Moved to a city with hard water and your skin changed? You are not imagining it
Many people notice tighter, drier skin (and duller hair) after moving somewhere with very hard water. Minerals in the water can leave residue with some cleansers.
Things that often help
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The pattern is plausible, but hard water isn’t automatically the whole explanation: colder or drier weather, indoor heating, and a new cleanser can all change how skin feels. Calcium and magnesium ions can interact with soap and leave deposits; the effect varies with the cleanser and your water supply.
A low-drama test: keep the rest of your routine steady for a couple of weeks, use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser (or rinse less in the morning), and apply moisturizer while skin is slightly damp. Look for glycerin, ceramides, or petrolatum if tightness is the main issue. A shower filter may help with some sediments or chlorine, but many basic filters don’t remove water hardness minerals—check the filter’s certified claims rather than assuming.
If the change is persistent, worsening, or comes with a painful rash, a dermatologist should take a look. For hair, a periodic chelating shampoo labeled for mineral buildup can be worth trying; it’s usually best followed by conditioner, since frequent use may feel drying.