Face off: Why overcleansing is not the flex you think it is

Retinoids. Salicylic acid. BHAs. AHAs. There’s only so much your skin can take. Ease up on your routine. Let natural skin be

Look back at pictures of, say young Princess Diana or even Kareena Kapoor Khan in Jab We Met (2007). They’re beautiful, of course. But they look real, human, natural. Now, contrast the images with videos of any skincare influencer online. The skin is poreless. Did she ever have facial hair? She has glass skin, but surely she never sweats. It might seem like Little Miss Selfie was generated by AI.

Men’s skin produces more oil, and they have larger pores, more hair follicles and thicker skin than women. (Adobe Stock)

Overcleansing can make the skin more susceptible to moisture loss, inflammation, and sensitivity.

Stress can trigger acne. A new sunscreen might be harder to take off . Keep checking on your skin.