1. Using too much product 2. Using too many products 3. Laying on top of oil-based products 4. Oily-skin 5. Layering on top of silicone-based products 6. Using sunscreen that is water-resistant on top of water-based ingredients 7. Applying products too quickly (not absorbing fully)
I didn’t know what the pilling was. Wondering if it was exfoliating skin? Or perhaps maybe an inactive ingredient was “waxy”? Or maybe it was an oil based product reacting with a water based product.
@@margaretbruhn4376 are you mixing oil based and water based? I was doing that. Now I know I need to apply water based, then fully dry, then oil based.
As a rule of thumb, I use 2 finger lengths for my face and neck, and a third finger-length for my chest. But yes, really, I wish you could get sunscreen in pump bottles.
I hated Elta MD clear sunscreen because it pills horrible on my skin. I used another sunscreen and no problem. Sometimes it's the product itself the culprit.
Sunscreen pilling is why I don't use it as frequently. It seems like the only time it fully absorbs is my skin is COMPLETELY dry, like on my hands. Even if I use only sunscreen on my face and nothing else, I still have it clumping up, and streaking after I spend minutes MASSAGING it in. Definitely a bummer, given that SPF is considered the top three most important steps to skincare.
I’ve been SO annoyed about my skincare pilling recently and discovered that dimethicone / other forms of silicone are 100% the problem. I have eliminated silicones from my skincare and haven’t had a single issue since! It’s especially hard to find a good sunscreen without dimethicone, particularly a fragrance free option, but I’m still looking! But anyway, I can layer all of my silicone free products with no problem now. Yay! Thanks Dr. Dray ❤️
You should check out some Korean Sunscreens (ex: Purito unscented sunscreen). They usually don't have dimethicone and there are many that are fragrance free. Also, many are SOOOO affordable. P.s. the one recommend above is a chemical sunscreen, just so you know.
Christiana Nakhla omg amazing! Thank you so much! And no worries, I prefer chemical honestly, I know zinc is considered “better” but I tend to hate the way it feels on my skin.
Klair's soft airy UV essence never pills on me no matter how much I apply, so maybe check that one out. I know it's a bit more pricey but it's definitely worth it. When you look at the ingredients, you'll see that it's also a great moisturizer too. If it was produced by a Western company, it would probably be marketed as a '2 in 1' product.
I think I finally got this, thank you! Ever since finding your channel, my skin has improved to the point where people are beginning to comment. I don’t recall that happening in my 66 years on the planet! The other day one of my young co workers complimented my skin, and coming from a 30-year-old I admit I was flattered. You are an intelligent, lovely, and incredibly informed, person, and that we get all this advice, and your recommendations, for free, is so appreciated! Best wishes to your sweet mama, and little Tybee, please!
That's encouraging. I am 51 and recently started to take care of my skin. Before didn't use moisturizer or sunscreen. And used to wash my face with soap.
Latina Boricua love your name! I started taking care of my skin at 37. I can totally tell a different especially after using a few products plus Retin A gradually.
I find that 5 drops are more than enough for my face, spread it in my hands and then pat it in rather than spreading, afterwards I allow it to dry before continuing my routine. That way it has never pilled for me :)
I had the same problem. Applying a smaller amount (1-2 drops) on damp skin worked for me, as this way it drys better and doesn’t leave any residue that could mess up with the moisturizer.
Wow, I never knew that using more moisturizer can cause pilling... and I've been slathering it really generously on my face :D My skincare is minimal (double cleanse and CeraVe cream in the evening and sunscreen during the day) and haven't had issues with most sunscreens. But recently I tried a new one and had this issue - will need to update the way I apply my moisturizer at night and give the sunscreen another try.
Dr.Dray I would love to see a video about tattoo aftercare. What products to clean it with and what to moisture it with as well. How much and how often. I’m sure you don’t advocate tattoos but I’d love to hear a doctors opinion about how to calm and heal the skin afterwards! Thank you for all that you do !!
I'd like to hear this as well, especially since many tattoo creams/ointments contain things like lanolin and beeswax, both of which I'm allergic to [and I'm sure vegans would like an alternative also].
