Aug. 24, 2010— -- When it comes to your morning beauty routine, the first step is washing your face. But before you reach for any old bar of soap, know that not all cleansers are created equal for all skin types. Whether you have oily skin, dry skin or some combination, there are different cleansers that will keep your skin looking luminous.
For oily skin: People with oily skin do well with a gel based or "soapy" cleanser. This will help clean out pores and strip away excess oil. CLICK HERE for more tips for oily skin.
For dry skin: People with dry skin should look for a creamy, soothing and moisturizing cleanser. Look for cleansers that contain glycerin and hylauronic acid because these ingredients draw water to the surface of the skin. Avoid foam cleansers, which tend to be drying. While cleansing the face, be sure to use massaging motions to stimulate oil-producing glands. CLICK HERE for more.
For combination skin: Wash your face with a gentle, water-soluble cleanser that does not leave skin feeling tight or dry. Most combination skin types do well with gel-based or mildly foaming cleansers. CLICK HERE for more.
For sensitive skin: Glycerin is a key ingredient to look for in cleansers for sensitive skin. Glycerin improves and protects skin by filling up the intercellular matrix and also helps in building an even skin structure. It attracts just the right amount of moisture required to hydrate skin, but it is gentle and has no side effects, which makes it perfect for sensitive skin types. Since sensitive skin is prone to irritation, be sure to opt for odor-free products.
As a general rule of thumb, here is what you should know to care for skin at any age:
30s: In your 30s, your skin loses its ability to retain water as it once did. Its renewal powers also slow down and it starts producing less collagen and elastin. Due to these factors, fine lines can start to develop, skin tone can turn dull and skin can begin to obtain a rough texture. Another common problem for this age group is increased skin sensitivity or conditions like rosacea. CLICK HERE for more information.
More Tips: Skin Care at Every Age
40s: When we are in our 40's, the aging process becomes more evident. You are more likely to have wrinkles and deep-set lines caused by exposure to the sun, pollution and stress. Skin also loses some of its elasticity. You may experience dry, chapped skin and discoloration. Try to avoid sun exposure and use other products to minimize the effects of aging before they become too difficult to get rid of! CLICK HERE for more tips.
50s: As you enter your 50's, your skin has also gone through five decades of wear and tear and will show clear signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and more. It's time to acknowledge that you can't get back the flawless skin of the past, but you can take steps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines. To keep your skin looking luminous, try updating your skin care routine, invest in effective anti-aging products and make sure you moisturize. CLICK HERE for more tips.
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When choosing a facial cleanser, the options can be overwhelming, but knowing your skin type makes it easy to narrow down your choices. Cleansing is about more than simply washing away dirt, makeup and excess oil, and this important skincare step can help address your skin’s unique concerns and needs. Consider these skin type basics:
- Normal skin: This skin type doesn’t experience excess dryness or oiliness, and is generally free of visible pores, acne and sensitivity.
- Dry skin: Skin is considered dry when it lacks water and natural oils. This skin type may have rough texture, visible lines and wrinkles, dullness, and loss of elasticity, as well as increased sensitivity and a tight, uncomfortable feel.
Browse our facial cleansers for dry skin
- Oily skin: Oily skin produces too much sebum, and is likely to experience enlarged pores, blackheads, pimples and unwanted shine.
Browse our facial cleansers for oily skin
- Combination skin:
This skin type has areas of dryness and areas of oiliness. It’s common to have dullness and rough texture in some spots and enlarged pores, blackheads and shine in others (especially around the nose, chin and forehead).
Browse our facial cleansers for combination skin
- Sensitive skin: Sensitive skin types tend to react to external factors, including
skincare. Signs of sensitive skin can include stinging, burning and redness.
Browse our facial cleansers for sensitive skin
Types of facial cleansers
Once you understand your skin type, it’s a lot easier to select the proper facial cleanser—and in most cases all you have to do is read the bottle. A vast majority of face washes clearly state the skin types they are designed for right on the label, so keep this is mind while you’re shopping. This applies to the wide variety of available facial cleanser options, and you may find you prefer one type in the morning, another at night and potentially a different formula for the gym or when you’re on the go. Regardless of the facial cleanser you choose, a product that contains ceramides can help ensure effective cleansing without disrupting the skin’s barrier
A gel facial cleanser effectively removes makeup as well as dirt and excess oil, and these lightweight formulas generally produce lather. Gel facial cleansers can be formulated with additional ingredients like hyaluronic acid for hydration, and our Renewing SA Cleanser features salicylic acid for gentle exfoliation—but it’s important to look for a mild gel facial cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils.
Skin types: Normal, oily, sensitive
In addition to effective removal of makeup, dirt and excess oil, these face wash options offer moisturizing and soothing benefits with a comforting texture. Depending on the product, lotion and cream facial cleansers may provide a lather, and these formulas can also target specific skin concerns such as dryness with the addition of hyaluronic acid, or acne with ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, which can be found in our Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser.
For those with sensitive skin, our Hydrating Facial Cleanser’s mild lotion formula may be the most suitable option.
Skin types: Normal, dry, oily, sensitive
Facial cleansers can deliver different levels of lather, from mild bubbling to full-on foam. Foaming cleansers can begin as a gel or cream, and these face washes—including our Foaming Facial Cleanser—provide cleansing and makeup removal, rinse off easily and leave skin feeling smooth and soft.
Skin types: Normal, oily, sensitive
Effective cleansing doesn’t necessarily require water or rinsing, and our Hydrating Micellar Cleanser can clear the skin of excess oil, dirt and makeup without leaving the skin feeling stripped or disrupting the skin barrier. This type of cleanser features molecules called micelles that act like magnets to trap dirt and oil without the need to rinse. Suitable for delicate skin around the eye area as well, a micellar water with barrier-restoring ceramides and soothing niacinamide is easy to use both at home and whenever conventional water-based cleansing isn’t an option.
Skin types: Normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive
Sometimes you just want to wipe your way to clean skin or get a jump-start on makeup removal whether at home or on the go, and our Makeup Removing Cleansing Cloths are an almost-effortless way to do it—with no sink required. Offering the power to remove makeup while being gentle on the skin, these rinse-free towelettes provide hydrating hyaluronic acid and barrier-strengthening ceramides as well.
Skin types: Normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive
There’s a big difference between “soap” and a facial cleanser that comes in a bar. Our soap-free, moisturizer-infused Hydrating Cleanser Bar can offer effective removal of makeup, dirt and excess oil while being gentle on the skin, along with hydrating hyaluronic acid and barrier-reinforcing ceramides in a familiar, easy-to-use form.
Skin types: Normal, dry, sensitive