Why does my skin feel tight after washing?

Tight skin after washing usually means the cleanser is stripping more than it should, not that your skin is naturally dry.

A healthy face wash removes dirt, oil, and buildup while leaving the skin barrier intact. When a cleanser feels tight or squeaky right after rinsing, it's typically stripped away too much of the skin's natural oil along with the dirt — that tight feeling isn't a sign the product is "working," it's a sign the barrier just got roughed up.