I was trying to relax alone at a cafe when I stumbled upon a white intruder in the mirror.

Ah, I was just sitting in a corner, quietly trying to organize my skincare routine, when someone I know keeps spotting me and talking to me. It's so embarrassing. I'm trying to answer with a smile, but my mind is already filled with other thoughts. I just glanced in the bathroom mirror and noticed the white patches around my nose and mouth. I pride myself on being meticulous about skincare, but I'm suddenly so curious if this is simply dryness or if my makeup is flaking off due to the regular buildup of dead skin cells. I can't focus. Has anyone who checks their skin condition daily like me experienced this? I worry that exfoliating too often will damage my skin barrier, but if I just leave it alone, my skin texture is a mess, and it's incredibly stressful. I'm curious how you all soothe your skin when you get these symptoms. Should I focus on products with less physical irritation, or should I create a weekly routine to consistently cleanse my skin? Like a true questioner, I keep asking myself these questions. I'm frustrated because you keep talking to me, but I'd like to borrow your wisdom on how to interpret these honest records my skin is sending me.