Clean That Skin!
March 12, 2012 6:11 pmYou don’t have to spend a lot of money to find a good cleansers, it’s as simple as that. These are the recommendations I have for basic cleansers for the 5 different skin types: dry, oily, combination, sensitive and blemished; we’ll go into the higher-end, medical grade cleansers that I tend to really love in a later post.
Best Basic Cleanser for All Skin Types: Purpose
My cabinet in the studio is full of cleansers from some of the priciest pharmaceutical-grade companies, but the cleanser I use every day doesn’t cost $60 or even $30, it costs about $6 at the corner drugstore. Friends have spotted my bottle of Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash in my bathroom and emerged laughing.For some reason they can’t believe THIS is my go to cleanser. I’ve had to explain time and again that you don’t need a lot of bells and whistles in a good cleanser.
Purpose is a soap-free, oil-free liquid lathers away dirt, makeup and oil but doesn’t leave skin so dry it reacts by overproducing oil. Great stuff.
Best Cleanser for Dry to Normal Skin:
Cetaphil Cleanser
Yep, Cetaphil. Just as there are no bells and whistles with Purpose above, there are none with this baby-mild product that even dermatologists swear by. So why is this $10 cleanser such a must-have? It’s creamy, simple and isn’t loaded with chemicals or perfumes that can irritate the skin. Cetaphil products are revered in the industry and their cleanser is one of the best drugstore buys out there. End of story. Period
Best Overall Cleanser for All Skin Types: Philosophy Purity Made Simple
This facial cleanser is hugely popular. It’s simple, straighforward and it washes off every speck of dirt and makeup while leaving skin super soft and moisturized like a lotion. It’s simple and effective and it doesn’t get much more perfect than that.
Best Cleanser for Dry Skin:
Boscia Soothing Cleansing Cream
Creamy cleansers are the best choice for dry skin. They don’t strip your face of essential oils, but do remove dirt, sunscreen, and impurities. Boscia’s cleanser contains chamomile that really soothes dry skin and has carrot root extract for an added boost of anti-aging properties. Jojoba leaf is also in Boscia’s cleanser and is an antioxidant (always a plus).
Best Cleanser for Oily Skin:
Clinique Wash-Away Gel Cleanser
As my 8yo son says, “Easy peesy lemon squeezy”, for oily skin this classic cleanser can’t be beat. It’s simple, straight to the point, and it works. It can be a bit drying as oily skin cleansers are known to do, so test the product before you buy.
Best Cleanser for Acne:
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash,
Acne Treatment
Neutrogena is one of the best drugstore beauty brands out there, and you can’t go wrong with this simple face wash for problems with acne. The salicylic acid gel is gentle and soothing — loaded with aloe and chamomile. It also helps dry out breakouts without drying out sensitive, irritable skin.
Best Cleanser for Sensitive Skin:
Olay Foaming Face Wash, Sensitive Skin
I know, I know…Olay was always in your grandmothers bathroom cabinet. You guys with sensitive skin need to get over that. This basic drugstore cleanser works extremely well for sensitive skin because it contains no harsh ingredients that can make your itchy and flaky.