What should you look for in a face wash?

Start with a gentle, unscented cleanser rather than a harsh or excessively drying formula. For normal skin, a water based cleanser is a suitable everyday option. Cream and foam are both options for normal skin, so the lather does not get a casting vote. If your skin becomes dry or sensitive, a cream cleanser is less drying than a foaming one.1

Check more than the product name. "Gentle" is not a regulated term, and a liquid cleanser is generally gentler than traditional bar soap. A bottle can call its cleanser "gentle" without passing a regulated test, which makes the adjective a rather generous employee. Fragrance free is a useful feature to look for.3

Cleanser typeWhat changesWho should consider it
Gentle cream cleanserLess drying than a foaming cleanser.Normal skin, especially if dryness becomes a concern.
Gentle foaming cleanserA foaming texture is an acceptable preference for normal skin.Normal skin that tolerates the formula comfortably.
Synthetic detergent cleanser, also called a syndetCan match normal skin pH and causes less dryness than soap.Someone choosing between traditional soap and a milder cleanser.
Traditional soapAlkaline and more likely to irritate sensitive skin.Not the first choice if cleansing causes dryness or sensitivity.
12

How can you tell whether your skin is normal?

Normal skin has a balance of moisture and oil. For a simple check, wash your face, pat it dry and wait an hour. Press a tissue against your forehead, cheeks, chin and nose. A face that is not shiny, with no oily residue on the tissue, fits normal skin. Tightness or flaking suggests dryness; shine and oily residue suggest oily skin. An oily forehead, nose and chin with normal or dry cheeks fits combination skin. Skin that stings easily during or after cleansing needs a more sensitive skin approach, even if you previously considered it normal.2

Can you wash with water alone?

Water alone does not remove oily dirt as effectively as a cleanser. Cleansers contain surfactants, ingredients that loosen oil and dirt so water can rinse them away. Washing also removes makeup, sunscreen and excess oil. The useful job of a face wash is removal, rather than treating every possible skin concern in the same step.2

How should you wash your face?

  1. 1Wet your face with lukewarm water. Avoid hot water, which can strip the skin barrier, the outer layer that helps retain moisture.
  2. 2Apply cleanser with your fingertips. Gently massage across your face, jaw and neck rather than using a scrubbing brush, loofah or rough washcloth.
  3. 3Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water until bubbles and cleanser residue are gone.
  4. 4Pat dry with a clean cotton towel. Do not rub your face harshly.
  5. 5Apply moisturizer after washing to replenish moisture and some of the natural oils removed during cleansing.
3

Make waking up and bedtime your regular washing times, and cleanse after sweaty exercise. Extra washing is not automatically better: over washing removes surface oils and can leave skin excessively dry or irritated. If you shower several times a day, avoid repeatedly soaping your whole body; use soap during only one of those showers.245

What if you wear makeup or waterproof sunscreen?

Take off makeup, including eye makeup, before bed, then wash gently without scrubbing. Micellar water before a water based cleanser is one option. Double cleansing means using an oil based cleanser first, followed by a water based cleanser, and can help remove waterproof makeup or sunscreen. One thorough wash is enough for most people, even if two bottles make the bathroom look more committed.14

  1. 1If you need double cleansing, gently massage the oil based cleanser into your skin to loosen makeup and sunscreen.
  2. 2Rinse with lukewarm water using your hands, and leave your skin damp.
  3. 3Apply the water based cleanser, massage gently, rinse and pat dry.
1

If makeup seems linked to new breakouts, stop using the suspected product. Look for "oil free," "won't clog pores" or "noncomedogenic" on replacement makeup and skincare; noncomedogenic means intended not to clog pores. Use an oil free makeup remover if you are prone to acne. An oil based cleanser can cause breakouts in acne prone skin, particularly when used alone.14

Do you need an acid or medicated face wash?

A plain gentle cleanser is the starting choice for normal skin. Salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide cleansers can help people with acne, while exfoliating acids can resurface skin and make it appear brighter. Acids can irritate sensitive skin. Be careful about combining an acne cleanser with acne products left on the skin, because too much treatment causes excessive dryness and irritation. Choose those additions for a specific concern rather than treating them as essential cleanser ingredients.23

What should you expect after washing?

Cleansing removes dirt, pollutants and excess oil during the wash. Tightness can happen because cleansing also removes natural oils, especially with medicated formulas; follow with moisturizer. Keep water lukewarm and skip fragrance, which can dry and irritate skin. If a cleanser causes stinging, redness, itching or swelling, stop using it. Persistent breakouts, or difficulty identifying which makeup or skincare product is causing them, are reasons to see a dermatologist rather than washing more aggressively.2345

Where this answer comes from

  1. 1Double Cleansing Method Explainedhealth.clevelandclinic.org
  2. 2Soaps and cleansersdermnetnz.org
  3. 3A Guide on How to Wash Your Facehealth.clevelandclinic.org
  4. 4I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?aad.org
  5. 5Facebooknewsroom.clevelandclinic.org