What Type of Facial Cleanser Should I Use?

I’m sure I’m not the first and I most certainly won’t be the last person to ask the question, what type of facial cleanser should I use?

With so many different types of facial cleansers out there, it’s not always easy to decide which product you should be using. I started wondering some time back whether or not I was doing the right thing when it came to cleansing.

I’ve personally always used cleansing milk or lotion but I started to question whether or not I was using the right type. I had never questioned my cleansing routine before. I mean, my skin wasn’t complaining so why fix something if it isn’t broken, right?

The truth is that I came across an article recently, not from a particularly reliable source I might add but nonetheless it got me thinking that I had my cleansing routine all wrong.

Finding The Right Facial Cleanser

Why are there different types of cleansers and which one are you supposed to be using or should you be using a combination of different ones? When I first started researching this, I realised how many other people were trying to find the same answer that I was.

Unfortunately, there was so much misleading information out there that I ended up being more confused than when I started. Everyone seemed to have conflicting opinions so I couldn’t get a solid answer. In the end, after digging even deeper, it turned out that the answer was pretty simple.

It was all a question of skin type. All cleansers have the same purpose and that is to clean our skin, however, certain types of cleansers are better for certain types of skin. So what are the different types of cleansers available and who are they best suited for?

• Foam Cleansers
• Cleansing Milks/Lotions
• Gel Cleansers
• Oil Cleansers
• Micellar Water Cleansers

Foam Cleansers

In general, foaming cleansers tend to have a drying effect on the skin so for the most part they should be avoided by those with dry skin. They can contain harsh ingredients that can irritate the skin and strip away natural oils causing the skin to dry out even further.

For the exact same reason, these types of cleansers tend to be more suitable for those with oily skin because they remove excess oil more readily than other cleansers.

Cleansing Milk/Lotion

Cleansing milks and lotions are more suitable for those with dry or sensitive skin. They are also great for prematurely ageing skin too as they are more moisturising and hydrating on the skin.

Their aim is to lock in moisture while still gently dissolving makeup and removing dirt and impurities, leaving your skin moist in the process.

As most cleansing milks/lotions are wiped or rinsed off instead of washed off, they can deposit more of their helpful ingredients onto the skin.

Click here to read more about the best facial cleansers for dry skin.

Gel Cleansers

Gel cleansers are a good choice for combination or oily skin. With their cool and refreshing feel, they lather into a light foam to remove dirt and debris whilst soothing and hydrating the skin without removing too much excess oil and drying out the skin.

Gel cleansers are also a good choice for acne-prone skin as they eliminate surface oil and acne-causing bacteria helping prevent further outbreaks.

Oil Cleansers

Oil cleansers are suggested to be suitable for most skin types due to their ability to cleanse the skin without drying it out. They are also popular because of their moisturising qualities and their effectiveness at removing makeup.

Believe it or not, they are also said to be suitable for oily skin types. Many say that like attracts like or oil dissolves oil so when using oil cleansers you are using good oils to remove bad oils.

I personally don’t have oily skin so unfortunately, I can’t test that theory but regardless of skin type, opinions on their effectiveness do seem to be mixed.

Some people experience breakouts after using an oil cleanser whilst others report significant improvement in their complexion. Everybody’s skin is different so it seems to vary from person to person.

Micellar Water Cleansers

Micellar cleansers also known as water cleansers are suitable for most skin types but are especially beneficial for sensitive skin.

These gentle and light cleansers are made up of tiny cleansing molecules suspended in water that dissolve all the dirt and grime from your face without irritating or drying out the skin.

They are extremely popular with makeup artists because of their gentleness and convenience when applying multiple makeup applications. They are applied with a cotton pad and there is no need to rinse the product off afterwards much like a toner.

Let’s Experiment

Both the oil cleansers and micellar water cleansers interest me somewhat. As my skin is slightly on the dryer side, I have always stuck to cleansing milk or lotions.

I may, however, experiment with some oil and micellar cleansers and let you know the outcome so watch this space. (I have a tendency to break out easily when using oily products so this could get interesting).

Also, Micellar water cleansers have come under fire for being too light and ineffective and as I’m definitely what you’d call a heavy makeup wearer, I will test them out to see how effective they actually are.

If you’re lucky enough to have normal skin then you can pretty much have the pick of the bunch depending on your own preference. In the end, it’s all about what works best for your skin.

Click here to read about my experience using a micellar cleanser.

Exceptions To The Rules

With all that said, skincare companies are bringing out cleansers that are specially formulated for each skin type so for those of you with dry skin who just cannot be without your foaming cleanser, or if you have oily skin but love the feel of cleansing milk, there may still be hope.

I have found foaming cleansers specially formulated for dry skin and cleansing milk specially formulated for oily skin so there are exceptions to the general rules.

Do note that all cleansers regardless of type are applied and removed in different ways so always check the directions on the back of the bottle as some need to be washed or rinsed off while others are simply wiped off or in the case of most micellar cleansers, not removed at all.

I hope this helps you in your journey to finding the right cleanser. Have you had any good or bad experiences with certain types of cleansers? If so please tell me all about it in the comments below. I’d love to hear your stories and opinions.