Busting Some Myths on Cleansing Your Skin

I find that many women/men are still confused about cleansing. Here’s what you need to know.

Our skin naturally produces less oil (gets dryer) as we get older. Most of us, if over 40, shouldn’t be using any cleanser that strips natural oils off the skin. This means no soaps generally. A cleansing lotion or cleansing milk is better – and organic even better. There are lots of good ones for any budget. For good drugstore options try the Cetaphil or CeraVe Lotion Cleansers. These are cheaper to buy at your drugstore than online. For something more cosmetically elegant try the Eminence Lemon or Rose Cleansers or the SkinMedica Facial Cleanser.

If you are struggling with oil control and acne, these are not for you!  Please see my acne and oily skin product recommendations and my article Acne in Depth if you have oily or acne prone skin.

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

Ask me your skincare question!

Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

  • All our content is written and researched by myself.
  • My medical office in Seattle has treated thousands of patients for 15+ years.
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One of the best investments in your skin is your daily skincare. Why? Because you can prevent many problems with blotchy skin color, lack of glow, texture, some types of acne, and fine lines with good skincare products. You can also correct some of these problems with effective skincare products. Great skincare is often more expensive because quality ingredients are expensive. Some companies spend on research/development which benefits all of us and adds to the cost. Are they worth it? In general - yes! I have handpicked some of what I consider to be the best skin care products, and offer them for sale on SkinTour's shop. This is based on my team and I's testing and research at our clinic. Many of the products are in my own regimen. What could be better than using skin care products a dermatologist uses?!