A tight, squeaky feeling is not a useful target for facial cleansing. Washing should remove what needs removing without leaving you eager to apply something for relief. If tightness follows nearly every wash, review both the cleanser and the way you use it.
Cleansing involves more than water
Cleansers use surfactants to help lift oil-soluble material so that it can rinse away. Their performance depends on the combination of surfactants and the rest of the formula. Cleansing can also remove surface lipids or irritate skin when the product or washing pattern is unsuitable. S05
That does not mean that all foam is harsh, all cream cleansers are gentle, or every sulphate-free product will suit sensitive skin. Those labels describe only part of a formula. Your post-wash experience is useful information, especially when you compare it with how you used the product.
Check four parts of your wash
First, consider temperature. Very hot water can make a cleansing routine less comfortable. Second, consider pressure: brushes, scrubs and repeated rubbing add friction. Third, consider frequency: an extra wash after sweating is different from washing whenever you notice a little shine. Finally, check whether you use several cleansing products in succession out of habit.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends lukewarm water, fingertip application and gentle drying, with washing generally limited to twice daily and after substantial sweating. Individual routines may need adjustment. S04
If your sunscreen or makeup needs a separate removal step, use one that you tolerate. Double cleansing is a method for a specific removal need, not an achievement that every face must complete twice a day.
Try a controlled change
Choose one change that addresses your situation. If you use a scrub with every wash, remove that extra friction. If you linger under hot water, lower the temperature. If your cleanser repeatedly leaves you uncomfortable despite gentle use, consider a different formulation.
Use the amount and rinse-off directions on the label. More product and more contact time do not automatically improve cleansing. Apply your usual comfortable moisturiser afterwards rather than waiting until the skin feels stretched.
Make a simple note after each wash: comfortable, slightly tight or uncomfortable. Also note whether makeup or sunscreen was removed adequately. This prevents "gentle" from becoming an excuse for a product that does not meet your cleansing needs.
What about hard water
Hard water can influence the interaction between some surfactants and skin. A human study found greater surfactant deposition under its hard-water washing conditions. It does not follow that hard water explains every tight face or that everyone needs a water-softening device. S34
Before spending money on equipment, assess your actual routine. A skincare quiz cannot measure your household water hardness, and bottled water is not a necessary first response to post-cleansing tightness.
When changing cleanser is not enough
Tightness accompanied by persistent burning, itching, swelling or a rash may need professional assessment. If you are using an acne medicine and cleansing has become uncomfortable, ask the prescribing clinician or pharmacist about supportive skincare. Do not assume your skin is simply "purging". S08
The useful outcome is comfortable cleansing: a face that feels clean enough for its next step, without a repeated feeling of having been stripped.