How to Layer Skincare to Avoid Pilling

Have you ever had a sweater develop small pieces of fluff on its surface after being washed and worn repeatedly? That same phenomenon, known as “pilling,” can happen on your skin, too.

Not to be confused with “peeling,” which happens to the skin itself, pilling occurs when your skincare or makeup isn’t properly absorbed and instead leaves little balls or “pills” atop the skin. Beyond being frustrating, it means your skincare and/or makeup isn’t able to do its job to its maximum ability. Because, let’s face it, if your moisturizer is pilling on the surface, it’s not being properly absorbed to be able to hydrate the skin. Similarly, if your foundation is doing it, it’s not giving the coverage you desire.

The good news is there are three nearly fool-proof ways to prevent pilling. Let’s start by peeling back the layers on those.

• Allowing each product in your skincare regimen to thoroughly absorb before moving on to your next step is key. Perricone MD’s Director of Education, Rosalba Martone, recommends waiting no less than 45 to 60 seconds before applying subsequent products, mainly between your serums and moisturizers.
• Ingredient Compatibility. If formulas don’t play well together, they may repel each other, causing pilling. This often happens when you mix silicones with the wrong products. Pilling is likely if you layer products formulated with silicones with oil, hyaluronic acid or polymers in the same regimen.
• Application Order. After your initial cleansing step, skincare should generally be layered from thinnest to thickest to optimize absorption. In doing so, each product can more effectively deliver its key benefits.

Here’s the exact order in which you should apply your skincare, according to Martone.

Step 1: Cleanser

No matter what other products are in your regimen, step 1 will always be your cleanser. Meant to remove impurities, dirt and makeup, it’s essential to clear away whatever’s on the surface of your skin to set your skin up to absorb the steps to come. Our Hypoallergenic Clean Correction Gentle Cleanser is oil-free and water-based, allowing it to thoroughly wash away dirt, oil and impurities without stripping the skin nor leaving a layer of oils behind. This helps prevent other products from pilling when applied on top.

Step 2: Essence

Now it’s time for your essence, which, like your toner, is exceptionally lightweight, often watery in consistency. Unlike your toner, though, an essence is a treatment used to nourish and replenish. Cold Plasma Plus+ The Essence is an intensely hydrating and balancing formula that uses a proprietary liquid crystal delivery system for faster, effective absorption of its powerful combination of ingredients. It layers incredibly well with other products without interfering with subsequent ingredients. Plus, it’s a nice boost of hydration and radiance to add during the fall and winter months.

Step 3: Treatment

Moving from your ultra-thin prep steps onto your treatments, you’re ready to introduce a serum into your routine. While still lightweight, this product will deliver a high concentration of active ingredients to target your skin’s specific concerns. A universal must-have treatment? Our Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum. It’s a powerful multitasker for face, eyes and lips that has a nice slip to the texture that allows it to mix and layer well with many other products. It’s also a versatile boost to any regimen with benefits that range from boosting radiance to addressing fine lines and evening skin.

Step 4: Moisturizer

Sealing in all the benefits while delivering extra moisture is the name of the step 5 game. Our Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Rejuvenating Moisturizer is ideal for this, especially during the colder months. This nutrient-packed cream has a velvety-rich texture that absorbs quickly yet deeply moisturizes without any residual grease or stickiness. In doing so, it replenishes skin’s moisture barrier with essential nourishment, locking in the hydration and keeping environmental aggressors out.

Step 5: Eye

Finally, your eyes are prepped and ready for targeted attention. By applying your eye cream with your ring finger as the final step in your regimen, you avoid the risk of any other products pushing it away from the area it’s designed to target. Our Cold Plasma Plus+ Advanced Eye Cream is a prime choice for this as it uses our proprietary liquid crystal delivery system (yes, just like The Essence) for that fast, effective absorption of key ingredients. In doing so, it targets and dramatically improves the look and feel of dark circles, puffiness, crow’s feet, fine lines and loss of firmness.

And there you have it: the step-by-step regimen for a smooth, hydrated and pill-free complexion. Follow the above recommendations and you’ll be leaving pilling in the past in no time.