Do you know the common signs of over moisturised skin? Here's everything you need to know about moisturiser overload for your skin and how to prevent it.

The Common Signs of Over Moisturised Skin Explained

The key to anything in life is balance…learning how to strike a balance between two things that can seem like polar opposites. The intricate balance between play and work, or one which I’m sure you’ve come across, junk food and healthy food. The same can be applied to your skincare. The right amount of care is needed to ensure you combat dry skin, but it’s important to do this without going overboard. It can be hard to know when you’re using too much moisturiser for your skin. How do you know what’s enough? Your skin will certainly tell you in subliminal ways, such as clogged pores or acne breakouts on your shoulders or other areas of your body, small bumps and more.

It's easy to think that over moisturising is a good thing as ‘it’s just providing your skin with extra hydration’ – however, this isn’t true. There are common signs of over-moisturised skin, and we’re here to help you realise if you’re on this path and change your route so you can arrive at your moisturised skin. We have some pro-skin tips on how to properly and effectively use moisturisers so that you can reap all the benefits and get the most out of your skincare routine.

Why Over Moisturising Your Skin Can Be Harmful to Your Skin

Moisturising your skin is essential to keeping it healthy, fresh, and hydrated. When you moisturise once or twice a day, you’re giving your skin the nourishment it needs to stay supple and dewy. When you start to over-moisturise, that’s when it can start becoming problematic. Moisturising your skin is only harmful once it becomes excessive. For example, you’ve moisturised 5 to 10 times throughout the day with cream and saturated your body in oils. It sounds like it won’t do any harm, but it really can.

The Top 5 Signs of Over Moisturised Skin

How can you tell the signs of over-moisturised skin? A great moisturiser will make your skin feel hydrated and fresh, not oily and clammy. Your skin’s barrier will start to break down if your skin is over moisturised, leaving your skin open and prone to breakouts and infections. Here are the top 5 signs your skin is more moisturised than it needs to be.

1. Your pores are clogged

Clogged pores are caused by a build-up of dirt and dead skin cells. If untreated, it often leads to acne that can become even more difficult to manage. Over-moisturising your skin can also contribute to clogged pores, reducing your skin’s natural ability to produce sebum that protects your skin.

2. You have pimples and breakouts

Pimples and breakouts are not caused by over-moisturising alone. In most cases, they’re genetic or develop over time. It’s a completely natural part of life and acne can be treated through a dermatologist. But your skincare regime also plays a big part. If you notice an increase in breakouts after moisturising more, it might be time to reduce the amount of times you moisturise in a day

3. Your sebum production has gone haywire

One of the many amazing abilities our skin has, is that it produces sebum naturally. Sebum is a waxy substance produced by our body’s sebaceous glands. Its job is to coat and protect your skin from harmful substances. When you over-moisturise your skin, it interferes with your body’s sebum production and can result in actually drying out your skin.

4. Your skin has become dry

Ironic, we know, but moisturising your skin too much can leave your skin feeling dry. Just when you think that moisturising multiple times a day is doing your skin good, it’s actually doing the opposite. In doing this, you’re breaking down your skin’s barrier, making it vulnerable to drying out – simply, preventing it from doing what it does naturally.

5. You have small bumps all over your body

If you start to notice small bumps on your body, it’s your skin reacting to something different in your routine. This could be anything from changing a product to applying too much moisturiser - your skin is going to start rejecting it. These small bumps usually go away once you take it easy with the lotion..

Natural Ways to Deal with Over Moisturised Skin

Dealing with over moisturised skin can seem like an expensive activity, but here are some options you can try without breaking the bank. A bonus? These are also simple tips to overcome over moisturised skin.

Exfoliate your skin once a week to remove dead skin cells.
Moisturise with a small amount of lotion so that you don’t suffocate your skin.
Experiment with natural oils such as coconut oil and olive oil to hydrate your skin.

What Does Over Moisturised Skin Look Like?

Having clear, healthy skin is what many of us strive for. When you try a whole bunch of different products in your routine that are new, it can go one of two ways - good or bad. The key to finding out what works for your skin is through practice and testing, you’ll learn what your skin wants and needs as you trial things out over time. In the event of over-moisturising your skin for a period of time, you could notice your skin becoming bumpy, clogged pores, breakouts, and even dry spots.

How to Moisturise Your Skin Without Over Moisturising?

Just the perfect balance. We’re not saying stop moisturising your skin completely, but using enough body lotion or cream consistently throughout your body is the way to go. Just a small amount of lotion needs to be absorbed into the skin to leave a smooth finish on the surface – and that vibrant, healthy glow we all seek.

Step up your skincare routine with Dove’s range of affordable and skin-nourishing lotions.