Why does my makeup pill over my moisturizer?

Pilling usually means product layers haven't fully absorbed, or two textures are chemically incompatible — silicone-based products are the most common culprit.

Pilling happens when a top layer (usually makeup or sunscreen) can't bind to what's underneath and instead balls up and rubs off. It's most common when a silicone-based primer or sunscreen goes over a moisturiser that hasn't fully sunk in yet, or when too many product layers are stacked in quick succession. Waiting a full minute or two between steps for each layer to absorb, and not mixing too many silicone-heavy products, usually solves it.