Why does moisturizer "ball up" on my skin?

[boston340]

I have dry skin that tends to be slightly sensitive.  After trying a gazillion different skincare products, I've finally settled into a skin care routine that has been working really well for me the past 9 months.  Every so often though, I'll get a moisturizer sample, try it, and it "balls up" on my skin and just creates an absolute mess.  The new Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar did it to me this morning.  

I know I should just stick to what works with my skin.  Why in the world do some product ball up though?  

[parisinthespring]

Just a guess, maybe the formula is too thick to be properly absorbed by your skin?
This happens to me with certain body lotions and I agree, it's a mess!

[roxysoxy]

A lot of moisturizers do this to me too and I don't know why. Every Neutrogena moisturizer that I've tried has balled up on my skin. It's very annoying. I just bought a new moisturizer that was supposed to be good and it had the same balling up issue. I wish I knew why that happened. I guess I'll stick to what I know works.  

[peach]

I have had this happen with body lotion - it's so strange!

[IIOY]

So apparently this is a thing.


Why does my moisturizer ball up and peel off

Product pilling - see first comment: "Most products come with either an oil, silicone, or water based formula. Some of these products are incompatible, but the pilling is most likely caused by using a silicone based product in conjunction with a water based one. Silicones repel water, this is why silicone based hair conditioners (which is basically ALL of them) keep humidity out. I would avoid mixing anything where you read water as one of the first two ingredients with a product listing anything that ends in cone. Also, make sure your face is bone dry before applying a silicone product. Hope this is helpful!"