If your foundation looks cakey due to dead skin cells, try stopping your morning scrub.

When your makeup looks cakey in the morning, you want to get rid of dead skin cells first because you're worried your skin will look messy.

I also used to try to make my skin smooth with a scrub whenever I had an important appointment.

However, there were days when my skin actually turned red and my foundation looked even more cakey.

It turned out that removing dead skin cells every time I saw them wasn't the answer.

Especially on days when your skin is dry or sensitive, scrubbing or peeling can add to the irritation.

In such cases, the first step is to apply plenty of moisturizer after washing your face to soothe your skin.

I found that for base makeup as well, it looks cleaner to apply a thin layer of moisturizer and let it absorb before starting, rather than layering multiple products.

It is best not to pick at or rub off dead skin cells that have already formed.

On days when my makeup tends to cake, I changed my routine to reduce the steps and let my skin rest rather than adding more products.

I found that the secret to smooth-looking skin isn't necessarily just about exfoliation.

If your foundation keeps flaking off lately, check your moisturizing and cleansing habits before buying a new peeling product.