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HOW TO CHOOSE A CLEANSER: FIND THE BEST FACE WASH FOR YOUR SKIN

Aerial shot of Thayers Milky Hydrating Cleanser and Thayers pH Balance Cleanser with corresponding benefits. The Milky Cleanser hydrates dry skin while the ph Balance Cleanser provides a foamy texture for all skin types.

At the base of any effective skincare routine is a good cleanser. If your cleanser doesn’t work with your skin type or address your skin concerns, you miss out on treating your skin at step one, and your other skincare products could have more difficulty delivering their benefits. That’s why choosing the right facial cleanser is essential. In this article, we talk about various types of cleansers, matching them to different skin types and concerns, and share guidelines for selecting your ideal formula.

Why Choosing the Right Type of Cleanser Matters

When you choose the right type of facial cleanser, you support your skin health and get rid of impurities without stripping away moisture. The right cleanser will also maintain moisture and create a clean canvas for the rest of your skincare. 
Conversely, washing your face with the wrong cleanser can cause your skin to become sensitive or irritated, throw off your skin’s oil balance, or damage your skin’s moisture barrier. 

What Are Different Types of Cleansers?

Thayers offers various types of cleansers that differ in texture (cream, jelly-to-foam, and gel-cream) and function (hydrating, pH balancing, and blemish clearing). 

What Is a Gel Cleanser and Who Should Use It?

A gel cleanser is a cleanser with a gel consistency. It’s good at removing excess oil without drying out the skin.

Benefits

·      Lightweight
·      Cleanses without stripping

Best Skin Types

·      Acne-prone
·      Combination
·      Oily

Key Ingredients 

·      Water

When to Use in a Routine

·      When oil control is needed

What Is a Cream Cleanser and Who Should Use It?

A cream cleanser is a cleanser with a creamy, nourishing consistency. It hydrates as it cleanses. 

Benefits

·      Hydrates
·      Strengthens the skin barrier

Best Skin Types

·      Dry 
·      Sensitive
·      Irritated
·      Dull

Key Ingredients

·      Hyaluronic acid
·      Glycerin
·      Snow mushroom

When to Use in a Routine

·      Whenever the skin needs more hydration during cleansing

What Is a Foaming Cleanser and Who Should Use It?

A foaming cleanser is a cleanser that bubbles up when mixed with water. It leaves skin feeling thoroughly cleaned.

Benefits

·      Oil control
·      Deep clean
·      Refreshing
·      Gentle

Best Skin Types

·      Oily
·      Combination
·      Acne-prone

Key Ingredients

·      Hyaluronic acid
·      Glycerin
·      Aloe vera

When to Use in a Routine

·      When oil needs to be balanced in the skin

How to Choose a Cleanser Based on Your Skin Type

Choosing a facial cleanser based on your skin type is simpler than you think. Below, we break down the process into three easy steps, from getting to know your skin and what it needs to finding a product that can deliver. 

Step 1: Determine Your Skin Type

There are five main skin types: oily, dry, combination, sensitive, and normal. Oily skin looks shiny, has large pores, and is prone to acne. Dry skin appears rough, can be flaky, and feels dry and tight. Combination skin is characterized by an oily T-zone and a normal or dry cheek area. Sensitive skin is skin reactive to triggers such as fragrance, alcohol, or environmental stressors. When triggered, sensitive skin can become red, itchy, or inflamed. Normal skin is balanced skin; it’s smooth with small pores and is neither dry nor oily. 

Step 2: Consider Your Skin Concerns

Acne, dehydration, dullness, sensitivity, and aging are common skin concerns to address when choosing a facial cleanser. For example, if your oily or combination skin sometimes breaks out, look for a cleanser that not only controls oil but also has a blemish fighter, such as salicylic acid. 

Step 3: Check the Ingredients

No matter your skin type, the cleanser you select shouldn’t be drying. In your cleanser’s ingredients list, seek out humectants, which draw moisture to the skin’s surface, as well as barrier-supporting ingredients. (Snow mushroom and hyaluronic acid are both.) Avoid harsh sulfates or drying alcohol, as they can strip the skin. 

