The flaky little balls that sometimes form on your face when you are applying your skincare product is known as skin pilling.
It is caused when the skincare product you are applying is not being absorbed fully into the skin.

There are several reasons for this :

Applying products in the wrong order...

The general rule when applying skincare products is to go from the thinnest consistency to the thickest; starting with water-based serums and working your way up to thicker creams and oils. 

Take a look at our blog post on how to layer your skincare correctly here.

Not exfoliating regularly...

Exfoliating your skin regularly with AHA's (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) removes dead skin cells and unclogs pores, which will help your skincare products to be absorbed more effectively. 

Not cleansing properly...

Skincare products can’t penetrate unclean skin because of dirt, sweat, oil and make-up on the skin, so it is important to start with a cleansed canvas before applying any other layers.

Take a look at our blog post on how to cleanse the right way here.

Rubbing your face is a big no-no...

When you are applying your skincare products (such as treatment products, moisturisers and serums), use a light padding action rather than rubbing them in.

Using too much product...

Less is more; don't think that the more product you apply, the better it will work!
Applying too much of the skincare product will overload your skin with more than it can take in.

Take a look at our blog post on how much you should be applying here.

Be patient...

Allow enough time for one product to be absorbed before applying the next one. 
Ideally, wait at least a minute between applying each product layer.

Product not suitable...

Applying a product that is too thick cannot be absorbed by your skin because it's simply too heavy. 
Additionally, certain ingredients like silicones may cause pilling as they would create a barrier on the skin.


Hopefully, these tips will help prevent skin pilling from happening to you.