5 Signs Your Skincare Routine is Too Harsh

Is your skincare routine too harsh? Here are 5 warning signs to watch out for – and my how-to on skin repair.

We all want glowing, healthy skin, but sometimes, in our quest for a flawless complexion, we overdo it. 

Too many active ingredients, harsh cleansers, or excessive exfoliation can actually harm your skin rather than help it. If you’ve been noticing irritation, dryness, or unexpected breakouts, your skincare routine might be working against you instead of for you.

At the heart of healthy skin is your skin barrier—your body’s natural defence system that keeps moisture in and irritants out. When your routine is too harsh, your skin barrier can become compromised, leading to redness, sensitivity, and inflammation. Let’s dive into the key signs your skincare routine is too harsh and what you can do to support your skin from the inside out.

What is the Skin Barrier (and why should you care about it)?

Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin and acts as a protective shield. It has two major roles:

🔹 Preventing moisture loss – keeps hydration locked in so your skin stays plump, juicy + healthy.
🔹 Blocking irritants, allergens + pollutants – defends against bacteria + toxin infiltration, and the effects of environmental damage.

When your skin barrier is strong, your skin is hydrated, resilient + calm. But when it’s damaged? That’s when irritation, breakouts + sensitivity tend to kick in.

Signs Your Skincare Routine Is Too Harsh

If you’re using too many actives, over-exfoliating, or stripping your skin’s natural oils, you’re likely gonna know about it.

Here are some of the warning signs that you’re going a tad hard + heavy on that poor skin of yours.

1. Your Skin Feels Tight After Cleansing

That squeaky-clean feeling you’re chasing? The one that ends with your skin feeling oh-so tight? Not such a good thing. 

If your post-cleansed skin is feeling tight, it’s likely that your cleanser is too harsh – and it’s stripping away essential moisture.

What to do: Swap to a gentle, hydrating cleanser that supports your skin’s natural oils rather than depleting them. Look for cream or oil-based cleansers if you have dry or sensitive skin.

2. You’re Experiencing More Redness + Irritation

A compromised skin barrier can make your skin more reactive to products, temperature changes, and even water. 

If your skin is constantly red, inflamed, or stinging, it might be time to simplify your routine.

What to do: Reduce the number of active ingredients (like Vitamin C, Retinol, AHAs + BHAs) you’re using, and focus on hydration and skin barrier repair instead.

3. Your Skin Is Dry, Flaky, or Peeling

If your skin is rough, flaky, or peeling, it could be a sign that your routine is stripping away too many natural oils. Over-exfoliating or strong active over-use can break down your skin’s protective layer.

What to do: Cut back on the exfoliation (2x per week is enough!), and incorporate ceramide-rich products to help rebuild your skin barrier + get that moisture locked back in.

4. You’re Breaking Out More Than Usual

Ironically, a harsh routine can trigger acne – especially if your skin is inflamed, dehydrated, or overproducing oil to compensate for moisture loss.

While those acne sufferers among us tend to believe they have naturally oily skin, the vast majority of them are actually contending with damaged skin.

What to do: Focus on soothing ingredients (like niacinamide + ceramides) instead of layering too many actives, and don’t fear (non-comedogenic!) oils like hemp or jojoba.

5. Your Skin Feels Itchy or Sensitive to Products

If your skin is suddenly reacting to products you used to tolerate, it might be a sign of a weakened skin barrier. Itchy, burning, or extra-sensitive skin is a red flag that your skin needs a well-deserved break!

What to do: Scale back to the basics – a gentle cleanser, barrier repair-focused moisturiser + SPF – until your skin calms down.

How to Repair + Support your Skin Barrier

If you suspect your skincare routine is too harsh, don’t panic! But please, for the love of skin health, do focus on repair + support!

Here’s how to restore + strengthen your skin barrier:

1. Prioritise Hydration

The Why: Hydration helps repair the skin, reduce fine lines + maintain elasticity.

The How:

• Use hyaluronic acid or glycerin-based products to draw moisture into the skin.
• Drink plenty of water + herbal teas to hydrate from the inside out.
• Avoid alcohol-based toners or drying ingredients (like sulfates).

2. Feed Your Skin

The Why: Ceramides make up over 50% of the skin’s outer layer, and act as the “mortar” holding skin cells together – and they might need some extra help to do so.

The How:

• Use a ceramide-rich moisturiser alongside Hyaluronic Acid to reinforce the skin barrier.
• Eat ceramide-rich foods like eggs, dairy, soybeans, wheat germ, hemp seeds (+ hemp seed oil) + nuts.
• Include phyto-ceramides (plant-based ceramides) from foods like spinach, potatoes + rice.
• Don’t underestimate the power of zinc + vitamin C for healing + repair – consume more zinc-rich sesame seeds, broad beans + spinach, and more vitamin C-rich citrus, capsicum + strawberries.

3. Simplify Your Skincare Routine

The Why: Too many products (especially actives) can overwhelm + weaken your skin.

The How:

• Stick with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser + a hydrating moisturiser.
• Use minimal active ingredients (rotate your actives instead of layering them).
• Always apply SPF to prevent further damage.

4. Avoid Over-Exfoliation

The Why: Exfoliating too often can compromise your skin barrier, making it more prone to irritation + dehydration.

The How:

• Limit chemical exfoliation (AHAs, BHAs) to 1-2 times per week max.
• Choose gentle exfoliants (like lactic acid) over harsh, physical scrubs

Balance Is Key

A good skincare routine should support + protect your skin barrier—not strip it down. 

If your skin feels tight, irritated, or suddenly more sensitive, it might be time to dial it back, simplify your routine, and focus on hydration + barrier repair. Oh, and don’t forget all of the goodness you can be doing to support skin health + repair from within!

Want a personalised plan to heal your skin from the inside out? Book a naturopathy consult so we can build an internal skincare routine that works for you (and your skin!).