Pick a face wash by texture first. Gel and foam suit oily and breakout-prone skin, cream suits dry or easily irritated skin, and oil works as a first step when you wear makeup or sunscreen. If your skin feels tight or itchy right after you rinse, the formula is too strong for you.
The skincare aisle is a wall of bottles that all promise clear, glowing skin. The claims on the front tell you very little. The texture inside tells you a lot, because it shows how hard the cleanser pulls oil off your skin. Below, the four common types of face wash, who each one suits, and how to choose when your skin doesn’t fit neatly into one box.
Gel Face Wash: For Oily and Breakout-Prone Skin
A gel face wash is normally clear or slightly colored and rinses easily. Gel washes work best with oily or combination skin because they can break down sebum very efficiently. Most acne cleansers in gel base are exfoliating because of additional content of such ingredients as salicylic acid. It’s necessary to pay attention to the composition of the product, if you prefer exfoliation or avoid it.
The problem is that the efficiency of cleansing means extra stress for dry skin. If your cheek feels too tight after washing, your gel wash is too aggressive for you. You should continue using the gel, but limit its frequency of use. Some people prefer to have one gel for evening, when they need to cleanse their skin from all accumulated oils and sunscreens, and another for morning use.
Foam Face Wash: Pleasant to Use, Easy to Overdo
A foam-based face wash produces a liquid or cream product which becomes lather upon rubbing in water. Lathering gives a thorough feel and the latter is an important part of the experience; it’s also the point at which people usually make mistakes. A lot of lather means that the product is good at producing foam. It does not mean that the skin is clean; squeaky skin after washing usually means that the product stripped too much of the skin’s natural oils.
Foam-based products are great for oily and combination skin types as well as summer because in the heat our face gets oily faster. A small squirt makes plenty of lather. If you’ve been using foam face wash and by the afternoon your skin is already dry, switch to a milder formula or a cream.
Cream Face Wash: For Dry and Easily Irritated Skin
Cream or lotion face washes have a creamy consistency and lack foaming agents. This allows them to clean more gently. They are commonly recommended for people who suffer from dry, mature, or sensitive skin and experience irritation after using any other cleanser. These cleansers can usually be applied by hand and washed off with warm water without leaving the skin feeling dry.
However, the drawback is the opposite of that of a gel wash. People with oily skin may find cream cleansers too heavy and think they take extra time to wash off. If you’re unsure about your skin type and which cleanser to use, a cream wash is a safer option to start with. An overly mild face wash is easier to identify than a strong one. One that’s too harsh can leave your skin irritated for days.
Oil Face Wash: For Makeup and Sunscreen
The oil-based cleanser is used to remove all makeup, sunscreens, and oils produced by the skin, since oil mixes with oil. It should be applied to dry skin, diluted with water to become milk-like, and washed off. Typically, the product is used during the first stage of the double cleansing process, followed by washing with gel, foaming, or cream cleansers to remove the remaining residues.
This additional cleansing stage becomes justified when you are wearing long-wear makeup products and/or water-resistant sunscreens that will not come off with just one rinse. Otherwise, you can leave out the additional product if you don’t need it. Also, don’t forget to wash it off – the purpose of cleansing becomes meaningless otherwise.
How to Choose When Your Skin Is Mixed
For the most part, there is no such thing as one type of skin. For example, you can have an oily forehead and dry cheeks or dry skin in the winter and oily in the summer. Choose the face wash that corresponds to the problem you experience the most often. For instance, if you have dryness and irritation, choose a cream face wash and use it everywhere on your face. If you have shine and pores, choose a gel or light foam face wash.
Assess any new face wash by its effect after rinsing and drying the skin. Comfortable and soft skin means that it works well. If your skin feels itchy, tight, or even stings, this means it is too strong. Change one product at a time, so that if something goes wrong you know which one caused it. Our skincare regimen guide shows where a cleanser sits among the other products and how to add them without irritating your skin.
What to Check on the Label
The American Academy of Dermatology advises a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser without alcohol, so those are the first two things to look for. Gritty scrubs and beads belong in an occasional exfoliating step, not in a face wash you use every day. Fragrance is worth a glance too if your skin is sensitive, since scent is a common reason people react to a cleanser. And if a gel lists salicylic acid, remember it’s there to exfoliate, which can dry out skin that was never very oily.
How to Wash Your Face and How Often
The technique is equally important as the type, no matter which face wash you use. Wash your face with lukewarm water and massage it gently with your fingers. The use of a washcloth or a mesh sponge could irritate your skin, as will rubbing the face. Use lukewarm water to rinse your face; pat it dry using a soft towel and apply moisturizer if necessary.
Regarding how often should you wash your face, dermatologists recommend doing it twice daily, namely once during the day and once at night, along with any intense sweat. Sweat irritates the skin when it accumulates under the helmet or a hat, and that is why a quick washing after exercising will do you good. You should not go beyond washing your face twice a day. If your skin feels dry or tight with two washes, drop one before you change the product.
On nights you’re too tired for the sink, wiping your face still beats sleeping in makeup. Water wipes are a gentle option for that. They work as a fallback, though, and a full face of long-wear makeup will still need a proper wash and, ideally, a cleansing oil first.
