Have you ever wondered why sometimes your skincare products feel like they burn, when you apply them as part of your skincare routine?
Well, there are a few reasons why you might be experiencing a burning sensation.
Keep on reading to find out the answers to why does my moisturizer burn, and the ways in which you can minimize that burning feeling.
What Is A Moisturizer Supposed To Do For Your Face?
A moisturizer is an essential step in any skincare routine, helping to protect and hydrate the skin.
It helps reduce water loss to keep your skin looking supple, soft and smooth. Using a daily moisturizer can help prevent premature aging of the skin, as it helps lock in moisture and provide a barrier from damaging environmental factors like UV rays and pollutants.
Moisturizers also help prevent acne by regulating oil production within the pores of the skin, which keeps them from becoming clogged with dirt and bacteria.
Some moisturizers contain ingredients that can soothe irritated or redness-prone skin types, making it an important step for those experiencing sensitivity.
Adding a facial massage into your regular skincare routine after applying your moisturizer will increase circulation, giving you a brighter, more radiant looking complexion. All these factors make moisturizing one of the most important steps in creating glowing, healthy-looking skin.
When Should Moisturizer Be Applied During Your Skincare Routine?
When creating a skincare routine, moisturizer is an essential step. Applying the right amount of moisture prevents your skin from drying out and helps maintain its balance.
As such, it’s important to understand when the best time to apply moisturizer is in order to get the most out of it.
Moisturizer should be applied after cleansing and toning and before applying makeup or sunscreen.
This way, you can lock in hydration without making your makeup look oily or cakey. If you have particularly dry skin, you may want to consider using a hydrating toner before applying your moisturizer in order to give your skin an extra boost of hydration.
For daytime use, opt for a lightweight formula that won’t clog pores or leave residue behind.
If you’re looking for deeper hydration overnight, heavier creams can be combined with facial oils for maximum nourishment and protection against environmental aggressors like pollutants and sun damage as you sleep.
It’s also important to remember that just one type of moisturizer isn’t enough.
Your skincare routine should be tailored specifically to meet your individual needs so that all layers of moisture are addressed from morning till night.
Experiment with different formulas and textures until you find those that work best with your skin type so that each layer will keep working throughout the day to ensure healthy-looking skin 24/7.
Why Does My Moisturizer Burn?
Moisturizers are an important part of skin care, providing essential nutrients and hydration to the skin.
However, sometimes when applied to the face, a moisturizer can leave a burning sensation behind, and a burning sensation when applying moisturizer is not uncommong.
There are several possible causes for why your moisturizer may have a burning sensation, and feel as if it burn your skin. One of the most common culprits is sensitivity or allergy to an ingredient in the moisturizer itself, and it’ll burn after applying the product to the skin.
Peanut oil, shea butter and certain fragrances can all cause irritation if you have an allergy to them. The burn could also be due to incorrect use, such as applying too much product or applying it too close to sensitive areas such as eyes or nostrils.
What Are The Common Causes Of Moisturizer Burning Sensations?
It could be because your skin barrier is impaired; this happens when your skin on your face has been exposed to excessive exfoliation or harsh cleansers that strip away its natural oils and lead to dryness and inflammation.
Which can be painful when applying products like a heavy moisturizer on top of it all, so you can help the skin by stopping using the problematic moisturizer, as it’s likely to be too harsh for your skin.
Perhaps your skin is inflamed, or your skin is already inflamed, which would then make your skin more sensitive. But you need to figure out what is causing the burning, when using the moisturizer for your skin type.
The best way to deal with this issue would be to identify what ingredient may be causing it by testing out different formulations (if you’re not sure if you’re allergic) then switch over to gentle non-irritating products, ensuring you stop using the problematic skin care product.
That don’t contain potential allergens while rebuilding your damaged skin barrier layer first with mild cleansing agents like micellar water and hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides before finally reintroducing a suitable moisturizing cream that doesn’t irritate your skin.
What Is A Compromised Skin Barrier?
A compromised skin barrier is when the top layer of your skin that naturally protects you from outside elements and harmful substances becomes impaired.
This can cause moisture loss, increase sensitivity, and allow bacteria to penetrate more deeply.
Compromised skin barriers can be caused by anything from excessive washing to genetics or hormonal changes.
Symptoms of a compromised skin barrier include dryness, flaking, itching, redness and inflammation.
If left untreated, this condition can eventually lead to further damage that may require medical attention.
Which Products Will Help Soothe Irritated Skin Or When Your Skin Reacts To Skincare Ingredients?
When our skin is irritated, it can be difficult to know which products will help soothe it.
Avoiding harsh ingredients and products that contain alcohol or fragrances can help minimize irritation.
For example, choosing a gentle cleanser and moisturizer with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or glycerin can provide non-irritating hydration.
Using oils such as coconut oil or argan oil applied to damp skin every night can reduce dryness and discomfort.
A water-based serum containing aloe vera or cucumber extract also may help cool inflammation and provide relief from redness associated with skin irritation.
Lastly, a cold compress applied directly to affected areas may reduce swelling as well as any itching or burning sensations caused by irritated skin.
Why Do Some Skincare Products Have A Burning Sensation When Applied?
