Facewash Frenzy! My Favorite Cleansers At The Moment
When it comes to cleansers, I have tried many on the market. Some I sought out and some might be a little sample included in a proof with purchase from a specific brand for cross promotion. Some cleansers can be clean and gentle, only there to provide hydration while washing away impurities, and some pack a punch with exfoliants to combat tough breakouts. Here are some of my favorite in no particular order, what they do and why I love them.
Farmacy Clean Bee Ultra Gentle Facial Cleanser- 5oz; $29
This is a very gentle cleanser that washes away excess oil, impurities and makeup while supplying deep moisture from the power duo of hyaluronic acid and honey. This is a gel-based formula that smells amazing and has a great lather. I love this cleanser as my go to morning cleanser. I try not to use any cleanser with active ingredients in it in the morning. I was taught that the morning facewash is simply to prepare your skin for the products it is about to receive for the day, and leave the active ingredients for the nighttime. It does not leave my skin looking dull after use and it really does feel moisturized.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel- 7.5oz; $39
This cleanser has the formulation of “heavy liquid” and it gently exfoliates, unclogs pores and washes away bacteria with the help of salicylic acid. This was recommended to me during the winter when my skin was abnormally dry, and I was just calming down after an intense breakout out of the blue. Having normal skin at the time, I had noting in my arsenal to combat breakouts, I just had products to help maintain the skin I had. This cleanser was gentle enough to not cause further irritation and after a few days my skin started to look normal. Post breakout my skin was dry and irritated and this seemed to relax all that. I grew up in the proactive era (don’t you dare judge me) so I have had MUCH harsher things on my face. Even dealing with the irritation this cleanser did not further irritate my skin. I keep this in rotation, using it once or twice a week and it seems to help keep the breakouts at bay.
Cerave Renewing SA Cleanser- 8oz; $16.99
This cleanser is a gel cleanser, and it is packed with salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin D and Cerave’s trusted ceramides. There is not one bad thing to say about this cleanser except that it is very hard to find in my area! It is constantly sold out at Target and CVS and it is even hit or miss on Amazon. That just tells you how good it is. I would use this the same way I do the Dr. Dennis Gross cleanser, to keep breakouts at bay. I truly love a lot of things by this brand and since it is formulated by Dermatologist, it is one of the best, if not the best drug store skincare line.
Dermologica Daily Mircofoliant Exfoliator- 0.45oz; $19/2.6oz $66
This rice-based powder to foamy paste power house is truly in a class all by itself! The formulation is a lightweight powder that you put in the palm of your hand, add a little bit of water and rub together to create the foamy paste until the powder dissolves. It’s said to treat pores, uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles with the help of salicylic acid. Is this considered a physical exfoliant? I want to say yes but I am no expert. The thickness of the foam really depends on your liking and how much water you add. I love, love, love this product and I use it twice a week at night, mainly Sundays and Wednesdays. My skin feels instantly smoother and brighter and it is gentle enough for everyday use. The price is steep but a little truly does go a long way.
Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser- 6.75oz; $46
This exfoliator is packed with the holy trinity of acids- salicylic, glycolic and lactic. Using jojoba beads to polish and revitalize the skin, this is the exfoliator that is my second in command for the “exfoliate twice a week” step in my skincare depending on what my skin is needing at the time. I was warned that this might be harsh on the skin or might cause sensitivity, but again, I attended the school of Proactive so I was not worried. Just as I thought this exfoliator was not harsh in the least bit and my skin did feel exfoliated. My skin does not feel dry or stripped after using which is great because a healthy skin barrier is what we all strive for.
In conclusion we all want healthy skin and the first step in that is the cleanse. In do not be afraid to ask questions and research what formulation is right for your skin type. You would hate to have an extensive skincare routine that is not even catering to your specific needs.
