Nothing is quite as important as cleansing your face at the end of the day. It helps your skin shed dirt, oil, and makeup accumulated throughout the day, and makes your other skin care products work so much better. It also sets the stage for your skin to regenerate itself overnight as you sleep, so needless to say, this is an important step in your daily skincare routine. But it may be confusing when you see different types of cleansers and you aren’t sure of their effectiveness, or if they’ll lead to more breakouts or dryness. Read on to learn about each type of facial cleanser, and decide which one is best for you. 

Foam Cleansers

Foam cleansers are exactly what they sound like, and carry certain benefits that work best for oily and combination skin types. Foam cleansers typically start out as a gel or a cream, and quickly foam up as you lather them into your skin. They are idea for removing excess oil from the skin and are one of the most recommended types for patients dealing with acne. One example of a foam cleanser that the staff and post-procedure patients at Supriya Dermatology consistently use is Alastin’s Gentle Cleanser. It is effective on virtually any type of skin, extracting impurities without stripping your skin.

Cream Cleansers

Typically, cream cleansers are labeled as cleansing lotion or milk, and their primary purpose is to restore moisture and balance to the skin while gently removing dirt and oil. If you normally have very sensitive, dry skin a cream cleanser will go a long way in keeping your skin soft and clear, but ultimately they can be used by any skin type without any problems. Cream cleansers are lathered into the skin similarly to how you would apply most cleansers, but their consistency tends to remain as a lotion. Some have described it as feeling like they are washing their face with actual body lotion, which may take some getting used to if you are accustomed to foams and gels that feel like you’d expect a cleanser to feel. However, the softness and moisturizing benefits of cream cleansers cannot be denied, especially for dry and sensitive skin types. 

Gel Cleansers

As you may have guessed, gel cleansers have a gel-like consistency and generally build to a lather. They are generally clear or have a slight color tint added that are designed for decongesting clogged pores. Gel cleansers can be aggressive at extracting impurities deep within your pores without being overly aggressive on your skin. Gel cleansers are typically recommended for those with oily or combination skin, however, some formulas may be gentle enough for normal skin types as well. 

Oil Cleansers

It may sound completely counterintuitive to use oil to cleanse your skin, and if you are already prone to breakouts this probably sounds like a very bad idea. However, cleansing oils are naturally attracted to other oils, making them the perfect magnet for withdrawing impurities from your skin. Additionally, they are formulated with the traditional surfactents that other cleansers use to interact with dirt and oil. The main difference is that those surfactents aren’t the key ingredient in an oil cleanser, and most will leave your skin feeling supple, smooth, and hydrated after all of the dirt and oil is removed. Not all oil cleansers are formulated the same, so if you have acne-prone skin, make sure you select one that works with your skin. Anyone with normal, dry, and sensitive skin will benefit greatly from a cleansing oil.

For more information about cleansers and the best skincare routine for your type, contact us for a consultation and find out what works best for you.

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