6 signs you're using too many skin-care products

If your skin is red, inflamed, bumpy, or itchy, it's a good sign that something in your product arsenal is causing a flare-up.

"Rashes can be caused by preservatives, fragrances or acrylates found inside cosmetic products," Beverly Hills dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, told NewBeauty.

Cut out any extraneous products that are especially fragrant or extravagant and see if the rash goes away.

If your skin feels tight, this is a sign that the products you're using are sapping moisture and you might want to simplify your routine.

"Don't ignore tightness, as it is can impair skin health and cause increased oil production, large pores, and wrinkles," aesthetician and director of brand development at InstaNatural Heather Wilson told NewBeauty. "If your skin feels tight after cleansing, look for products that are pH balanced and contain gentle and natural-based surfactants."

There are a lot of ways to exfoliate: acids, scrubs, brushes, microdermabrasion, retinol creams and more. But using more than one of these methods might cause itchy, red, flaky, or sun-sensitive skin, Arielle Kauvar, M.D., director of New York Laser & Skin Care, told Shape magazine.

It can be tempting to pile on the products when you are experiencing a breakout. This, however, can actually make the problem worse. NYC cosmetic dermatologist Sejal Shah, the founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology told Teen Vogue that applying too many acne-fighting products too often is counterproductive.

"When they are overused, they can overly dry or irritate the skin, leading to more breakouts," she said. 

This is because "over-exfoliated skin has lost more of the surface dead skin cells than ideal," David Lortscher, M.D., founder of skin startup Curology, told Shape. "What we want is a bit of roughness to the skin surface, so the light scatters, and shine is avoided!"

Your skin's moisture levels are constantly in a delicate balance. Sometimes, if your skin suddenly becomes oily, you might be tempted to reach for oil-reducing products and add them to your already crowded routine.

This might be a mistake, as the oil is just a side effect of over-drying.

"If you're experiencing more oil than usual, try to decrease the amount of oil-absorbing skin care products within your routine," Wilson told NewBeauty. "Look for serums and gel-cream moisturizers that are infused with hyaluronic acid, which provides hydration (water) without adding oil."

Try removing products that dry out your skin before adding anything new.

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