Beauty

[Harpa]

Too many layers/too many products w/ similar, large molecular structure.

It's as though your skin is rejecting something because of the overload.

[myshell624]

I have used serums and moisturizer that balled up on their on and layered with other products. The Skinn Crease Release AM moisturizer is a good example. It balled up no matter what I did. I would try the suggestions that have already been given and if you are still finding that it is not working, I would apply each one by itself to see if maybe only one of the products you are using is causing the balling.

[Jayro]

Years ago a Sephora CA told me it was because you can't layer anything with BHA/AHA next to anything with ""cones"". It worked for me.

[wagirl]

Do you exfoliate a couple times a week? Sometimes the dead skin cells form a barrier on your skin that won't let the other products absorb. Try a little bit of baking soda in your cleanser a couple times a week. Also I agree with not letting each product sink in before applying the next one. I use the baking soda on my face and mixed it in with my shampoo to de- gunk my scalp. Nice and gentle and CHEAP!!!!

[ChynnaBlue]

On 3/12/2014 Jayro said:

Years ago a Sephora CA told me it was because you can't layer anything with BHA/AHA next to anything with "cones". It worked for me.

I haven't noticed it happening more often with BHA/AHAs and silicones, but I definitely notice that silicones seem to be a key factor for me. I have to be sure to give anything with silicones extra time before I apply anything over them and that seems to work, but only some combinations cause this. I've been using the Mad Hippie Vitamin C serum under my Dr Denese Hydroshield for a few weeks with no issues at all. Recently I added an Aveeno moisturizer/sunscreen and got the balling up. When I give the Hydroshield an extra few minutes to absorb (the bottle recommends 5, but I'd been getting away with a lot less time), the same Aveeno goes on without any problems.

[Harpa]

It would really help to know exactly what products OP is using, (or those who have had this happen) so we can see where the silicones are (if any) and other ingredients. I never had the balling up.

Just sounds like too many overlapping waxes/emulsifiers/silicones in products would be more the culprits than AH or BHAs.