Some skincare products, such as certain cleansers and exfoliants, can have a burning or stinging sensation when applied to the skin.
This is usually caused by the presence of an active ingredient like salicylic acid or retinol, which are often used in anti-aging skincare products.
These ingredients work to dissolve dead skin cells and reduce inflammation, but they can be quite harsh on sensitive skin types.
Some people may find that the burning sensation subsides shortly after application, while others may find that it persists for several minutes afterward.
Despite this uncomfortable feeling, these products can be beneficial for dramatically reducing wrinkles and fine lines over time with consistent use – just be sure to start slowly and patch test any new ingredient before using it on your face.
Which Moisturizer Ingredients Are Best For Sensitive Skin?
When it comes to finding the best moisturizer for sensitive skin, it is important to consider the ingredients list and make sure there are no harsh or potentially irritating elements.
Some of the best ingredients for soothing and nourishing sensitive skin include aloe vera, avocado oil, jojoba oil, squalane, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, allantoin and colloidal oatmeal.
Aloe vera helps soothe redness and inflammation while providing moisture to the skin. Avocado oil is rich in fatty acids that help restore balance to dry skin.
Jojoba oil provides hydration and can even help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Squalane helps protect against environmental damage while also helping restore moisture levels in the skin.
Glycerin is a humectant which means it draws water into the surface of your skin, keeping it hydrated for longer periods of time.
Hyaluronic acid helps bind water molecules together that assist with deeper hydration within the dermal layers of your skin.
Allantoin helps keep pores unclogged by acting as an anti-irritant on sensitive skins that often have breakouts or easily irritated areas.
Lastly, colloidal oatmeal acts as an emollient, reducing rough patches on dry or sensitized skins while restoring comfort to inflamed areas.
How To Tell If Your Skin Is Irritated By The Burning Or Stinging From Your Moisturizer?
If you are using a new moisturizer and find your skin becoming irritated, the best way to tell if it is the cause of the irritation is to pay attention to any changes in your skin.
If your skin reddens or becomes itchy, inflamed, flaky or dry after applying the newly purchased moisturizer then it may be causing an allergic reaction.
To confirm whether this is true or not, try discontinuing use of the product for several weeks.
Gently cleanse your face with a mild cleanser and monitor any changes in your skins condition over that period.
Allowing time for any residual irritations to clear up. Another helpful step would be consulting a dermatologist who can advise on alternative products that suit your skin type.
How To Stop The Burning Sensation After Applying Moisturizer?
When you apply a moisturizer and it begins to burn, the best thing to do is rinse off the moisturizer immediately with cool water.
Be sure not to scrub, as this can further irritate your skin. Next, apply a cold compress directly on the affected area.
You can use an ice pack or wrap a towel around a few cubes of ice for 10-15 minutes at a time several times throughout the day until irritation subsides. Applying 1% hydrocortisone cream can help reduce inflammation and itching associated with burning skin.
If the burning sensation persists, it’s important to contact your doctor who may recommend medications such as topical steroids or antihistamines for relief.
Be mindful about what ingredients are in your moisturizers as certain synthetic ingredients like fragrances and silicone derivatives can cause reactions that lead to burning skin.
Make sure you take breaks from applying any type of product on your face so that your skin has time to rest and adjust accordingly.
Which Skincare Ingredients Can Burn Your Skin?
When it comes to skincare, certain ingredients can cause a burning sensation when applied to the skin.
Oftentimes, this is due to an allergic reaction and is more likely to happen with products that contain fragrances, as opposed to natural substances.
For example, fragrance allergens are known for creating a burning sensation on the skin even when applied in small amounts.
Retinoids such as adapalene and tretinoin also typically have a burning sensation associated with them due to the increased sensitivity they cause within the treated area.
Even acidic ingredients like alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) can irritate sensitive skin if left on too long or used at concentrations that are too high for your specific skin type.
Lastly, essential oils such as lavender and peppermint oil tend to cause stinging sensations when applied topically as they contain constituents that act as irritants but also provide therapeutic benefits.
It’s important to always learn about potential skincare triggers before using any product so you know what you’re getting into ahead of time.
Summary
Moisturizers are essential to maintaining healthy- looking skin, but there can be times when they cause a burning sensation.
This isn’t necessarily something to be worried about as irritation and burning are often caused by allergies or incorrect use such as applying too much product or too close to the eyes.
It could also be an indication of a compromised skin barrier which is caused by excessive washing or exfoliation leading to inflammation and dryness.
The best way to deal with this issue is by identifying the irritating ingredient, switching to gentle non-irritating products that don’t contain potential allergens and rebuilding your damaged skin barrier layer before reintroducing a suitable moisturizer that doesn’t irritate your skin.
To soothe any discomfort associated with skincare products, it is important to rinse off the product immediately and apply a cold compress directly on the affected area. Finally, pay attention to which ingredients may trigger reactions in order for you to avoid them in future skincare products.
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Hi, my name is Gemma, and I’m the owner of MakeupMuddle.com. I’m a true beauty obsessive, and love writing about anything to do with beauty – I have been a beauty writer since 2012.
As well as owning Makeup Muddle, I also own GemmaEtc.com, and love sharing my thoughts and feelings about the greatest (and not so great) beauty products!