Followed your advice to try washing my oily skin in the AM with salicylic acid, instead of just washing once at night. The morning cleanse was a game changer. Sunscreen seems to adhere better, and no more whiteheads, no pilling. Thanks, Dr. Dray!
Thank you so much for addressing this... I’asked two friends about this and they literally acted as if I’d asked a question about alien life form. Neither of them had a clue what I meant and claimed they’d never had pilling... that maybe I needed to exfoliate:( 💕
You just gave me the answer to why I have pilling occasionally! I love your videos and cannot say how much I appreciate your sharing your knowledge with us! Thank you, I never miss a video from you and I have watched many of them more than once!
My skin has always been super oily. Almost everything pills. I can't rub in. I have to gently pat on. But then sometimes, that seems to dry out my skin to quickly and the layers of dead skin which have been held flat by the oil, will then form little dry skin peels. LOL. I then have peeling and pilling! I have become hat, sunglasses and scarf lady. It's the best I can do.
I have this problem with Ordinary niacinamide/Zinc serum,too Pity! My skincare is already very modest (HADALABO HA, La Roche Toleriane moisturiser and Differin at night time, fullstop). THANK YOU FOR THIS GOOD VIDEO, as always! Love from Germany.
Alpaca I had the same problem and it’s so annoying! I tried eliminating dimethicone and other silicones from my products (I don’t think they are at all harmful, but for my skin personally, they ball up and don’t sink in) and voila! That was the problem all along. Haven’t ever had a problem since :) xo
I have that problem too! It demotivates me so much from applying more sunscreen! Lately I’ve been using oil absorbing face papers and pat that on my skin, and then apply more sunscreen. It only absorbes a bit of greasiness and it doesn’t strip your skin, so you don’t feel like you took your moisturizer off! There are probably better tips/methods out there than to use face papers, but hey, they work when you really want to reapply sunscreen but your greasiness/product buildup is demotivating you from applying again. Great for on the go 👍
@@beenishakram6322 hi! I like the “Versed” brand sunscreen from target. It gets a bit tacky but I don’t mind, there’s no white cast and it has good ingredients/no fragrance
@@jules.mp3 i am using neutrogena sheer zinc .its not pilling but i can see very very tiny white spots on my face .it looks like there is dryness in my face but in actual its not dry .is it the white cast or any other problem? What do u think
I have only been a subscriber for about two months now and you have transformed my skin! I never knew that CeraVe moisturizing cream after my shower would change my life but it has😭. CeraVe and Amlactin are now products I cannot live without, and so affordable. The Amlactin Daily lotion does miracles to my cuticles! Thank you so much for this channel 💕
(Age 68): On my clean face I apply moisturizer, then sunscreen, primer and foundation. That fourth layer - foundation- is the one that pills. I thought it was time to replace the foundation, a broken emulsion. I learned a lot in 5his video.
After I figured out how to layer the pilling problem generally stopped. I'll put a tiny amount so my eczema can actually absorb it, and then if it feels dry I'll put a tiny amount on again until it feels moisturized.
Question about the incompatible ingredients- are there any two ingredients that truly cancel each other out? I'm working on a vid gathering opinions from a few of my favorite expert science based bloggers like yourself, and I'd love to include your opinion. Looking at the Ordinary's website, you would almost think NONE of their products can be used together. My "somewhat" professional opinion (as a nurse obsessed with all things skin 🤪) don't use more than one exfoliant in a routine (aha, bha, retinol). Other than that, as long as you give products a chance to dry between, they won't be rendered as ineffective. I've heard some differing opinions on peptides being weakened by certain ingredients. I've been scouring journals, but haven't been able to find any definitive data. Is there any reliable research on ingredient conflicts? Thanks for your help! 💗
Pretty sure you can use AHAs in the same routine as a retinoid, the two are just more effective at different pHs. Vitamin C and copper peptides seem to be the most tricky actives to incorporate.
- they over strengthen each other * applied at different times * applied simultaneously - they are incompatible * reaction between the molecules * very different ideal pH
For me, sunscreens with silica in them are the ones that pill the most. A good example is the La Roche Posay Clear Skin SPF 60 and the Walgreens brand "dupe" for it. One exception to this is the Paula's Choice Clear SPF 50, which has silica, but is not thick and tacky, it is more watery in consistency, which seems to work with any of my other stuff. I think it is especially hard to find a good SPF if you have oily skin because they like to pill or they are so thick and greasy that you immediately breakout from using it. Or you look like a disco ball of glistening moisture droplets.
