Heres Why Your Skin Care Products Are Burning - Refinery29

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTStory from BeautyNo, Your Skin Care Shouldn’t HurtUsLast Updated October 23, 2018, 9:30 PM ADVERTISEMENTSee All SlidesBegin SlideshowIllustrated by Anna Sudit.Plenty of people have a tendency to think that if a skin-care product makes your face feel like it's on fire, then it's working. And if it leaves a tingling feeling afterwards and a flushed, irritated face, then it must be really working. Because we love you and care about your skin, we're here to tell you that that's wrong, and that your skin care really shouldn't be leaving you will full-blown lobster face.“No pain, no gain is a terrible motto when dealing with your face,” says Lucile White, MD, a dermatologist in Houston, Texas. Skin care should not sting, tingle, or burn on a daily basis. If it does, you’ll get redness, peeling, and flaking. “Those are signs of chronic inflammation,” says Karyn Grossman, MD, a dermatologist who practices in New York and Santa Monica. In other words, your skin ain’t happy, and inflamed skin will develop a cascade of other issues — dryness, tightness, and increased sensitivity.But here is what’s confusing: Many proven skin-care ingredients, like acids and retinoids, might in fact sting, and in that particular case, they're supposed to. For products like those, tingling can be okay if it is short (three seconds or less) and intermittent (not daily).So, how do you know if feeling the burn is the good kind or the bad? Ahead, the pros explain how to keep from getting burned by your skin care, and we offer you some recommendations for gentle products that won't leave your face super irritated.At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.Begin Slideshow ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT BeautyThe Ordinary’s New Milky Moisturizer Is For Everyone, But My Dry ...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Having combination skiby Jacqueline KilikitaSkin CareThe Best Moisturizers To Quench Thirsty Dry Skinby Rachel KrauseBeauty StudioEvery Dermatologist I Know Swears By La Roche-Posay, Namely These...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. I’m very lucky to have acby Venus WongBeautyWhy Your Skin Looks Dull — & What Will Actually Help, According T...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. One thing that comes with tby Jacqueline KilikitaSkin CareI Tried 8 Peptide Lip Treatments — & The Cheapest Was The WinnerAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Take a closer look at some by Venus WongBeautyThe Lesser-Known Acid Skincare Experts Love For A Year-Round GlowAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. If I were to rifle through by Jacqueline KilikitaBeautyThe Inkey List’s $15 Retinal Serum Is The Only Thing Saving My Du...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Until a few weeks ago, I waby Jacqueline KilikitaBeauty5 New Skincare Trends That’ll Be Everywhere In 2026All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. 2025 was a standout year foby Jacqueline KilikitaBeautyI’ve Been Using Shark’s LED Mask For Months — & It...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. LED face masks are everywheby Karina HoshikawaBeauty10 Of The Best Beauty Tools To Gift Skincare Obsessives, From $18by Jacqueline KilikitaBeautyA Dermatologist Told Me To Make These 7 Skincare Resolutions In 2026All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Every January, I set big inby Jacqueline KilikitaSkin CareMedik8 Is Having A Huge Sale — Here’s What A Beauty Editor Would BuyAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. This Black Friday and Cyberby Venus WongADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT