Over-Exfoliated? Here's What To Do

We’ve all done it. Your skin feels smooth, radiant, alive — so you exfoliate again. And again. Until suddenly, it doesn’t feel so good anymore.

Now it’s red. Tight. Irritated. And no matter what you apply, it just feels off.

You’ve over-exfoliated.

Don’t panic. Your skin is smart, responsive, and completely capable of recovering. Here’s how to support it with calm, simple care.

What Just Happened?

Over-exfoliation disrupts your skin’s barrier — that outermost layer responsible for protection, hydration, and healing.

Your barrier is made of lipids and ceramides (your skin’s “moisture seal”), and when that layer is stripped away, everything underneath becomes vulnerable. Think: redness, flaking, stinging, dryness, and inflammation.

You might notice:

• Moisturizer that suddenly burns

• Products that used to work... don’t

• A constant sense of tightness, no matter what you apply

If this sounds familiar, your glow doesn’t need more exfoliating — it needs rebuilding.

4 Steps to Repair an Over-Exfoliated Barrier

1. Pause all exfoliants immediately. Yes, even your favorites. Give your skin time to calm, restore, and rehydrate before reintroducing actives or scrubs.

2. Cleanse gently. Stick to a low-foaming, non-stripping cleanser like RECLAIM Gentle Purifying Cleanser. It sweeps away buildup while respecting your skin’s natural barrier — no squeaky clean feeling here (and that’s a good thing).

3. Replenish with barrier-supporting oil. Apply RECOUP Revitalizing Face Oil twice daily. It’s packed with barrier-repairing botanicals like Plum, Oat, and Cucumber Seed Oil to nourish and support recovery — plus Vitamin E for antioxidant repair.

4. Layer on deep, intelligent moisture. Seal everything in with NURTURE Deep Nutrition moisturizer. This gentle cream formula delivers skin-soothing hydration and a rich infusion of botanicals to support healing. Free of actives, full of nourishment — NURTURE gives your skin exactly what it needs to rebuild, without overwhelming it.

When Can I Start Exfoliating Again?

Once your skin feels calm, hydrated, and resilient again—you can reintroduce exfoliation. But go slow. Try BOOST Resurfacing Treatment just once a week to start, and layer it over RECLAIM for an even gentler reset.

Your skin’s not asking for more effort. It’s asking for rhythm, consistency, and ingredients that respect its intelligence.

You don’t have to choose between glow and gentleness.

With the right care, you can have both.

Christine Untiedt | CEO, 7 Day Glow

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Notice: These statements and blog content have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information in our articles are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and are not intended as medical advice. The content of these blogs and associated products is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using products or following blog advice.