Seasonal Considerations When Choosing a Cleanser

You don’t need to use the same cleanser year-round. As the seasons change, you adjust the types of cleansers you use. In the winter, switch to a richer, creamier formula, and in the summer, a lightweight gel or foaming option, assuming both play well with your skin.  

Choosing a Cleanser FAQs

  • The best cleanser for oily or acne-prone skin is a cleanser with salicylic acid or witch hazel ­— ingredients that can balance and unclog pores without stripping. You can shop these types of facial cleansers from Thayers. Our pH Balanced Cleanser, a jelly-to-foam formula, contains salicylic acid, and our Blemish Clearing Cleanser, a gel-cream, is made with salicylic acid and witch hazel. 
  • A good face wash for dry or dehydrated skin is a hydrating facial cleanser with a creamy or milky consistency. These types of facial cleansers have humectants and emollients that restore moisture during cleansing. Thayers Hydrating Milky Cleanser contains hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom, which are two powerful humectants. It leaves skin feeling soft, clean, and cushioned.
  • You should use a gentle gel or pH balanced cleanser for combination skin. Both types of cleansers help manage T-zone oiliness while hydrating dry areas. Thayers pH Balancing Cleanser is a gel-cream formula that gently cleanses without stripping and gets rid of oil, dirt, and other impurities on the skin. 
  • A good cleanser for sensitive skin is a fragrance-free, hydrating cleanser with soothing ingredients such as aloe or oat extract. Fragrance-free cleansers are great for sensitive skin, as formulas with fragrance can trigger irritation. Hydrating and soothing ingredients are other things to look for, as sensitive skin is often dry, itchy, or inflamed. 

  • You can use the same cleanser morning and night without issue if you are using a mild cleanser. However, if you have dry or sensitive skin, you might want to cleanse only at night. In the morning, opt to rinse your face with just water to remove impurities and avoid stripping your skin. 
  • You should double cleanse if you wear makeup, especially long-lasting formulas. Double cleansing, whether with a balm, oil, or other type of product, ensures more oil and makeup are dissolved. Daily double cleansing, however, may overload your skin. Avoid double cleansing or limit it to a few times a week if you have dry or reactive skin. 
  • The best facial cleanser for dry and flaky skin is a hydrating facial cleanser that’s creamy and has ingredients such as snow mushroom and hyaluronic acid. Thayers Hydrating Milky Cleanser contains snow mushroom and hyaluronic acid to deeply yet gently cleanse the skin. It removes flakes, hydrates the skin, and supports the skin barrier. 
  • The best facial cleanser for redness and rosacea is an ultra-gentle, soap-free cleanser with calming ingredients. Look for formulas with aloe vera, which hydrates the skin and removes impurities without worsening inflammation. A gentle facial cleanser likely won’t contain sulfates, fragrance, or alcohol but will be filled with soothing ingredients. 
  • A foaming cleanser can be drying and thus bad for dry skin. If using a foaming facial cleanser, pair it with a hydrating toner and moisturizer to restore balance. Although it foams, Thayers pH Balancing Cleanser will cleanse the skin without stripping, making it less likely to dry out the skin than other foaming options. 

  • Gel cleansers are good for sensitive skin if they’re fragrance-free, hydrating, and don’t contain harsh surfactants, such as sulfates. Examples of hydrating ingredients are humectants such as hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom: both work by drawing moisture from the skin and the air to the skin’s surface.
  • A cleanser with fragrance can be bad for acne-prone skin due to the formula’s potential to increase irritation, which can lead to clogged pores. Often, fragrance is made with a type of denatured alcohol that can irritate the skin. If possible, go for a formula with naturally derived ingredients such as witch hazel, rather than fragrance, to cleanse acne-prone skin.
  • The term “pH-balanced” in a cleanser means that the cleanser gently maintains the skin’s natural barrier at around 5-6. At this pH range, the cleanser can help reduce irritation and support healthy skin function. Thayers pH Balancing Cleanser is the perfect example of this: it is formulated to return skin to a naturally more acidic pH. 

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