Yes, switch your cleanser for winter.

Yes, switching to a non-foaming or oil-based cleanser in winter is a good idea if your skin feels tight or dry after washing.

Foaming cleansers strip oil. In summer that can help with sweat and sunscreen, but in winter your skin is already fighting dry air and indoor heat. You don’t need extra stripping. An oil-based or creamy cleanser dissolves dirt and makeup without wrecking your moisture barrier.

You don’t have to go full double-cleansing routine unless you want to. Just swapping your morning or evening wash to something like a cleansing balm or a milky cleanser makes a noticeable difference. Your face won’t feel like a tight drum after you dry it.

If your skin feels fine with your current cleanser in winter, don’t fix what isn’t broken. But if you’ve been wondering why your moisturizer isn’t doing the job, the cleanser is probably the culprit.

Winter just isn’t the season for squeaky-clean skin.