When I was younger, I can skip moisturizer for weeks and not feel like my skin is (figuratively) dying. Now, in my early 30s, a few days without moisturizer leaves my skin feeling tight and papery! My skin has become drier in the last couple of years too. This is normal as we grow older and our skin produces less collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Plus, if you use strong exfoliating acids and actives, you can dry out the skin if it’s not properly moisturized.