I must be doing something right since I have not experienced pilling I don't believe. Probably because I'm becoming a minimalist with skin care products As You Are. Products include more than one ingredient that I might be interested in. Hope you're having a great day!
Noticed it a lot more the last decade or so, especially the use of certain skincare/priming skincare products before putting on a foundation. It is really a headache as it means 99% you've got to clean everything off and restart. It actually happens a lot more than you'd think. Also, some products are supposedly "film-forming" and they seem to cause a lot of issues, also with the choice of foundations. I've yet to have too much of a problem with pilling skincare though, but it is probably because I keep things pretty basic and minimal for skincare now, thanks for you, Dr Dray!
Thanks for educating us on pilling. I've always wondered why products pill sometimes, and never knew there was a term for it, or the reasons on what caused it. Will try that retinol serum!
I have the tinted Derma E SPF 30 and I have struggled to apply it without it pilling. Today I applied it over last nights moisturizer and it went on so much easier. Prior attempts to apply this after my morning routine was a huge fail. Thank you for your videos. Prayers for your mom!
I saw this post earlier but didn’t view it until now. I had the pilling issue earlier this week and wonder why it happens some days and not others. I have used the same products for over a year. I think my problem is maybe not letting one product absorb before putting on another since my routine is the same every day. My best friend told me a few months ago that my skin looked good. No one has ever told me that because it’s been bad all my life and I will be 66 in a few months. It’s because I found your YT channel and started following your advice! Thank you Dr. Dray!
Thanks for uploading as usual! It would be awesome if you make top mineral sunscreens video for guys who never wear makeup and dislike the white cast/greasy looking. As a guy with brown skin tone, I find it difficult to find the right mineral sunscreen that doesn't leave white cast on my face and doesn't make my skin shiny. Thanks for sharing info as always I really appreciate it!
The worst I found was the Cerave purple one Morning Moisturiser, not that it peels but it is such a dry product that makes it very hard to spread on the face and gets worse if you attempt to top sunscreen even after a few hours, I'm glad it finally finished... Thanks Dr Dray for a helpful topic!
Silvia Figueroa I’m not actually sure what the issue is! Today I applied a small amount to each section of my face one at a time and press it veeeery carefully and that seems to have helped. It’s difficult because if I use less I don’t feel protected enough :(
Luckily l haven't had any problems with filling or balling with my current skin care products. But it's good to know how to apply, how much to apply and what to do with it does ball up. Thank you for all your help and advice!! Happy Monday Stay safe and healthy everyone 😊🍁
If I knew then what I know now ... thanks to Andrea , My skin would be so much better. I’m 66 and came from the time of baby oil and iodine to get tan. We didn’t know anything about sun damage or sunscreen. Much less, niamacides,peptides, Retinols,etc. never too old to learn!
Hi Cindy. Oh, the damage we did in those days ! I’m dealing with a lot of skin cancers which ended up in surgery with 7 wks. radiation. I’m almost 75 and sure wish I took better care when I was younger....payback is tough ! Thank God my face was saved and thanks to Dr. Dray, it’s even better now. Lol..people think I’m in my 60’s ...yay....probably because I’m immature ! Lol. Have a great 2020 as best as we can 👍🏼
I’ve been using that cera ve cream you’re talking about over a niacinamide serum 😂 glad to know I can save some money and take that step out of the equation, thanks!
My problem when applying sunscreen is that it’s always streaky! No matter how long I rub it just makes more white streaks. This is even with organic filters. Also I thought spending a lot of time rubbing it in results in less protection.
I sleep with Vaseline overnight and next day I just use Sunscreen. My skincare is so simple that I think it helps me keep my spf from pilling. I don't spend so much time putting spf on though, so I'm going to reapply second layer. Thanks, Dr Dray.
