Smooth Skin
Could something Oh Na-ra does daily for smooth skin actually harm it?
Actress Oh Na-ra, 52, recently appeared on SBS’s My Little Old Boy and drew attention for looking almost unchanged from 20 years ago. Host Seo Jang-hoon, who is around her age, marveled that she looked “truly youthful.” Asked her secret, Oh said, “I never use products containing surfactants,” explaining that she washes only with a gentle cleansing lotion and finishes with a warm, damp towel. After maintaining this habit for two years, she said her skin no longer felt tight and had visibly improved. Yet cleansing too gently can actually harm the skin. Is simply making cleansing gentle a “good habit”? The short answer is that it depends on your skin type.
Three cleansing habits that damage skin
If you diligently wash for clear skin but become more sensitive and develop small bumps instead, the problem lies in the method. Incorrect cleansing habits can break down the skin barrier and damage the skin.
First, excessive cleansing irritates skin. Washing more than two or three times a day or until the skin feels “squeaky clean” damages it. In particular, dry and sensitive skin lacking oil loses barrier function and becomes more reactive to external irritation when harsh washing damages the stratum corneum. The result is breakouts, redness and extreme dryness.
Blindly following popular or recommended products regardless of skin condition is also risky. Using a rich oil formula on oily skin, or a cleanser with strong ingredients or irritating cleansing wipes on sensitive skin, can disrupt the oil–moisture balance and barrier. When selecting products, prioritize ingredients and functions suited to your skin type over formulation texture.
Finally, using cleansing devices every day also breaks down the skin barrier. Cleansing brushes and vibrating devices effectively exfoliate, but frequent use builds up irritation. The barrier can be damaged especially when skin is thin or sensitive. It is better to use them once or twice a week with gentle products.
Above all, residue causes breakouts. These days, even wearing sunscreen alone means one cleansing step is insufficient. Fine dust, sebum and makeup residue can remain, as can cleansing lotion or cream itself. Going to bed with “something” left on the skin can clog pores, cause breakouts or interfere with regeneration. Especially on oily or combination skin, even one day of insufficient cleansing lets dead cells accumulate and texture become rough.
That is why insisting only on mild products is not necessarily the answer. Surfactants in cleansers emulsify impurities and makeup on the skin and dissolve them gently. Avoiding them by using only weak cleansers can make the surface appear clean while actually leaving residue that causes skin trouble.
Double cleansing is also important after wearing makeup or mineral sunscreen. First remove makeup and oil with cleansing lotion or oil, then gently wash along the skin’s texture with a mildly acidic gel or foam cleanser. Keep your hands relaxed and rinse repeatedly with plenty of water to protect the barrier. After washing, lightly press with a clean, dry towel rather than rubbing, which can irritate.
A cleansing guide by skin type
1) Oily or blemish-prone skin → cleansing water or light oil. Water-based, mildly acidic cleansing water or a watery oil formulation gently removes sebum and makeup residue. Gentle, fragrance-free products or those containing soothing ingredients are suitable.
2) Dry or sensitive skin → cleansing lotion or milk. Moisturizing products that protect the oil–moisture film are preferable. For light makeup, lotion alone can handle the first cleansing step.
3) Combination skin → deep-cleansing oil + mildly acidic gel cleanser. For combination skin with an oily T-zone and dry U-zone, cleansing different areas differently is an option. Removing makeup with oil and finishing with gel can restore balance.
Want smooth, clear skin without blemishes? Cleansing alone is not enough
Cleansing is only the starting line for clean skin. It can remove remaining impurities and manage excess oil, but cannot resolve deeper issues such as pigment, spots and pores. For an even tone, clear radiance and smooth texture, a professional approach that acts inside the skin is needed. Representative procedures include the following.
1) Aquapeel. A water-peel therapy that removes dead cells and sebum while introducing moisturizing ingredients. It is gentle even on sensitive skin and effectively soothes problems caused by cleanser residue or sebum that washing alone cannot address.
2) Toning lasers, including pico toning and ruby toning. These address shallow pigmentation, slight redness and tiny spots to even skin tone. They can address pigment in the dermis that cleansers or cosmetics struggle to reach, making them suitable for establishing a clear skin foundation.
3) Hydration injections or Shining Rejuran. These directly inject moisture and regenerative ingredients into skin dulled by dehydration or reduced elasticity. They help smooth texture and restore a natural glow.
Choosing gentle products and reducing surfactants like Oh Na-ra can certainly help. Reducing irritation improves skin condition over the long term. More important than what you use, however, is how you cleanse. Reduce irritation while leaving no residue. Washing is the most basic step in protecting skin, yet one of the easiest to overlook. Habits come before products, and thoroughness before ingredients. The five inconvenient minutes you spend at the mirror today can change tomorrow’s skin.