8 Signs Of Over-Moisturizing The Skin

Dry and chapped skin isn’t a sight to behold, but going overboard with moisturizing won’t do either. Today, there are many self-proclaimed ‘skin specialists’ promoting skin care products and giving conflicting advice about what you should or shouldn’t use on your skin.

But one thing that most seem to agree on is ‘moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.’ The only thing they don’t say is how much. But did you know that over-moisturizing can damage your skin?

Face moisturizer for dry skin is beneficial when used moderately. The excess unabsorbed product on your skin attracts undesired things and gives negative results.

Here are a couple of tell-tale signs that you’re over-moisturizing your skin:

1. Clogged Pores

Clogged pores are usually the first sign that it’s time to tone down on moisturizing. Your pores get clogged because the excess product on your skin that can’t be absorbed just sits on your skin. Since it’s too much for your skin to handle, your pores fight for air circulation in the event, forming blackheads, whiteheads, or acne.

2. Increased Breakouts On Your Skin

This happens after your pores are clogged. It’s safe to say one thing leads to another. Your skin constantly tries to warn you to stop over-moisturizing. In its effort to get rid of excess product, your skin rapidly breaks out. It’s so rapid that you could go to bed with clear skin and wake up with several pimples or uncontrollable acne.

3. Large Amounts Of Sebum Production

If you have naturally oily skin, your sebum production will be over the top when you over-moisturize. This will then bring imbalance to your skin’s sebum production. How will your skin react to this? Again, by causing acne or lots of blackheads and whiteheads. Getting rid of acne that has gotten out of hand may take time, especially if you don’t immediately realize that over-moisturizing is the problem.

over moisturizing skin

4. Excessively Dry Skin

It sounds ironic, especially because moisturizers are meant to add moisture to your skin, but it gravely affects your skin. Your skin naturally produces oil called sebum, and when you over-moisturize, oil production decreases, drying up your skin. If you have naturally dry skin, that’s a different case for which you should seek professional advice. Don’t self-prescribe because you might end up worsening your skin’s condition.

5. More Texture Or Bumps On Your Face

Your skin is naturally textured no matter how clear it is, but the excess texture or tiny bumps are an indication of over-moisturizing. These come as rash-like bumps all over the skin that are irritating and are sometimes reddish. They can spread really fast as you continue over-moisturizing your skin.

6. Tight Skin

Moisturizers are meant to preserve the moisture produced by your skin. The oil from your skin is what prevents itchiness and gives it plump and glow. When you over-moisturize, your skin lacks the ability to produce oil for itself. This is what tightens your skin and eventually causes dryness. Some call it entering the plastic phase because your skin’s elasticity gets compromised.

Over-moisturizing causes a ripple effect on your skin. Your skin can also be flaky and start to peel off. A tip for you, if even a part of your skin feels tight, it’s a sign.

7. Cakey Make-Up Even Without Products On Your Skin

Make-up is meant to blend with your skin and not look like you drowned in a pool of face foundation. If your make-up looks like you could scrape it off your face, it’s time to reduce your moisturizer. A little texture is normal, but you’re over-moisturizing when make-up doesn’t sit well on your face.

8. Inflamed Skin

Many things can cause skin inflammation, over-moisturizing being one of them. The skin will get stressed when your skin moisture competes for space with your moisturizer. The portion of the over-moisturized skin will become inflamed because there’s a lot of product but no place for absorption. Your skin will also be under pressure because nothing more can go in or out; that’s how you get skin inflammation.

Conclusion

Moisturizer is beneficial to your skin as it relieves dry skin and helps with the production of sebum, but the secret is in applying just enough. Your skin knows the amount of moisture it’s supposed to produce and how much more it can handle. If that balance is lost, everything that could go wrong goes wrong.

If you exhibit any or some of the above signs, know it’s time to tone down on your moisturizer. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you plan and prepare.