What is skincare pilling, exactly?Updated a year ago
Skincare pilling is what happens when your skincare product clumps up in tiny balls or flecks after you’ve rubbed it on. It’s pretty annoying, especially in the daytime when you’re hoping to look presentable.
It usually occurs when you layer several products, like moisturizer and sunscreen or sunscreen and primer. Sometimes, the way the different products are formulated means that when they come in contact with each other, certain ingredients end up binding together and losing their serum or cream texture, which results in those little clumps.
Peeling vs Pilling
Don’t confuse skincare pilling with peeling, which is when the skin itself peels away or visibly sheds. Peeling can be a normal reaction when starting on an exfoliating or skin-renewing active like retinol and AHA, or it can be a side effect of skin barrier disruption.
The two terms sound similar, which is already confusing. It doesn’t help that the clumps of pilling skincare can look similar to flakey, peeling dead skin.
To identify if it’s your skin coming off or your skincare clumping, examine your skin while it’s clean, or even rub it gently. If there’s visible flakiness, it’s your skin peeling, which may require easing up on the actives in your routine or identifying if you’re dealing with dehydration, skin sensitivity, or a specific skin condition.