Ever feel like you’re doing everything right—cleansing, moisturizing, even using a mask or exfoliating once a week—but your skin still looks irritated, dull, or just… off? You’re not alone.

Here’s the thing: a lot of us unknowingly sabotage our skin by overdoing it. And if you’ve got sensitive skin, acne, or a damaged skin barrier, that well-intentioned routine might actually be making things worse.

The Sneaky Signs Your Routine Might Be Too Harsh

Let’s start with a skin check. Do any of these sound familiar?

• Your skin feels tight or dry, even after moisturizing
• You feel “dry skin bumps” around your jawline-not necessarily breakouts, but just bumps
• You’re constantly battling redness or flaking
• Your skin has a stinging sensation when you cleanse or use a product
• Breakouts keep popping up despite rigorous cleansing
• You’ve added more and more products hoping something will work

If you nodded yes to any of those, it’s time to pause and simplify. One of the biggest offenders of sensitive skin is using too many products that are too harsh for skin! You have no idea how many times clients have come to me saying “I’m using an acne wash, an acne toner, an acne exfoliator, and acne cream, but I’m still breaking out!” WHOA friend. That’s way too harsh for anyone’s skin! A lot of acne products contain salicylic acid and/or benzoyl peroxide. Both of which are very harsh and will strip the skin’s barrier of it’s natural oils AND microbiome. Let’s talk about more potential triggers!

3 Common Triggers Hiding in Your Skincare Shelf

1. Too Many Actives at Once
   Layering AHAs, retinol, vitamin C, and exfoliants may sound like a power move—but for many skin types, it’s just too much.
2. Skipping the Soothing Step
   If you’re not hydrating and calming your skin, especially after cleansing, it’s like trying to run a marathon without stretching.
3. Product Pile-On
   Sometimes, less is more. If your routine has more than 6-7 products daily, your skin might be overwhelmed. Some ingredients don’t play well with others! Layering ingredients that all have a low pH will disrupt your skin barrier also!

The Power of a Simple Routine (That Still Works)

If your skin’s crying for help, start here:

• Cleanse with something gentle that doesn’t strip your skin. Our Cleansing Oil is a lifesaver for this. I can’t tell you how many clients I’ve worked with that initially fought me on our cleansing oil. They thought that by using an oil, it was going to make their skin oilier! Well, guess what? It didn’t! In many cases it helped to rebalance their skin and they saw results within a week!
• Mist with a nutrient-rich tonic—like Brighten + Boost—to prep and soothe your skin. Maybe it’s time to switch from a Toner to a Tonic. Tonics are far more moisturizing and add botanical nutrients to your skin! Think of building moisture, not stripping it!
• Rebuild your barrier with Barrier Defense Serum. It’s deeply hydrating with only a small amount of oil, and packed with ceramides! Instead of using oils to soften the lipid barrier, this products hero ingredients are Hyaluronic Acids and Ceramides. Now, before you start thinking these are “chemicals”, let me assure you..they are naturally produced by the body. The ingredients we used are naturally derived. Meaning, they are produced in a lab from plant-based ingredients. But, these are not harmful synthetic chemicals, so rest assured they are safe to apply to your skin.
• Seal it in with Face Cream in the morning or Nightly Face Serum at night. A good moisturizer will help strengthen and soften your lipid barrier. Do not be afraid to apply moisturizer if you have acne prone skin! You just need to avoid comedogenic ingredients! (Ingredients that clog pores!) Don’t worry, I’ve done the research for you and when I formulate any products for the face, I do not use ingredients that clog pores because no skin type benefits from that!

Simple Swap Chart

Overdoing It	Simple Body Swap
Foaming cleanser 2x/day	Gentle Cleansing Oil
Retinol + acid toner combo	Brighten + Boost or Age-Defying Tonic (with plant-based retinol)
5-step serum layering	Barrier Defense Serum, then a light-weight moisturizer like face cream
Heavy night cream	Non-comedogenic breathable oils like Nightly Face Serum or Age Defense Serum

Give it two weeks. Let your skin breathe. You might be surprised how good it can feel when you don’t throw everything at it.

xoxo
Jewels