Skincare PSA: Your Skin Is Not “Stubborn,” It’s Over-Exfoliated

Skincare PSA: if your face is burning, peeling, stinging, or constantly “purging”… that might not be a glow-up. That might be over-exfoliation. 😅

I see this all the time with my corrective clients at Skynvy Houston – especially my girls with dark spots and acne who think “more exfoliation = faster results.”

Let’s talk about why your routine might be doing too much.

What Over-Exfoliation Looks Like on Melanin-Rich Skin

On brown and Black skin, over-exfoliation often shows up as:

• Burning or stinging after washing

• Tight, shiny, or “plastic” looking skin

• Increased breakouts or rashy bumps

• New dark spots from irritation

• Texture that never seems to smooth out

You think you’re helping… but your barrier is screaming.

Where You’re Doing Too Much

Be honest with yourself. Are you:

• Using a scrub + exfoliating cleanser + toner + peel pads in the same week?

• Layering retinol with acids without guidance?

• Trying multiple “brightening” products at once?

• Treating every new breakout like a personal attack?

On melanin-rich skin, irritation = inflammation = more pigment. So when you go too hard, your skin claps back with more hyperpigmentation, not less.

How Often Should You Exfoliate?

General corrective guideline (depending on the skin):

• 1–3x per week for most chemical exfoliants

• 0–1x per week for scrubs (if at all)

• Daily use only if it was professionally recommended for your skin

And if your skin is currently inflamed, burning, or angry? You don’t need more exfoliation. You need barrier repair.

The Proper Role of Exfoliation in Correctio

Exfoliation should:

• Help shed dull, dead skin

• Improve texture over time

• Allow ingredients to penetrate better

It should not:

• Burn every time you use it

• Make you scared to wash your face

• Leave you with new dark patches

The real magic is in the balance: exfoliate → repair → protect → repeat.

When to Bring in a Corrective Esthetician

If you’re not sure what to keep, what to toss, and how to rebuild, that’s literally my job.

At Skynvy Houston, I:

• Review your current products

• Identify what’s overworking your skin

• Build a melanin-safe corrective routine with exfoliation that makes sense

• Use in-clinic treatments (like your 1st Corrective Facial) to safely accelerate results

For my virtual clients, we do the same thing on Zoom inside the Virtual Corrective Skin Program – products included.

If your skin feels “sensitive” but you keep adding more exfoliants, it might be time for backup.

• Local to Houston? Book your 1st Corrective Facial w/ Products and let me reset your skin and routine in person.

• Out of state? Apply for the Virtual Corrective Skin Program and get a 3-month plan with products + support.

Your skin isn’t stubborn. It’s just tired of being attacked. 🤎