Stop Blaming Your Moisturiser - Start With Your Cleanser
- Apr 26
- 2 min read
Updated: May 7
If your skin feels tight after cleansing, that’s not a sign it’s “really clean.” - it’s often a sign it’s been stripped. And one of the most common reasons for that is SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate).
What SLS is - and does
SLS is a cleansing agent. It’s used in face washes, shampoos, and body products to break down oil and dirt and create that satisfying foam we enjoy washing with. It's an effective ingridient, which is why it's used so widely in skincare. But it doesn’t just remove what you don’t want -it can also remove what your skin needs.
Why it can be a problem, especially for midlife skin
SLS can strip away your skin’s natural oils and weaken your skin barrier.
When that happens, you might notice:
skin that feels tight straight after washing
dryness creeping back quickly
more sensitivity than you used to have
products that suddenly start stinging
For midlife skin, this matters more because skin during these years tends to lose moisture more easily, so anything that strips it further can make those changes feel more noticeable.
A lot of people try to fix dry or dull skin by adding richer moisturisers, but if your cleanser is too harsh, you’re constantly undoing that effort. It becomes a cycle:
cleanse → strip → moisturise → still feel dry
What to do instead
Look for cleansers that first and foremost don't contain SLS (Tropic do a great range - you can browse them here - and find out how to get FREE Tropic products below with my customer loyalty programme) and ones that clean without heavy foam, don’t leave your skin feeling tight (a sure fire sign it contains SLS). Just that one change can make more difference than adding another product on top.
Bottom line
SLS isn’t “bad” across the board. But it is strong. And if your skin has started to feel drier, more reactive or just not as comfortable as it used to, it’s one of the first things worth looking at.
And if you do end up ordering, when you add me as your Ambassador, after your third purchase of £40+, I'll send you a FREE Tropic gift! I keep track of your purchases and, as a thank you for your support, I’ll send you an exclusive free Tropic product. When you get to checkout, just make sure my name (search Alice O'Connor, Swindon) is attached to your order.*
** This is a personal loyalty thank-you run by me (not an official Tropic Skincare programme). Minimum £40 spend per order. Gifts vary monthly and are sent at my discretion after three qualifying orders. To qualify, simply add me as your ambassador (search ‘Alice O'Connor’) at checkout.
