Why Over-Cleansing May Be Disrupting Your Skin

3 min read

Healthy skin is not usually created through force.

Yet many modern skincare routines are built around the idea that skin needs to be deeply cleansed, stripped or constantly corrected in order to improve.

In my experience, skin often functions best when it feels supported rather than overwhelmed.

Cleansing should support the skin barrier

Cleansing is an important part of maintaining healthy skin. Throughout the day, skin accumulates sunscreen, makeup, excess oil, pollution, sweat and environmental buildup. A well-formulated cleanser helps remove these impurities while supporting the integrity of the skin barrier.

After cleansing, skin should feel fresh, comfortable, calm and balanced — not tight, squeaky or depleted. That overly stripped feeling many people associate with being clean may sometimes be a sign that the skin barrier is under pressure.

What over-cleansing can look like

Over-cleansing occurs when skin is cleansed too frequently or with products that are too aggressive for its needs. This may include harsh foaming cleansers, repeated washing throughout the day, excessive exfoliation, or routines that leave skin feeling stripped afterward.

Over time, this can contribute to dehydration, increased sensitivity, redness, and persistent skin imbalance. In some cases, skin responds to excessive stripping by producing more oil in an attempt to compensate.

Choosing the right cleanser

Different skin types and environments may benefit from different cleansing textures.

Cream cleansers are often well-suited to skin that feels dry, reactive, sensitised or compromised — providing a nourishing cleansing experience while helping support comfort and barrier integrity.

Gentle gel cleansers are often suited to skin that feels combination, oily, or congestion-prone — helping skin feel fresh and balanced without unnecessary stripping.

A more balanced approach

Healthy skin is often built through consistency, gentle cleansing, appropriate hydration, barrier support, and less overall disruption.

Sometimes the most supportive thing we can do for the skin is give it less to fight against.

On what a compromised barrier feels like
Understanding a Compromised Skin Barrier

On why more isn't always more considered
Why More Skincare Isn't Always Better

Calm Cleanse — a gentle cream cleanser for reactive and sensitised skin.
Pure Gel Cleanse — a lightweight gel cleanser for combination and oily skin.

The NUA Journal is a collection of observations gathered through years of caring for people's skin and helping them better understand it. The articles are intended for education and reflection, not as a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you have persistent, worsening or concerning skin symptoms, please speak with your GP, dermatologist or another qualified healthcare professional.