Releasing a genuine review of how I restored my skin barrier, which completely collapsed during the change of seasons, in just two weeks lol

Hello Maypure members, how is your skin condition these days? Haha. Recently, my skin barrier completely broke down, so I've been really struggling. Even when I applied the mild hydrating toner I usually use without any issues, my face stung and burned like crazy, so I was really panicked at first. It might be partly due to the sudden dryness caused by the unpredictable weather, but after thinking about it carefully, I think the root cause was that I had been scrubbing my face too often with exfoliating toner pads and applying retinol-containing cosmetics generously every day in an attempt to do anti-aging.

So, first off, I completely stopped any functional skincare routines that might irritate my skin. In the morning, I made sure to wash my face lightly with lukewarm water, and in the evening, instead of using an alkaline foam cleanser that leaves my skin squeaky clean and dry, I switched to a really gentle, low-foaming, slightly acidic gel cleanser. I even set a timer to make sure I never spent more than a minute washing my face, haha. Then, I officially started a "cosmetic diet." I skipped toners entirely because I was worried even the friction of a cotton pad might be irritating; immediately after washing my face and lightly patting it dry, I applied just two layers of a soothing ampoule containing panthenol to help it absorb. Finally, I finished my skincare routine by melting a thick, regenerating moisturizing cream rich in ceramides with the warmth of my palms and applying it over my entire face like a thin film.

For the first few days, being in a dry office made my skin feel tight from within, so I agonized over whether I should spray a mist or apply more cream. However, I held back because I was worried that applying too many products would prevent my already compromised skin from absorbing them all, clog my pores, and cause more breakouts. Instead, with the mindset that I needed to nourish my skin from the inside rather than just the surface, I consciously tried to drink nearly 2 liters of plain water a day using a tumbler, and I drastically increased my sleep time to ensure I got a good night's sleep during the "golden time" for skin regeneration, which is between 10 PM and 2 AM.

After patiently taking care of my skin for exactly two weeks, the intense tightness I used to feel right after washing my face definitely decreased haha. And most importantly, the painful stinging sensation that used to agonize every time I absorbed skincare products has completely disappeared, so I finally feel like I can breathe again. My redness has subsided a lot, and now my skin texture feels much firmer and tighter than before. If any of you members are experiencing stinging sensations from your usual cosmetics, you absolutely must focus on restoring your skin barrier first ㅠㅠ Please feel free to share any great tips for barrier repair in the comments haha.