Vanicream cleanser and moisturizer: which to use and how

What is the difference between moisturizer and cleanser?

A cleanser removes dirt, oil and dead skin, then gets rinsed away. A moisturizer stays on the skin to help hold in moisture and reduce water loss. They have different jobs, so cleansing does not replace moisturizing. The cleanser leaves after doing its job, while the moisturizer has accepted a longer assignment.245

Choose Daily Facial Moisturizer if you want a lightweight facial moisturizer, particularly for nighttime use. Choose the SPF 30 facial moisturizer when you want moisture and sun protection together. If your main problem is very dry skin, a richer cream or ointment can be more useful than a lotion; choose for the dryness you need to manage, not just the brand name.14

How do you use cleanser and moisturizer?

Use this general face washing sequence with the Vanicream pair.

1. 1Wet your face with lukewarm water. Apply Gentle Facial Cleanser using your fingertips rather than a washcloth, sponge or cleansing tool.
2. 2Wash gently without scrubbing. Use enough cleanser to clean your face, rather than trying to build a thick lather.
3. 3Rinse with lukewarm water. Pat gently with a soft towel instead of rubbing.
4. 4Apply Daily Facial Moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp. Spread it gently, taking particular care not to pull the skin around your eyes.
5. 5In the morning, finish with sunscreen. For dry skin, choose broad spectrum, water resistant protection with SPF 30 or higher.

How often should you use the pair?

Wash your face once in the morning and once at night, and after heavy sweating. More washing is not the answer to every uncomfortable skin sensation. Scrubbing and abrasive washing tools can irritate skin, so keep the technique gentle even when your face feels oily. After exercise, wash as soon as possible, especially if you have been wearing a hat or helmet.5

Moisturize morning and evening. If your skin becomes dry between those applications, apply moisturizer again rather than washing again. Dry skin benefits from moisturizing after washing and whenever it feels dry. Morning and evening are useful anchors, not a rule that requires you to leave dry skin uncomfortable until bedtime.24

Who does this routine suit?

The pair is intended for sensitive skin, with Gentle Facial Cleanser particularly positioned for dry, sensitive skin. Vanicream describes its products as free from fragrance, botanical extracts, dyes, lanolin, parabens and formaldehyde releasers. Avoiding fragrance and dyes is also useful general guidance for sensitive skin. Introduce fewer new products at once and test new products before adding them to your routine.126

Sensitive skin can also be dry, oily or combination skin; sensitivity describes how skin reacts, not how much oil it produces. Combination skin can need different care on different areas of the face. Pay attention to whether your cheeks feel dry while your forehead, nose or chin feel oily, rather than expecting one application pattern to suit every area.6

What should you expect?

The routine's purpose is clean skin, hydration and less moisture loss. Moisturizers help relieve dry skin, but persistent dryness needs attention rather than an indefinitely expanding routine. Adding more products increases the chance of side effects, so a longer shopping list is not a treatment plan.24

Do you need a serum or other treatment?

A basic morning routine can be cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. If you already use a cosmetic serum, the general layering order puts it after cleansing and before moisturizer. Avoid introducing several new products together, particularly if your skin is sensitive.2

Prescription skin treatments need their own instructions. If you use a steroid cream or another treatment for a skin condition alongside an emollient, a moisturizer that traps moisture, leave 20 to 30 minutes between applications and ask your doctor which goes first. This helps avoid diluting the treatment or spreading it onto areas that do not need it.7

When should you stop or see a dermatologist?

Stop using a new product if it causes irritation or an inflamed rash, and make an appointment with a dermatologist. Burning, stinging or irritation from moisturizer also deserves medical advice. Emollients can cause reactions, inflamed hair follicles or facial rashes that worsen acne, so do not keep applying a product through a persistent reaction.247

See a dermatologist if dryness continues despite gentle washing and regular moisturizing. Persistent dry skin can have an underlying medical cause that needs treatment. If you already have a dry skin treatment plan, follow it and report trouble with the moisturizer rather than replacing prescribed treatment with the cleanser and moisturizer pair.4

For any emollient supplied in a pot or tub, use a clean spoon or spatula to remove it to reduce contamination. Keep emollients and clothing or bedding with moisturizer residue away from flames and cigarettes. Washing fabric reduces residue but does not remove the fire risk completely.7