Now, years later, I know this approach was only doing more harm than good. Here’s how I learned to listen, healed my skin, and discovered a ride-or-die cleanser, Beekman 1802’s Milk Wash Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser, that helped me find my way back to healthy and happy skin. It’s amazing how quickly I was able to find solutions when I really heard what my skin was trying to tell me. I slowed my routine down and noticed my skin was tight, itchy, and, well, angry after daily cleansing and twice-weekly exfoliating. After a little research, I realized that the foaming cleansers and abrasive exfoliators I had been using were stripping my skin of all its oil—including the sebum that is essential to keeping the skin’s acid mantle, the outermost protective layer of the skin, strong. As a result, my skin was super sensitive and dehydrated. And all those harsh ingredients I’d employed to “fix” my skin were actually leaving it more susceptible to bacteria and environmental stressors. So I went on a search for ingredients and products that were effective but gentle, starting with a new cleanser. The “exfoliating” part of the cleanser felt like a red flag at first, but after doing a little research I discovered that lactic acid, the main exfoliator in the formula, is very different from the abrasive scrubs I had been using. Lactic acid is a hydrating alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps slough away older, dull cells on the skin’s surface by dissolving the bonds that hold them together. This speeds up cell turnover and stimulates cell renewal, leaving my skin with less congestion and more glow, without any irritation. By using an exfoliator that is gentle enough for everyday use but effective enough to deeply purify, I wasn’t prone to falling into the “all-or-nothing” trap of harsher exfoliants. I became super consistent, and my skin loved me for it. This beautiful cleanser starts as a jelly that you apply to a dry face. Once you add water, it transforms into a makeup-melting milk—it feels a little like an oil cleanser but lighter and somehow even more nourishing. It leaves my skin feeling soft, moisturized, and resurfaced, creating a clean, fresh canvas for my skin to soak up all the serums, moisturizers, and face oils I’ve learned to love. I haven’t been wearing much makeup this year, but when I do have a full face for a night out, I use Beekman 1802’s Buttermilk Makeup Melting Cleanser before the Milk Wash to ensure every bit of makeup is removed. In slowing down and listening, I learned to love my skin, and I reframed those flare-ups of the past for what they really were: my skin communicating with me the only way it knows how. For the perfect simple three-step routine for sensitive skin, add the Beekman 1802 Milk Drops Ceramide Serum and the Bloom Cream Probiotic Moisturizer.
