Compromised skin does not need more cleansing. It needs better cleansing.
It starts with what you take off first.
When skin becomes red, tight, reactive, dry, dehydrated, or unusually sensitive, the instinct is often to do more.
We exfoliate more thoroughly. We reach for stronger acids. We add a retinoid. We wash more often. We look for a cleanser that leaves the skin feeling exceptionally “clean.”
But that squeaky-clean feeling is not always a sign of healthy skin.
In fact, for skin with a compromised skin barrier, it can be a warning sign.
