Say goodbye to those squeaky, squeaky-cleansing routines! Change your cleansing habits.

Lately, I've been feeling like my skin barrier has been breaking down, and the first thing I've been thinking about is my cleansing habits. In the past, I used to think removing all the oil was the key to cleanliness, so I washed my face so vigorously it made my skin squeak. But I've since learned that this actually makes my skin more sensitive. So, one of the skincare routines I've recently changed is "low-irritation cleansing."

First, I started washing my face with just water in the morning or using a very small amount of a mild, slightly acidic foam cleanser. And even in the evening, I try to "foam my face," lathering it up well and avoiding direct contact with my face with my palms. By keeping my face wash to a minimum of a minute, I've noticed a noticeable reduction in my facial redness and tightness afterward. While switching up my basic skincare routine is great, I think the right way to start skincare is to start with the cleansing process. If you find yourself feeling incredibly tight after washing, why not try changing your cleansing habits like I did?