What does it mean when moisturizers cause pilling?

[camelliagirl]

I often find myself reading reviews for products and notice a lot of people use the word "pilling" when describing a moisturizer or eye cream? What does it mean and why is it bad?

[fieldsofclover]

I've only ever experienced this when combining different brands of skincare (like serum under moisturizer), so it's a good example of why it can be better to mostly use products from the same line... they're designed to work together.

[ElleElleG]

Hi @camelliagirl

Quoting @k617 for emphasis

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k617 wrote:

If a moisturizer is pilling it means it’s balling up rather than sitting smoothly on your face. Like what happens to sweaters in rub points (between your body and arm, or sweater and a jacket). You don’t want that because it ruins your base for makeup, or rather than hydrating your face it’s just...sitting on top of your skin in balls. 

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 You will definitely notice when this happens.  Often it is because the products you are layering do not play well together (certain primers come to mind).  Patting, or pressing and slightly rolling, a product in tends to minimize the likelihood that pilling occurs.

Hope that helps 😊

[k617]

@ElleElleG I have dealt with my moisturizer or primer pilling when I apply primer but never a moisturizer on its own, until I tried the Farmacy Rise N shine one! This stuff was pilling as I was applying on my skin. It was sooo unusual!

[ElleElleG]

OMG that would frustrate me to no end @k617 the moisturizer/primer pilling is already annoying as is.  I wonder if they meant the product to do that? 

[k617]

If their goal is to prevent people from wearing makeup, then they definitely accomplished that!

[bakeamuffin]

It’s like instead of absorbing into your skin the product folds into itself and feels like it’s just sitting on top of your skin in little beads

[bakeamuffin]

[k617]

If a moisturizer is pilling it means it’s balling up rather than sitting smoothly on your face. Like what happens to sweaters in rub points (between your body and arm, or sweater and a jacket). You don’t want that because it ruins your base for makeup, or rather than hydrating your face it’s just...sitting on top of your skin in balls.