Peeling, Purging, Dryness: What's Normal, And What's Not.
Starting a new routine can bring questions. Here is how to care for mild dryness or flaking, check your progress, and recognize the signs that mean stop.
What To Expect, Stage By Stage
Mild dryness or light flaking can occur as you begin. Keep skin comfortable rather than trying to dry it out. Itching or marks looking darker before they improve is not a stage you need to push through.
Check how your skin feels. There is no fixed day when everyone's skin settles. If mild discomfort persists, pause your active products and send a Glow Agent a photo and the products you use. Burning, raw skin, swelling or other significant symptoms need prompt medical advice. Get that advice right away; you do not need to wait or ask our permission first.
You may notice some flaking or changes in breakouts, but peeling does not have to peak this week. Follow the signs below rather than using the calendar to decide whether to keep going.
Review your progress with a photo in the same light and angle as Day 1. Results vary and can take longer than 30 days. Comfort and consistency matter more than forcing a visible reaction.
Planned recovery nights are part of the Resurfacing Crème routine, not a sign something is wrong. Find the cycle and first-time schedule on Retinol Rules. Why we work in this order →
Normal vs. Not Normal
- Mild dryness that improves with gentle care
- Light flaking without pain or broken skin
- A little tightness that settles rather than worsens
- A few small blemishes in your usual acne-prone areas, without rash or pain
These signs do not automatically mean you should continue unchanged. If they persist or you are unsure, pause and send a Glow Agent a photo and the products you use.
- Burning, pain, persistent itching, or increasing irritation
- Raw, cracked, or broken skin
- New or worsening darkening, particularly with irritation
- Breakouts in new areas, or breakouts that keep getting worse
- Rash, hives, swelling, or irritation around the eyes or lips
- A lighter area that spreads, worsens or has not improved over a few weeks
Get medical advice for these right away; you do not need to wait or ask our permission first. Never tan or add extra treatment to an area that looks lighter. Throat symptoms, sudden lip or tongue swelling, or trouble breathing need emergency care.
If You're Peeling
How to handle it
- Let loose flakes shed on their own. Do not pick, pull, or scrub them off.
- Use a gentle moisturizer on dry areas. Use Miracle Moisturizer only if it feels comfortable and is not a suspected trigger.
- Wear broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning and reapply as directed. Add shade and protective clothing.
First time using Resurfacing Crème? Follow the ease-in steps on the Retinol Rules page.
If You're Purging
Early breakouts can occur when you start a retinoid. You may hear this called retinol purging. Small blemishes in areas where you already break out can be part of this, but timing and location alone do not tell you the cause.
If Your Skin Feels Overloaded
For signs in the stop column, pause your routine. This recovery checklist is not a substitute for medical care.
- Stop the product causing the reaction and all Perfec-Tone retinoids: Resurfacing Crème, Refining Crème, and Spot Treatment.
- Gently rinse with cool water. Avoid scrubs, exfoliating acids, and other irritating active products.
- Keep moisturizing simple. Use a gentle moisturizer you already tolerate; do not apply Miracle Moisturizer or another product if it stings or might be causing the reaction.
- Protect your skin from the sun with shade, protective clothing, and broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher that your skin tolerates.
- For a reaction, get medical advice before restarting active products. You can also send a Glow Agent a photo and the products you use for help reviewing your routine.
Burning, raw skin, rash, swelling or other significant symptoms need prompt medical advice. Get that advice right away; you do not need to wait or ask our permission first.
When To Get Medical Help
Your Questions, Answered
Is it normal for dark spots to look darker at first?
Do not assume dark spots getting darker before lighter is a necessary treatment stage. Irritation can make marks darker. If you notice new or increasing darkening, especially with itching, burning, or redness, pause the active product and send a Glow Agent a photo and the products you use. If you also have burning, raw skin or swelling, get prompt medical advice right away, without waiting or asking our permission first.
Does peeling mean the product is working?
Peeling can happen with Resurfacing Crème, but it is not required for results. Never use extra product or apply it more often to force peeling. Painful, excessive or worsening peeling is a reason to stop the product and get prompt medical advice right away, without waiting or asking our permission first.
How do I tell purging from a breakout?
Early breakouts in your usual acne-prone areas can occur after starting a retinoid, sometimes called retinol purging. Location and timing alone cannot confirm the cause. New areas, pain, rash, or worsening symptoms are reasons to stop the new active product and get prompt medical advice right away, without waiting or asking our permission first.
What should I do if my skin burns?
Stop the product and other irritating actives, gently rinse it off with cool water, and get prompt medical advice right away. Do not add a moisturizer that stings or is suspected of causing the reaction. If your lips, tongue, or throat swell, or you have trouble breathing, get emergency care immediately. Do not wait for customer support.
Still not sure what you're seeing?
Tell us the product, when you started, and what changed. You can share a photo to help us understand your routine. For a medical concern, see a doctor.