The right facial cleanser can provide benefits plain old soap and water can’t touch. Not only do facial cleaners lift off makeup and remove airborne pollutants, sebum and bacteria, but today’s products also help skin look its best by way of ingredients designed to calm inflammation, boost moisture retention, clear clogged pores and more.
The trick is choosing the right facial cleanser for your skin type. “Yes, it does make a difference,” said Kimberly Van Keuren, director of cosmetic services at Water’s Edge Dermatology.
Here are Van Keuren’s ingredient recommendations for six different skin types, along with specific product picks.
Skin type: Oily/acne-prone
The goal: Prevent sebum and skin cells from building up in pores and causing breakouts.
The ingredients: “Look for cleansers formulated with salicylic acid, glycolic acid or retinol to clean and clear pores, exfoliate dead skin cells, regulate oil production and remove dirt and grime without stripping the skin of its natural oils, which can cause oil production to go into overdrive,” said Van Keuren. Another ingredient, benzoyl peroxide, suppresses the development of bacteria and inhibits blemishes. Van Keuren finds it works well for skin that is highly acne-prone.
The product: wederm Exfoliating Gentle Cleanser
Skin type: Sensitive
The goal: Calm the skin, retain moisture and avoid an unwanted reaction to an ingredient in the cleanser. “A gentle cleanser that is pH balanced to remove oil and makeup without drying skin and is enriched with calming, soothing antioxidants is the perfect choice for sensitive skin,” said Van Keuren.
The ingredients: Seek out products with plant-derived antioxidants such as green tea polyphenols, emblica and bisabolol, advised Van Keuren. Yucca root and panthenol help sensitive skin retain moisture, she added.
The product: EltaMD Foaming Facial Cleanser
Skin type: Dry
The goal: Help skin retain moisture to make up for a lack of natural oil.
The ingredients: “Look for creamier cleansers with hyaluronic acid, lipids, ceramides, squalene or glycerin,” advised Van Keuren. “As they clean, they also hydrate and nourish skin as well as restore the skin barrier.”
The product: ZO Skin Health Hydrating Cleanser
Skin Type: Combination
The goal: Cleanse the skin without stripping moisture from dry areas, which can lead to irritation, or over-stripping an oily T-zone (the forehead, nose and chin). “Over-stripping can increase oil production,” said Van Keuren.
The ingredients: “Specially formulated cleansers for combination skin contain a low percentage of salicylic or glycolic acid,” said Van Keuren. These ingredients help brighten skin, unclog pores and keep breakouts at bay. Avoid harsh ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, which can be too drying for combination skin.
The product: wederm Exfoliating Gentle Cleanser
Skin type: Rosacea-prone
The goal: Address any pus-filled bumps and avoid irritating the skin and stripping away moisture.
The ingredients: Choose gentle cleansers that contain salicylic acid. Salicylic acid treats pus-filled bumps by loosening clogged pores. Other beneficial ingredients include tea tree oil and plant extracts that help calm inflamed skin. Moisturizing ingredients such as humectants and emollients can also help.
The product: EltaMD Foaming Facial Cleanser
Skin Type: Aging/Sun Damaged
The goal: Restore skin to a younger-looking state. “As we age, our pores enlarge and our oil production can either go into overdrive or stop,” said Van Keuren. In addition, “chances are there are some spots you would like to remove or brighten.”
The ingredients: Antioxidants combat free radicals that contribute to skin aging, and glycolic acid gently exfoliates the skin, making it smoother, brighter and more even-toned.
The product: wederm Moisturizing Glycolic Cleanser
Article Written By: Jennifer L. Cook, an award-winning editor and writer whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Prevention, Consumer Reports on Health, and Woman’s Day and on Investopedia.com and Bottomlineinc.com.