Happy Monday Dr Dray and everyone . Great video I know I have been using too many products in the past and with my oily skin that was a recipe for disaster . Have a great day love to mom and Tybee
Thank You Soo Much Sweet Friend!! I Missed You Sooo Glad You're Back!! Happy Monday!! Hope You're Having a Lovely Day!! Please You and Yours Stay Safe and Well!! Always!! Talk To You Soon!!
This couldn't have been better timing as I was applying too many layers, too quickly and in too great a volume. Thank you for explaining so succinctly how I can Curb my Enthusiasm for skincare to be more effective with less. Thank you ! Hope you and your beloved Mother are well. Take care. Hello from Lockdown London, UK
I have this issue with the CeraVe AM moisturizer! I was only using the PM one for a while because the sunscreen moisturizer pills horribly. I don’t put anything on my skin aside from moisturizer in the morning (I use the CeraVe Retinol Serum and night cream at night). I want to protect my skin but I just can’t do sunscreen…
You read my mind, Dr! I just spent the past hour researching about why my sunscreen is pilling! I’ve faced this with the Elta MD Physical Tinted Sunscreen! Thanks for the advice! ❤️😄
Sonakshi Gupta: I just applied EltaMD UV Physical as my re-application sunscreen layer; I used a few other products plus a different sunscreen earlier today. NO PILLING for me with this product, ever. Note that I don’t wear makeup; just tinted mineral sunscreen. It’s interesting how one person’s experience can differ from another’s with regards to skin care products. 😊
For me, only the Cerave Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 makes my skin pilling and doesn’t matter how little the amount I use it. Or even if I washed my face and only use it in the morning alone. It starts to pill when I tried to spread it. I can’t even layer it. It is recommended by many dermatologists, but it just won’t stopped pilling for me. Why is that?
@@franceskennedy2938 Thank You Sooo Much my Friend!! I'm Doing Pretty Good!! I Sure Hope You're Doing Well Too!! Happy Monday, and Have an Awesome Day!! Talk To You Soon!!
Wow! Ms Suarez, you give us all the information that our own derms don’t have time to give us! Can’t thank you enough, bc I feel guilty for getting this info for free!💕
Very helpful tips!! However, I have a very hard time getting ANYTHING to absorb into my skin and stay on properly. ☹️ I’ve been this way my whole life and literally almost died because of it a couple years ago. My doctor had changed my blood pressure medication to a transdermal patch and I had a hypertensive crisis after a surgery and lost almost 50% of my blood volume. No one knew the medication wasn’t being absorbed into my skin. Now we know. 😐 I have the same problem on my face. It takes me forever to put moisturizer on because I never feel like it rubs into my skin. Then if I want to use something before bed, I have to put it on hours before bedtime and most of it still comes off on my pillow. 😢 I haven’t given up though so I keep searching for products, especially sunscreen, that will absorb and stay on my skin. I’m hoping some of your tips and recommendations with help!
I moisturize my face first and let it dry before input sunscreen. Sadly, it always peels. However, when i dab the sunscreen over all areas of my face instead of rubbing it on my face, the peeling either has lessened or no peeling at all.
dr dray!! ur a lifesaver. i’d started using more hada labo toner bc my skin had been so dry but then everything along w my moisturizer was pilling up and so my skin was getting more dry! i had no idea now but this video rly made it clear. just need a couple drops
I do the neutrogena body gel cream as body and face moisturizer then dermatology spf 46 clear on face and neck, works well for me! If I'm outside I do two layers of the sunscreen and then do the powder spf from derma e for another reapplication. Thanks Dr. Dray for getting me to wear sunscreen, every day!!!
Always learn from your great advice. I have been saving money, products and time with items I don't need. This video will help me going forward, thank you for your wisdom. Hav a lovely day 😊
I layer a lot of products under my Nivea blue tin, small bits though (not talking about sunscreen), I don't use a lot per layer and maybe that really is key!!! I think you're quite right on this. Thanks for this video!
Every sunscreen keeps separating my makeup. The worst part is that Oriflame is the only skincare that works for my acne, but it already had the spf in the moisturizer, which has silicone in it... I guess I can't do anything about it other than putting minimal amount on my chin, which is the place where it separates.
