Why is it important to use a great cleanser?
“A face wash arguably is the most important skincare item,” says Dr. Ibrahimi. “Picking the right face wash for your skin is key to keeping your skin looking optimal. We all need something that removes excess oil, makeup, dirt and grime without leaving our skin too stripped of our natural sebum and emollients. The right face wash is key to prepping the skin for the remainder of your skincare routine with serums or creams to use afterwards.”
What kind of cleanser should you use depending on your skin type?
“If you have oily skin you want to look for ingredients such as salicylic acid–which is a beta hydroxy acid–or benzoyl peroxide,” says Dr. Lal. “These ingredients help eliminate oil and reduce oil production from your sebaceous glands. If you have dry skin you want to look for cleansers that are going to be hydrating and include things such as glycerin, ceramides, or hyaluronic acid.”
What ingredients are key in a cleanser?
“For oily and acne prone skin, my favorite ingredients are salicylic acid, glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide,” says Dr. Ibrahimi. “I prefer these patients use a gel or foam type of face wash. When a patient has more dry skin, you want to avoid the above ingredients and look for things that hydrate and soothe the skin like glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and aloe. These ingredients are best delivered in a more creamy face wash.”
What ingredients should you avoid in a cleanser?
“Personally, I look for sulfate-free cleaners, which include sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate,” says Dr. Lal. “Sulfates just help cleansers foam which can result in excessive dryness. I also tend to avoid fragrance and fragrance derivatives in cleansers as these can also dry out your skin.”
