Your cleanser should remove surface level contaminants without stripping the skin. Too often people believe that a cleanser isn't working unless they feel a little stinging. This is largely due to the old trend of peels, which I believe to be outdated and potentially harmful in our understanding of skin health. You don't want to strip away the top layers of your skin because that’s what protects you from deeper penetrations of UVA/UVB rays and other environmental pollutants.
While you definitely want to remove the dirt and some dead skin, you don't want to strip the skin of it's natural defensive oils and other protectants because it will make you more vulnerable to the things that cause the signs of aging - the things you are worried about to begin with.
Many cleansers are too drying and can cause more irritation than just using plain water. Ideally, a cleanser should hydrate while removing the surface level contaminants gently, leaving a clean and refreshed base for the next step.
I recommend our Hydrating Cleansing Mask to both hydrate and gently exfoliate your skin.
Have a question for Dr. Moy? For a chance to be featured in our newsletter please email info@cellularmd.com