Facial Cleansers Buying Guide

There are no shortage of facial cleansers  on the market. With products ranging from extremely inexpensive to mind-boggling pricey, there are cleansers available to suit everyone's budget. Products are made to suit the five main types of skin: oily,  dry,  combination,  sensitive,  and blemished.  Some facial cleansers even target multiple types of skin, such as cleansers that treat acne and are gentle enough for sensitive skin types. There are also some cleansers that claim to do wonders (diminishing fine lines, giving the skin a "lift", etc) for mature skin.  The first step in finding the perfect cleanser is to determine your skin type(s) and what you want out of a cleanser. Do you want it to battle wrinkles and suit sensitive skin? Or maybe you'd just like a good cleanser that fights acne outbreaks. Whatever you decide, the second step is to determine how much you are willing to spend on a cleanser. There really is little difference in ingredients between the lower-cost models and the high-cost models, so don't feel the need to break open every piggy bank in the house. 

Ingredients to Look For

The ideal ingredients in facial cleansers vary with your skin type. Acne-fighting cleansers are going to have different ingredients than a basic cleanser for dry skin. Here are the main ingredients you should keep your eye out for when shopping for cleansers. 

For Acne-Prone Skin Benzoyl Peroxide and Triclosan Salicylic Acid For a complete guide on how to care for acne-prone skin, please see Acne Treatments. You'll also find the top picks in products to treat acne.	For Dry or Sensitive Skin It general, it's best to look for cream cleansers and organics that are free of sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate, a harsh cleanser that causes products to foam and strip skin of its moisture. You should also opt for unscented varieties of your favourite cleanser to help minimize irritation. Vitamin E Oils and Butters Jojoba, castor, olive, soy bean and sunflower oil are just a few common ones to look for. Shea  and cocoa butter  are common butters to look for.	For Mature Skin Alpha or Beta Hydroxy Acids (AHAs or BHAs) Retinyl Palmitate	For Oily Skin Menthol Camphor Peppermint Alcohol Witch hazel

Quick Picks

Top Picks for Dry or Sensitive Skin
Almay Cleansing Lotion For Dry Skin	Jason Red Elements Hydrating Lotion Cleanser	Nivea Visage Gentle Cleansing Cream, Dry & Sensitive Skin

Top Picks for Ageing Skin
Alpha Hydrox Foaming Face Wash	L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise Age Perfect Anti-Fatigue Lotion	Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish Cleanser	Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Cleanser	DERMAdoctor Wrinkle Revenge Antioxidant Enhanced Glycolic Acid Cleanser 2

Top Picks for Oily Skin
Clinique Wash-Away Gel Cleanser	Shiseido Pureness Cleansing Gel	Clinique Facial Soap Oily Skin Formula	Abella Exfoliating Cleanser

Top Picks for Combination Skin
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser	Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser	Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean Fresh Balancing Lotion	Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser	Clarins One-Step Facial Cleanser

Related Guides

Facial Moisturisers	Facial Masks	Facial Toners	Facial Scrubs	Anti-Ageing Skin Care

External Links

• eHow.com: Enjoy this video on how to choose the right facial cleanser.
• LovetoKnow.com: More on how to choose an appropriate facial cleanser.
• GreenYour.com: How to choose an eco-friendly facial cleanser.