Review after 3 months of morning water cleansing: I realized that a mildly acidic foam cleanser isn't always the answer!

I used to wash my face every morning with a mild, pH-balanced cleanser to wash away excess oil. However, the tightness deep within my skin wasn't really getting under control, so I bit the bullet and switched my routine to just a light rinse with lukewarm water in the mornings. For the first few days, it felt like my skin wasn't getting clean enough and left a slightly uncomfortable feeling, but after three months, surprisingly, the tightness completely disappeared. Perhaps because my natural oil barrier was preserved, the excess oil on the surface actually decreased! Unless you have oily skin with explosive oil production in the T-zone, I highly recommend washing your face with water in the morning. It's the best way to protect your skin barrier on a budget!