I’ve discussed the importance of cleaning your face properly with step one of the double cleansing routine, but did you know that the cleanser you follow with for step two is just as important? While the oils and balms I recommended for step one were all pretty universal, your cleanser shouldn’t be. You should always have a cleanser specific to your skin type or to target your skin issues...that way, it is customized to get the results you want, whether you want to keep those breakouts at bay or just need something to hydrate that parched skin that keeps getting flakey no matter what you do for it.
Here, I’m going to break down my favorite cleansers based on skin type and/or the issues you want to target from fine lines to dryness, as well as ones for other skin conditions like hormonal cystic acne. We’ll also be talking about key ingredients as well as pricing to help you save some time going from website to website to find what works for your budget.
- Cleanser: Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash
- Brand: The Body Shop
- Skin Type: Oily to Combination
- Skin Concerns: Blemishes, Oiliness
This cleanser is something I picked up at the mall over a decade ago on a whim due to the affordability of the product and the fact that I had tried damn near everything to get my acne in check and had nothing really work as well as I wanted it to. Going in with low expectations, this product changed my life! Gentle enough for the dry parts of my face, yet effective enough to ensure that my breakouts are non-existent(and that my oily bits, well...aren’t!), this cleanser is a game changer for those suffering with acne, even the dreaded hormonal cystic kind! Enriched with Community Tea Tree Oil from the foothills of Mount Kenya, this gentle lathering cleanser is ideal for removing any impurities and leaves the skin refreshed without any sign of tightness or irritation. Tea tree also has natural antibacterial properties, as well as blocking excess oil(sebum) from overproducing in your skin, which prevents new breakouts as well as aids in healing the ones you already have. Not only does it do all this, but is a great follow up to your step one in that it helps remove any makeup that may be leftover from your step one in your double cleanse routine. This cleanser is also cruelty free and 100% vegan, making it an environmentally conscious product. Plus a bottle of it lasts me almost a full year, and what’s not to love about that? Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash($18) is available at www.thebodyshop.com
- Cleanser: GENIUS Ultimate Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser
- Brand: Algenist
- Skin Type: Dry to Combination
- Skin Concerns: Dehydration, Fine Lines
This cleanser has a very luxurious feel to it, and really does just melt into your skin. It’s powerful but still gentle, and dissolves all traces of makeup and the grime of the day, leaving your skin radiant and glowing. Free of parabens and sulfates, this soap free face wash combines both microalgae oil and alguronic acid to visibly and effectively smooth and replenish your skin. It balances and tones, plus has anti-aging properties which makes it a great cleanser if you’re starting to see wrinkles...I mean, little crinkles, in areas you didn’t before. After all, preventative care is always better than when you already have said...ahem...crinkles. GENIUS Ultimate Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser($38) is available at www.algenist.com
- Cleanser: Exfoliating Facial Cleanser
- Brand: B3 (also known as Brush Beauty Balm or B3 Balm)
- Skin Type: Sensitive
- Skin Concerns: Uneven Texture, Pores
It’s very hard to find a cleanser if you have sensitive or easily irritated skin and want something that exfoliates without stripping your face. This is the ideal cleanser for that! With easy to understand ingredients like safflower oil and aloe vera juice to help hydrate while you cleanse, and finely ground pumice to help gently clear all that dead skin off the surface of your skin, this helps eliminate any texture issues to give you the fresh face of your dreams! This cleanser also helps anything you put on after it to penetrate your skin deeply and allows all your products to be more effective, so you can receive the full benefits of whatever serums and moisturizers that you choose to follow this cleanser with! Exfoliating Facial Cleanser($38) is available at www.b3balm.com