How I cleanse my 38-year-old skin to keep it calm, healthy, and luminous

One of the biggest shifts I’ve made over the years is understanding how much impact cleansing actually has on skin health. In my experience, cleansing is often the most disruptive part of a skincare routine. It’s the step your skin has to recover from.

So my entire cleansing approach centers around one thing:
protecting my skin barrier.

Strong skin is well-protected skin.
And protected skin ages beautifully.

I Only Cleanse at Night

I never cleanse my skin in the morning.

Overnight, your skin creates natural moisturizing factors, lipids, and protective elements that help maintain hydration, balance, and resilience. When you cleanse in the morning, you often remove exactly what your skin worked to produce.

Instead, I let my skin benefit from that overnight regulation.

In the morning, I simply dampen my skin and apply my products. No stripping. No resetting. Just supporting what’s already there.

Gentle, Creamy Cleansers Are My Daily Go-To

Most nights, I use a gentle, creamy cleanser. Non-foaming. Non-drying. Nothing that leaves my skin feeling tight or exposed afterward.

This kind of cleanser removes the day while respecting the skin’s lipid barrier. My skin feels clean, calm, and comfortable, not like it needs to be rescued.

That “squeaky clean” feeling people chase is something I actively avoid. I like Burt’s bees’ gentle creamy cleanser.

Very Occasional LIGHT Exfoliation

I exfoliate VERY rarely.

Once a week or less, I’ll use a very gentle Japanese rice bran polish. Rice bran has been used for centuries in traditional beauty rituals because it cleanses softly while soothing the skin.

For me, it gives a little extra brightness without irritation, and it leaves my skin feeling calm and supported rather than raw.

I don’t exfoliate to force results. I exfoliate only when my skin feels receptive to it and want a little boost.

Oil Cleansing as a Ritual, Not a Habit

Once or maybe twice a month, I’ll do a light oil cleanse with a warm, damp cloth.

I massage my face and neck slowly with oil, then gently press the cloth into my skin to remove it. This isn’t about scrubbing. It’s about release and connection. I love the oil cleanser by Skin Frequency (all of their products actually).

The tension relief through the jaw, neck, and face is deeply nourishing and sooooo delicious. My skin and body always feels softer, more spacious, and more relaxed afterward.

What I Don’t Do

I don’t use acids.
I don’t aggressively exfoliate in the traditional sense. I went years without exfoliating at all.

I don’t believe your body needs help shedding skin cells.

Those surface cells are part of your skin’s protective system. They help regulate moisture, defend against irritation, and maintain resilience until they naturally release on their own.

When you constantly remove them, you often compromise the very barrier that keeps skin calm and luminous.

My Philosophy at 38

Ultimately, I don’t do anything that makes my skin feel vulnerable or like it needs to recover.

For me, beautiful skin is:
• strong
• balanced
• resilient

Gentle care goes a long way, especially as we age.

This is how I cleanse my skin at 38, and it’s the most calm, healthy, and luminous my skin has ever felt.