Cleansers

 

 

We put a cleanser on our faces, and then wash it off very quickly.  So cleansers stay on our faces for only about 15 seconds twice a day.  It's hardly long enough to have any therapeutic effect on your skin. 

So you want a cleanser that cleans your type or skin, rather than a cleanser that promises a lot of skin therapy. 

If you have normal to dry skin, a cleanser that doesn’t dry out or strip oil from your skin is best.  A liquid cleanser, in particular, can be great for this.

Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need to feel that squeaky feeling for your skin to be clean (that squeaky feeling is just the soap stripping all your natural oils off of your skin). As long as the product is not overly irritating or drying, it’s fine.

If you have very oily skin, on the other hand, you’re likely best off with a cleanser that’s formulated specifically for acne or your skin type; these do tend to be drying—a good thing for some of us.

Some good cleansers. 

Here are some cleansers that I like.  For recommendations tailored to your skin profile, you can always take our Skin Care Test.  And some of these are linked to SkinCareRx.com if you want to buy them.

Link to Cleanser Recommendations

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser—for dry or sensitive skin (available at your drugstore)

Éminence Lemon Cleanser— an organic cleanser for normal to dry skin (organic)(available online)

Lancôme Galatée Confort Comforting Milky Creme Cleanser—for dry skin (available at department stores)

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin—for normal to oily skin (available at your drugstore)

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Foam Cleanser—for oily or acne-prone skin (available at your drugstore)

MD Forte Glycare Cleansing Gel.  A potent alpha-hydroxy-based cleansing gel that dries up oil and fights acne.

Topix Citrix Antioxidant Cleanser.  An extra mild, soap-free liquid cleanser for dry skin.

MD Forte Replenish Hydrating Cleanser.  For dry skin, this is a fragrance-free cleanser that cleans without stripping your own natural oils.

Eminence Rose Cleanser.  A very gentle, sweetly scented, creamy cleanser that will not dry you out.

Custom Dermaceuticals Anhydrous Cleanser.  This product is free of most allergens in skin care products, including parabens, preservatives, and lanolin.  It is gentle and mild for sensitive skin.

Link to Cleanser Recommendations

Link to Video Demonstration on How to Apply Skin Care Products

Dr. Irwin

From www.SkinTour.com and Dr. Brandith Irwin. Copyright 2008 SkinTour LLC. All rights reserved. Journalists, bloggers, and media may reprint this without permission so long as they include this credit box with the article.