Hi Dr. Dray, Could you please do a video with your "favourite products with less than 10 ingredients" and "favourite oil-free products"? I have very sensitive combo skin with light rosacea, so these would be very helpful. Thank you! 🥰
I too apply my skincare while my skin is damp. It helps the products absorb better and more quickly. I also let everything dry down completely before applying sunscreen to avoid pilling. :)
Could you squeeze out some sunscreen onto your hand to show "typical" amount for face? I'm a very visual person and I think that would help. Just an idea :-) thank you!
I always find gel moisturizers have a high tendency to clash with sunscreens. Now have learnt its because theres silicon in my sunscreen .Thanks Dr Dray for giving this video !
I don't understand, my sunscreen is pilling yet it didn't happen before. My AM skincare routine consisted of cleanser, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide serum and then sunscreen for months. One morning my sunscreen just started to peel. In the beginning I thought it was hyaluronic acid as I read that it can cause pilling with sunscreen, then I stopped using niacinamide serum. I then changed moisturizer and even tried without it (which is horrible because I started lately using tretinoin and my skin is getting dry). Nothing worked and the sunscreen is still pilling. I don't know what to do. I don't have another sunscreen andcant buy another one right now.
Thank you so much for this video! I'm using a water based moisturiser with water resistant sunscreen - didn't realise the sunscreen had that quality, all very new to me. Big help!
I honestly believe that many products are disliked by people due to the single fact they over applied. Especially when you are new to skincare and or in a hurry.
Can you do a video on whether or not you can get a tan without damaging your skin? I’m a little confused about this. I know that a sunburn damages your skin, but does tanning do so as well, even if you don’t get a sunburn? What if you use sunscreen? Does that help prevent damage while allowing you to tan?
That's so frustrating! I have been exclusively using cerave skin products but couldnt figure out why the am facial lotion would pill after the vitamin c... the vitamin c has silicone but the AM moisturizer doesnt! You would think since it's by the same company they would make their products compatible 😔
I read that products with hyaluronic acid can cause pilling. I use Neutrogena hydro boost but when I go to apply my Elta MD UV Shoeld Broad Spectrum SPF 50, it always pills A LOT I saw you mentioned that the sunscreen pills so I don’t know if it’s just the sunscreen or because I’m using it with a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid. I probably need to rethink my moisturizer because I can’t apply it to a damp face since I use timeless’ 20% vitamin C serum prior to applying it so i’m not even sure if I’m drying out my skin t by applying the Neutrogena to dry skin. And it’s not working out with my SPF. The problem is, I really love the Neutrogena hydroboost so if applying it to dry skin, is on (and I’ve read conflicting opinions on this), then I just need to find a new sunscreen. I’m on Tretinoin and am not thrilled with mineral sunscreens in general so I’m considering going back to A chemical one I used prior to starting tretinoin, Dermalogica’s dynamic skin recovery moisturizer with spf 50. I have been trying to find answers to these questions for months with no success so if anyone wants to weigh in here, I would appreciate it.
Sunscreens pill HORRIBLY on my neck...especially anything with a mineral active or the Purito chemical one. My non-pilling sunscreens are gold 💛. That being said, I prefer a pilling neck than a saggy, sun-damaged neck! 😂 Thanks for the vid!
This video is so helpful! Although I wish I’d seen it sooner before I went out and bought a new moisturiser (silicone based) whilst using a non silicone SPF 😑😂
Thank you for the video Dr Dray! I’ve been using a new mineral sunscreen, and I do apply a very generous amount and noticed pilling. However I noticed that when I apply my second layer and instead of spreading it on my skin I pat it gently, no pilling occurs from that 🤔
The best case for using too many products is they ball up and are wasted. The worse case is that in the long run they make your skin sensitive. I'm the latter. My skin was perfect but I started using a lot of products (all non irritating and fragrance free). Now a year later I'm still healing from the damaged skin barrier that I created. I learned the hard way that we shouldn't be greedy when it comes to skincare
@@Losshe Thanks for sharing! I have definitely cut back on how much I use. Thankfully, I realized pretty quick because of all the pilling that was happening
I also had that problem that made me write to the ordinary support where i mentioned all products i use. They recommended to just apply niacinamide and then only one moisturizer. For me it worked without peeling finally🙏🏻 For moisturizes i use neutrogena hyaluronic booster OR la roche posay toleraine