Over-exfoliation is the most common self-inflicted skincare injury, the result of too many acids and scrubs stripping the barrier faster than it can rebuild, and its signs are easy to recognize once you know them. Tightness, stinging, redness, and a shiny, almost plastic-looking surface all point to a barrier that has been polished past its limits, and the fix is to stop, not to add more.The signs build gradually, which is why people miss them. The first hint is usually a stinging sensation when a previously fine product touches the skin, followed by persistent tightness, flaking, and an increase in redness. The skin may also look unusually smooth and shiny, a sign the protective top layer has been worn thin, and breakouts can appear as the damaged barrier lets irritants in.The recovery protocol is subtraction, not addition. Stop all exfoliating acids, retinoids, and vitamin C immediately, switch to a gentle, low-foam cleanser, and apply a simple ceramide-rich moisturizer several times a day.
Sunscreen remains essential, because a thinned barrier is
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