Facial cleanser is a type of skin care product used to remove impurities from your face, including:
Sweat
Dirt
Excess oil
Pollutants
Makeup
Foaming cleansers tend to be more suitable for people with oily skin. Further, hydrating and milky cleansers tend to be better suited for people with dry skin.
Further, certain face washes include active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or lactic acid to treat conditions like acne and dull skin.
This article will explain everything you need to know about facial cleanser.
What does cleanser do?
Washing your face with a cleanser is an essential step in your skincare routine to get rid of the sweat and oil that accumulates on your skin throughout the day.
Facial cleansers can also help get rid of pollution stuck to your skin and prevent infection by washing away microbes.
Generally, a cleanser is the first step in your skincare routine regardless of morning or night.
Plus, by washing your face with a great cleanser for your skin type, you prepare for the rest of the products in your skin care routine.
Which cleanser is best for me?
If you have dry or sensitive skin, you’re better off going with a gentle cleanser that will clean your skin without stripping its natural oils.
On the other hand, people with oily skin will benefit from a foaming cleanser to remove excess oil and dirt.
If you have an acne prone skin type, you should consider using a cleanser with active ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Finally, if you wear makeup, you may benefit from a cleansing oil to help break down your foundation and other products. Generally, an oil based cleanser will be more gentle on your delicate skin than makeup remover or makeup wipes.
Benefits of Face Cleanser
Using a face cleanser has tons of benefits for your skin such as:
Exfoliation: removing your outer skin layer leaving you with glowing skin
Double cleansing: removing makeup
Hydration: supporting your skin barrier with humectants like hyaluronic acid
Fighting acne: delivering active ingredients to fight off bacteria and unclog pores
To maximize these benefits, you should wash your face once or twice per day.
How to Apply Face Cleanser
To apply face cleanser correctly, first wet your face with cool to lukewarm water.
Then, dispense about a nickel sized amount of your favorite face wash or cleanser. Then, gentle massage the cleanser in your skin for approximately 20-60 seconds.
Certain cleansers with active ingredients are intended to be left on your face for a minute or two before being washed off.
For example, the benzoyl peroxide in PanOxyl works best when it can work over the course of a minute or two.
Be sure to experiment with the length of time that works best for your skin. If your face starts to burn when using active ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, be sure to wash off your cleanser quickly.
Finally, follow up your cleanser with the rest of your skincare products in this order:
Toner
Specific treatment (such as an acne treatment or anti-aging product)
Hydrating serum
Moisturizer
Facial oil
That being said, many of these steps are optional. The only requirement I have is that you moisturize after washing your face.
Face Wash vs Cleanser
At this point, the terms “face wash” and “face cleanser” are used interchangeably.
Technically, there are a few differences:
Face washes tend to have active ingredients to treat acne and are generally better suited for oily skin
Face cleansers tend to be more hydrating or milky and are generally suited for dry skin
That being said, you’re better off looking at the actual ingredients in a product to see if it’s right for you rather than judging by the label.
Facial Wash vs Facial Scrub
Unlike facial washes, facial scrubs like St. Ives have gritty components for physical exfoliation.
These gritty parts in face scrubs are used to slough off dead cells. However, they can also cause microtears as the skin on your face is very thin and sensitive.
Generally, I am not a fan of facial scrubs and prefer that
Do you wash off cleanser?
Yes, you should wash off your cleanser.
When washing your face, you can massage about a nickel sized amount into your skin while it slightly foams and lathers. You can wash your face for 20-60 seconds, then wash it off.
Make sure to finish off by using a hydrating serum or moisturizer
How many times a day should you wash your face?
If you have dry skin or combination skin, you may want to skip your morning cleanse and just wash your face at night. On the other hand, if you have oily or acne prone skin, you may benefit from cleansing twice a day.
Do you have to wash your face everyday?
Cosmetic and clinical research is divided on the best frequency to wash your face.
Generally, it is best to wash your face everyday to prevent clogged pores and slough off dead skin cells. That being said, those who were lucky enough to be born with great skin might not see a difference from cleansing everyday.
The best thing to do is to experiment with which frequency works best for you so as to not develop irritated skin but still avoid acne breakouts.
