What is pilling and how to reduce or stop it please?

[FusionChefGeoff]

I am trying to up my skincare game so am experimenting with different products. Generally sticking to Boots ranges as affordable so don't mind if something doesn't work for me and I have to bin it!

So far I like and think I'm looking better with:

Morning
Gatineau face wash with flannel (soon to be replaced by an Aldi dupe as too pricey!)
No 7 Vitamin C serum
Garnier Vitamin c day cream
Ambre solaire face SPF 50

Evening
Face wash with flannel again
No 7 hydra luminous night cream
Twice a week No 7 0.3% retinol

Sometimes I use a glycolic acid toner and also a hylauronic acid serum.

I don't wear any make up.

However, I sometimes get horrible pilling where I need to rub / wipe over my face a few times to "scrape" all the little balls of gunk off.

What is this?? Skin cells or product??
Does it mean my SPF is ineffective as I basically peel it straight off again in the balls?
How can I work out what's causing it?
Anything I can look at in ingredients lists to prevent it happening again?

Make sure products are fully dry on the face before applying the next one. Less product. Have a think about whether you need the moisturiser AND SPF. Some SPF's work well as a moisturiser.

Oh and you want retinol then night cream. Make sure the retinol is fully dry before the cream. Like brush teeth or put of PJ's or have a brew!

Sorry my list is confusing - I do it that way round on the days I use it.

It’s the serum. Maybe use less or change to another type. I haven’t had No7 protect and perfect do that so that could be worth a try.

Oh it might also be the SPF 50. That’s quite heavy duty substance added to the others.

It’s not any of these

sometimes the base of one product does agree with another for example silicone, oil, water etc

You might need to change a product

For example for me the La Roche Posay spf in the fluid formula made my skincare pill but the gel cream in the pump does not

I'd ditch the day cream if you're using the ambre solair face SPF. I use the hyaluronic acid one over serum and that's plenty

How do you know what base your product has? I get this too and have changed my moisturiser but it happens frequently. I end up with flakey white bits on my eyebrows - not a good look.

It's anything you're using which is silicone heavy.
Check INCI decoder for the ingredients but silicone is usually listed as dimethicone.
Likely to be the moisturizers and serums as they are most likely to have -cones.
HA can be a bugger for it as well.