Why do some skincare products cause peeling?

Similar to flaky skin, pilling is characterized by the formation of small clumps of product on the skin's surface, whether immediately after application or several hours later when you touch your skin. While there is no well-defined cause for this phenomenon, here are some factors that may indicate skin pilling.

1. Non-compliance with the order of product application. If you apply a moisturizer before a facial serum, the latter may remain on the skin. Indeed, when applied incorrectly, the cream can limit or even prevent the serum from penetrating the skin, resulting in small granules under the fingers during application.

2. Use of specific ingredients in products. High molecular weight hyaluronic acid, biopolymers, xanthan gum (thickener), acrylates, talc, iron oxide, mineral sunscreens... certain unique ingredients can cause pilling at high concentrations. They tend to create a film on the skin's surface that promotes the formation of small granules when another product is applied.

3. Skin not adequately cleansed or exfoliated. Pilling can occur when the skin has not been properly cleansed or exfoliated. Indeed, dead cells and impurities that accumulate on the skin can make the absorption of skincare products more difficult and also mix with the products leading to the formation of clumps.

4. Characteristics of the skin. Your individual skin type can be a fluff factor, although no justification explains this issue.

Although it may resemble skin peeling, pilling is not the same as desquamation, which refers to the small flakes of dead skin that spontaneously detach from the epidermis. It is not a skin reaction, especially if no other clinical signs have appeared (redness, tightness, irritation, etc.).