Exfoliation is great — until it isn’t. Over-exfoliated skin is one of the most common self-inflicted skincare problems, and it masquerades as everything from "dryness" to "sudden sensitivity."
How to tell
Over-exfoliation looks like a damaged skin barrier: tightness, shininess, stinging, flaking, redness, and breakouts that appear after you ramped up acids or scrubs. A tell-tale sign is skin that looks "too smooth" and tight, then reacts to everything.
The fix
- Stop exfoliating immediately — no acids, no scrubs, no retinoids for at least 1–2 weeks.
- Go bare-bones: gentle cleanser, a rich barrier moisturiser, and daily SPF.
- Support repair with niacinamide and ceramides.
- Be patient — like most skincare, recovery takes weeks, not days.
Going forward
Most people exfoliate far too often. One AHA or BHA a few nights a week is plenty, and never layer two exfoliants — or an acid with a retinoid — in the same session (see which ingredients not to mix). Build it in our routine builder and it’ll warn you before you overdo it.