Clean, no Squeak

An Esthetician's Guide to Cleansing, Without Stripping the Skin

Millenials, like myself, grew up thinking that the main goal of washing your skin was to achieve that “squeaky clean” feeling. That wasn’t our only downfall, we also saw oily skin as our biggest enemy, any hint of shine throughout the day was to be avoided. We loaded ourselves with powders and mattifying foundations and always kept blotting sheets handy.

Thankfully the industry has learned a bit since the early 2000’s. Out is the dry, matte complexion and in is a hydrated, dewy, nourished barrier. One of the best ways to ensure that nourished barrier is to avoid over-stripping your skin.

“Stripping” the skin simply means you’re removing too much of what makes it healthy. Our natural balance of water, lipids and dead skin on the surface of the skin provides it with the right conditions to maintain proper function. Remove it and you’re left dry and vulnerable to the elements - often resulting in sensitivity and irritation.

Traditional cleansing methods using soaps and foaming cleansers that once we praised for leaving us squeaky clean, in reality, were damaging our healthy barrier. The surfactants and foaming agents used to create that classic bubbly texture we were used to, also worked to wash away our essential lipids and protectants, resulting in a higher likelihood of sensitivity and irritation.

Surfactants reduce surface tension and aid in bubble formation in cleanser formlas.

So how do we remove what we don’t want while leaving the rest intact?

Choosing the right cleanser for your skin type is one of the most effective ways to avoid stripping the skin. As a general rule, I recommend non-foaming cleansing options for a basic skincare routine, especially if there is any concern about dryness, sensitivity or irritation.

Types of non-foaming cleansers: