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 Beauty Studio5 Skin Tweaks A Dermatologist Told Me To Make For SpringAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Spring is right around the by Jacqueline KilikitaBeautyI Tried $320 Of Medicube Korean Skincare — & Now I Get The HypeAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. After more than 10 years&nbby Jacqueline KilikitaBeautyI Didn’t Love Tatcha’s Longevity Cream Moisturizer At First — Now...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. There are some brby Karina HoshikawaBeauty7 Skin Tips I Got From The Esthetician Behind The BAFTAs’ Most Ic...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Keren Bartov has magic handby Jacqueline KilikitaSkin Care14 Niacinamide Skincare Products To Try For Clearer, Brighter Skinby Karina HoshikawaBeautyEverything You Ever Wanted To Know About LED Skin Wands — & The B...All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. If, like me, your skincareby Jacqueline KilikitaBeautyThe Little-Known Side Effect Of Masseter Botox I Didn’t ExpectI can pinpoint the exact moment I knew I had to do something about my jaw pain. It was my birthday, and a friend cracked a joke so good that half the by Jacqueline KilikitaMercadoThe Milk & Rose Bath Collection We’re Buying Ourselves This Valen...Whether you’re in a relationship, single, or figuring out wth to do with that situationship, Valentine’s Day invites us to reflect on how we’ve been by Raquel ReichardBeautyThe 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 KilikitaADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT