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8 Reasons Your Makeup Is Pilling—And What You Can Do About It
Key Takeaways
- Makeup can pill for a few different reasons—skincare build-up and residue, skin in need of exfoliation, product not absorbing correctly, or too much layering.
- Once makeup has started to pill, you can’t remedy it right away, but you can prevent it in the first place.
We’ve all been there before: You’re racing the clock to get to work after hitting the snooze button one time too many. You layer your serums—not your favorites, just whatever’s within arm’s reach—at lightning speed, scoop out a big dollop of the night cream you forgot to put away before bed, and rub on SPF like your life depends on it.
As you blend in your foundation, you’re overcome with dread. Was that…? Oh no. Before your very eyes, your last five minutes of work begin to peel off your face in dreaded tiny balls. You swipe a quick finger across your jawline to be sure, but there’s no denying it: For some ungodly reason, your makeup is pilling. Do you abandon ship and start over, or try to salvage what’s left of your work?
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to fix pilling once it’s already occurred. Instead, it’s important to consider why you’re pilling and how to prevent it from happening in the first place. We went straight to the experts to find out how to do just that—read on for everything you need to know.
How to Fix Pilling
So, what exactly can you do to fix pilling makeup in the moment? Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot… other than starting your whole routine over again.
“It’s incredibly frustrating and challenging to fix makeup if it starts to pill,” says celebrity makeup artist Sofia Tilbury. “The best you can do is gently brush the excess product away with a large, fluffy brush, spritz a hydrating, reviving mist over your skin to rehydrate and dampen the area, then go in with your foundation or concealer in very light layers, making an effort to pat rather than rub, to smooth and perfect without further disrupting your base.”
While there’s a chance you can salvage your look with Tilbury’s technique, dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, MD, and pro makeup artists Aya Tariq and Troy Surratt all agree that this is one of those situations that is far easier to prevent than treat. They recommend removing your makeup and doing it again.
With that, our experts all say it’s more important to understand why makeup pills (and how to keep it from pilling altogether).
Why Your Makeup is Pilling
While pilling is pretty obvious when it occurs, the root cause can be tough to pin down. There are a slew of factors that lead to pilling, many of which can exacerbate one another and further complicate the issue. Still, a few potential pitfalls most likely to be the culprit.
The Final Takeaway
Once you understand why makeup pills, it’s pretty easy to avoid the problem in the future. Starting with bare, cleansed skin goes a long way, as does regular exfoliation. Whether it’s an essence, moisturizer, or concealer, apply all products carefully, gently patting and blending each layer into the skin. Start with a small amount of product—you can always add more later—and really think about the ingredients you’re using and the order you’re using them. Opting for a pared-down routine with lightweight formulas will take you far, too.
Between each step, allow sufficient time for products to absorb and the skin to dry down before adding another layer. Aim for a few minutes of downtime between each product, saving the most time between sunscreen and your first layer of makeup.
In the end, you might not be able to save yourself once pilling begins—but you can certainly prevent pilling from happening again.
