation. Exfoliating two or three times a week helps maintain your skin’s health without stripping away its moisture and damaging the barrier.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’VE OVER-EXFOLIATED?

Signs of over-exfoliation (whether from chemical or physical exfoliants) include redness, dryness, and irritation. You may even feel tingling or stinging when applying a moisturizer. For those with sensitive skin, over-exfoliating may cause rashes or dry patches that look like eczema. This happens because over-exfoliation strips your skin of essential moisture and lipids, increasing the risk of irritation and sensitivity.

It’s essential to find an exfoliator that suits your skin type to keep your skin healthy and avoid over-exfoliating.

HOW TO REPAIR YOUR BARRIER

If you’ve over-exfoliated, don’t worry! The good news is that skin is amazing at self-repair given time. Here are three easy ways to help restore your skin barrier after over-exfoliating:

1. CLEANSE

Our sulfate-free MOISTURIZING WASH with chlorophyll, fennel, and seaweed provides a gentle, pH-balanced cleanse that doesn’t strip your skin’s essential moisture. For a deeper cleanse, try our MANDARIN MELT CLEANSING BALM with manuka honey, Vitamin E, and sea buckthorn. This rich balm dissolves makeup, dirt, and SPF while nourishing your skin barrier, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to repair over-exfoliated skin.

Pro Tip: Cleanse your face only once a day, preferably at night. In the morning, a light splash of toner will help keep your skin’s microbiome balanced.

2. NOURISH 

Replenishing lipids and ceramides in your skin is essential to help the barrier recover. Our BAKUCHIOL WONDER SERUM hydrates and strengthens skin with bakuchiol, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, which help bind cells together and promote a healthy, glowing complexion.

3. MOISTURIZE

Moisturizing supplies your skin with essential hydration and lipids to keep your barrier intact. THE CREAM, our top-selling product, is loaded with botanical antioxidants, organic phytonutrients, and rejuvenating ingredients like jojoba oil, ylang-ylang, CoQ10, and green tea. Every ingredient is chosen to nourish and protect your skin barrier, helping you achieve a dewy, radiant glow.

READY TO EXFOLIATE AGAIN?

Once your skin feels fully healed, it’s safe to start exfoliating again—but go slowly. Test what works best for you, and monitor how your skin reacts. You might begin with one exfoliation session per week, gradually increasing to two or three times if needed.

A gentle start with a chemical exfoliator like glycolic acid or fruit enzymes helps dissolve dried sebum in pores. Our DEEP ENZYME CLEANSE combines glycolic acid with pineapple enzymes for a light exfoliation, supporting collagen production for cellular turnover. It’s a popular favorite, including with designer Rebecca Minkoff.

For gentle physical exfoliation, try our BAMBOO REFINING POLISH with aspen bark salicylic acid, bamboo, aloe, green tea, rosehip seed, and kaolin clay to unclog pores and reveal radiant, healthy skin.

To learn more about the best products for your skin type, take our SKIN QUIZ. And if you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us or call us at (727) 286-7684. 

We’d love to hear from you!

XOXO,

Denice