The 7 Most Popular Skin Cleansers—And How To Pick The Best One For You
The fork in the cleansing road used to be simple: cream or gel? But that path has gotten far twistier. As the face-wash section of your local drugstore explodes with new formulas—oils! balms! micellar waters!—bewildering trends pervade social media. You must actually "double cleanse" to completely remove dirt, claims one. No, says another: Good skin is the result of not washing at all. Wait... huh?
We brought these conflicting theories to top dermatologists and cosmetic chemists, who agreed on a few rules: Always wash before bed (it's essential for getting rid of oil, makeup, dirt, and pollution particles that can spark inflammation), but it's fine to forgo it in the morning unless you put on treatment products like retinol or glycolic acid the night before. Double cleansing? Pricey tools? Pretty much unnecessary unless they make you feel happy or pampered (that's worth something!). As for all the new cleanser types, we've decoded the most popular versions so you can find the one that, quite simply, suits you perfectly.
CREAM
Best for: Dry or sensitive skin, or if you use moisture-sapping products for acne or wrinkles. Creams mix high levels of emollients (hydrating ingredients) to break up grime with low levels of surfactants (cleansing agents) to knock out muck.
How to Use: Apply a nickel-size dollop onto—this is key—dry skin. Remove with water.
Try: Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser ($14, amazon.com). The glycerin- and coconut oil-packed formula left our tester's parched skin feeling as if she'd "just worn a fancy moisturizing sheet mask for 10 minutes."
Related: Ask Dr. Pimple Popper: 'My Bacne Is Ruining Everything—What Can I Do?'
FOAM
Best for: Normal or oily types who aren't using topical acne meds (the combo could be overly drying). The pillowy texture feels especially nice post-workout. (Freshen up the rest of your body post-workout with YUNI Shower Sheets from the Women's Health Boutique.)
How to Use: Wet your face first and pump a single serving into your palm, then slather it from chin up to forehead to prevent it from falling into eyes. Rinse until the bubbles go buh-bye.
Try: Soap & Glory The Fab Pore Purifying Foam Cleanser ($12, walgreens.com). After a five-mile run, our tester said the cooling froth instantly "put out the fire on my face."
Learn how to make a great face mask at home:
BALM
Best for: Combination skin. In addition to utilizing gunk-busting oils, these guys often contain natural exfoliators, which help slough rough patches and unclog pores.
How to Use: Warm a nickel amount in your palms (it'll melt into an oil), massage into dry skin, then wipe away with a soft, wet cloth.
Try: Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm ($34, sephora.com). The orange peel oil-infused salve left our tester's face "so glowy" before a night out, she skipped her highlighter.
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OIL
Best for: Dry or eczema-prone folks who wear lots of foundation. Base is made with oils that water can't break up; here, oil dissolves oil.
How to Use: Apply a tablespoon to dry skin; remove with a wet cloth.
Try: Origins Modern Friction Cleansing Oil ($29.50, nordstrom.com). "I could see two layers of face makeup come off," cheered our tester.
STICK
Best for: Normal to oily skin—thanks to higher surfactant levels—and for women on the go (can't touch this, TSA!). Avoid if you have active breakouts; the hard format could agitate them.
How to Use: Wet your face, then rub the end of the stick over your skin until it lathers, covering every inch before rinsing off.
Try: Milk Makeup Matcha Cleanser ($26, sephora.com). Our tester enthused that this green tea-scented stick was the "laziest / best face-washing experience"—with no leakage in her gym bag.
MICELLAR WATER
Best for: Women with normal skin who aim for a low-maintenance routine—you don't even need to turn on the tap with this. The tiny oil molecules act like a dirt magnet; the formula's H2O and mild surfactants sweep it away.
How to Use: Soak a cotton pad, then blot skin. Repeat until nothing more comes off on the pad.
Try: Erborian Cleansing Water ($26, sephora.com). After a late night, our tester was "surprised my face felt clean enough" to hit the pillow without so much as a splash from the sink.
Related: Please Don't Eat Before Watching This Guy Pop A Monstrous Zit On His Face
GEL
Best for: Oily or combo skin. Though many gels now boast added hydrators, they still contain higher levels of surfactants.
How to Use: Wet your face and gently massage a quarter-size dollop of gel onto your face using circular motions. Rinse off.
Try: Youth To The People Age Prevention Cleanser ($36, nordstrom.com). "My face felt invigorated, like it was saying ahh after I washed it," said our tester.
This article originally appeared in the September 2017 issue of Women's Health. For more great advice, pick up a copy of the issue on newsstands now!
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