You don't have to spend a lot of money to find a good cleansers. You can get a great basic cleanser for any drugstore, but if you want the very best, you can pay for it. Here I run down the best face cleansers for 5 different skin types: dry, oily, combination, sensitive and blemished. This list includes some of the yearly picks by the staff of 'InStyle' magazine plus the tried and true picks selected by myself other beauty experts.
My beauty cabinet is full of cleansers from some of the priciest boutique brands, but the cleanser I use every day doesn't cost $60 or even $30, it costs $6 at the average drugstore. When my friend Laura (visiting from Seattle) spotted my bottle of Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash in my bathroom, she emerged laughing. She couldn't believe THIS was my cleanser of choice. I had to explain that you don't need a lot of bells and whistles in a good cleanser.
This soap-free, oil-free liquid lathers away dirt, makeup and oil but doesn't leave skin so dry it reacts by overproducing oil. Since trying out Purpose a couple years ago, I've read other dermatologists who cop to using Purpose as well, and it makes most of the "Best" lists in magazines.
Just as there are no bells and whistles with Purpose above, there are none with this baby-mild product that even dermatologists swear by. So why is this $10 cleanser such a must-have? It's creamy, simple and isn't loaded with chemicals or perfumes that can irritate the skin. Cetaphil products are revered in the industry and their cleanser is one of the best drugstore buys out there. Period.
For years I thought of Pond's cold cream as The Cleanser of Choice for Grandmothers because it's what Meemaw, my now 92-year-old grandmother, slathered on her face. Turns out Pond's is also The Cleanser of Choice for Chic French Women ... and my editor at About.com and me.
For years the French have have opted for super moisturizing cold creams. You simply massage this in and then wipe off with a tissue or a warm washcloth and you're left with super soft skin. It removes makeup without stripping skin of essential oils. Plus, water can contain hard contaminants that are harsh on skin and at least one prominent dermatologist I know strongly advises against rinsing the face with water.
It gets 5 out of 5 stars on Drugstore.com.
Creamy cleansers are best for dry skin. They won't strip your face of essential oils, but do remove dirt, makeup and impurities. The chamomile in Boscia's cleanser soothes dry skin while the carrot root provides anti-aging properties. Jojoba leaf is also in Boscia's cleanser and is an antioxidant (a must for skin these days).
Gel cleansers work well for oily skin because they absorb excess oils. This classic cleanser can be a bit drying, so test the product before you buy.
Neutrogena is one of the best drugstore beauty brands, hands-down, and you can't go wrong with this simple acne wash for acne-stricken skin.
I'm a huge fan of the Dr. Hauschka line. Organic and not full of chemicals, the cleansing cream and moisturizers are very popular among those concerned with healthy skin.
This basic drugstore cleanser works well for sensitive skin because it contains no harsh ingredients that will inflame skin.
