Use fragrance-free, gentle cleansers and moisturizers

Choose a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and a moisturizer suited to your skin type. Wash your face twice daily -- morning and evening -- and apply moisturizer while skin is still slightly damp to lock in hydration.

Why It Works

The skin's outermost layer (stratum corneum) functions as a barrier that retains moisture and blocks irritants. Harsh cleansers strip natural oils and disrupt this barrier, leading to dryness, irritation, and increased sensitivity. Fragrance is one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis in skincare products. A simple routine with gentle, well-formulated products supports barrier integrity without overloading the skin.

Tips

• Look for cleansers with a pH close to skin's natural pH of 4.5-5.5
• Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide are well-studied moisturizing ingredients with strong dermatological support
• Avoid over-cleansing or using multiple active products simultaneously, which can compromise the skin barrier
• Natural oils like jojoba and squalane can supplement moisturizers but may not suit acne-prone skin
• Introduce new products one at a time and wait 2 weeks to assess tolerance