Let’s set the scene: You’re on the hunt for a new foundation. Eventually, you spot one that ticks all the boxes: it has the coverage you’re after, suits your skin tone perfectly and fits into your budget. It’s received rave reviews online and you’ve watched your favourite beauty influencers apply it to their skin, and it looks *flawless*. You’ve done the groundwork. Payday arrives and you take the plunge and click ‘purchase’. Before you know it, the foundation lands on your doorstep and you excitedly unwrap your new addition to your make-up collection. But as you apply it to your face, you notice the formula turning into little balls that start flaking off your skin. This is called make-up pilling. Here’s why it happens and how you can prevent it:
Reason 1
Your skincare routine is too complicated
Take a look at your product shelf. Does your everyday skincare routine look a bit excessive? Using too many products each day and night requires a lot of layering, which can lead to your make-up pilling. We suggest streamlining your skincare. Choose multi-tasking, 2-in-1 products instead that limit your application.
Reason 2
You haven’t exfoliated enough
Regular exfoliation is a crucial step to maintaining smooth-textured skin. It removes dead skin cells, leftover product build-up and allows your skincare and make-up products to apply more easily. Choose an exfoliator that suits your skintype and set time aside to gently buff your skin no more than twice a week.
Reason 3
You’ve experienced a chemical peel lately
Chemical peels are facial treatments that help improve acne marks, anti-ageing and pigmentation through removal of the outermost layer of your skin. There are different levels of chemical peels, depending on what kind of results you want to achieve. Spas and aesthetic clinics offer professional chemical peels, while at-home peels provide milder results. Flaking of the skin is a usual side effect when applying a peeling product. It can occur between one to seven days afterwards. Keep this in mind when trying out a new foundation, as make-up pilling is likely to occur.
Reason 4
You chose a foundation that doesn’t suit your skin type
Do you know your correct skin type? We have so many factors that can affect our skin, such as climate, hormones, diet and lifestyle. How does your skin currently feel? If it’s tight and rough, you have dry skin. If midday shine is an everyday occurrence, you belong in the oily skin type category. If it’s just your T-Zone that becomes oily, you’re a combination skin type. Normal skin types have adequate hydration levels and soft skin texture. If, for example, you’re a combination skin type and choose a hydrating foundation (thinking you’re a dry skin type), your foundation might pill. Here are the foundations to shop, depending on your skin:
Oily skin type
Combination skin type
Dry skin type
Normal skin type
