Squeaky clean face

[sunshinesallday]

I've been reading in a few places recently that when cleansing, the aim is not to have a squeaky clean face that feels tight afterwards. It seems this could be one of the reasons my skin is so dehydrated/dry. I know this sounds silly, but how do I clean it, but not to the point of squeaky clean? Otherwise it still feels dirty. I like the squeaky clean/ tight feeling, but it sounds like it isn't good for my skin. Any advice or pointers please?
I've tried diff cleansers, balms, oils, milk etc, but this happens with anything.
Thank you :)

It’s a balancing act between making sure dirt, make up, grease, sweat etc are removed but that you don’t upset the ph balance of your skin or strip it of its natural oils. Squeaky is not what I’m aiming for, more of a soft smoothness.

I like the Alpha H Balancing Cleanser for evening but they’ll be plenty of good cleansers out there.

If you use a richer cleanser, you can massage it in for longer (a minute) and make sure your skin is clean but also enriched.

I use a cleanser and wash off with a muslin. La Roche Posay is good.

Or CeraVe cream to foam certainly makes your skin squeaky clean but not tight.

I use oil cleanser (currently from Facetheory, but it stings my eyes, so separate product for removing eye make up) and I love Tropic clear skies powder, as it doesn't leave my face tight and dehydrated. My skin is very prone to it, as I think yours is. All these Garnier etc. products are the worst. I have oily skin, so I still need to properly remove grease etc., but they're way too harsh. I also found Cerave good, as PP.

Thank you... maybe I need to go back to using the muslins too. I'm using Neals yard gentle eye make up remover and then skin & me cleanser. (Started on skin & me beginning Nov). Also have used eve lom cleanser and dr Frances Prenna jones. All of these I love and I feel v clean after, but am clearly stripping my skin too much.

@TheOGCCL when you say a soft smoothness, does that happen immediately after cleansing and before moisturising? I think I tend to notice the tightness more at night than in the day.

I'm using more moisturiser and also oil now during the day, but my foundation still disappears by lunchtime.

I have combination skin with some very dry patches and I've found the best combination for me is a cleansing balm/oil followed by a balancing moisturiser. I also use a good serum at night.

Current favourites are Emma Hardie or Elemis for the balm, Clinique or Charlotte Tilbury for moisturiser and the Ordinary for serum.

If you like a clean feeling, (as do I - I get congested skin), I think you need to exfoliate regularly with a scrub and an acid exfoliant (not at the same time - once a week each), cleanse with something mild, and add a coupe of drops of tea tree oil to your moisturiser. I love doing this as it makes my skin feel lovely and fresh without being tight

I use a gentle cleanser with a Foreo Luna. It’s been a game changer for me. I get the benefits of not stripping my skin with harsh cleansers with a gentle but very effective exfoliation.

Thank you for all these pointers.

Am I meant to be getting the stripped clean feeling after cleaning and that's ok, but should feel soft again once I put the moisturiser on, or I shouldn't get it in between the two? (I'm clearly clueless!)

I use oil based cleanser to take makeup off and a gentle foamy cleanser afterwards, usually CeraVe which has already been recommended by pp.

I find that if my skin is feeling tight after cleansing, it gets really oily later, almost like it’s trying to remedy the dryness itself.