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Fash Wash and Acne Cleansers

If you’ve walked down the aisles of your favorite beauty supply store lately you’ve surely been pummeled with product after product that promises clearer skin, better coverage, and less greasiness. Things can get confusing as you realize just how many products can be used to wash your face or cover up blemishes. Our beauty experts helped decode all this beauty lingo nonsense and get to the bottom of what it is that makes products different from one another and what they all actually do and which ones you really need.

When it comes to the art of face washing, ladies take it pretty seriously. We carefully select our skin care products and practically give ourselves a facial twice a day. We do this ritual in the morning to look and feel refreshed and awake (even when we likely get less than six hours of sleep). And then we wash the day off of our faces in the evening, removing all traces of makeup, as well as any dirt and excess oil.
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But a cleanser is a cleanser, right? Don’t they all do the same job? Hardly.

There are face wash formulas for all different skin types, from sensitive to acne-prone to combination to dry to oily and even those of us with rosacea. You can choose from bars or pump soaps, mild or deep facial cleansers and take your pick from exfoliating, creamy, foamy or even frothy face washes.

Most of us assume that cleansing is a task so basic it can be accomplished even when you’re completely exhausted. But with all the latest options (lotions, milks, foaming mousses, oils, wipes, motorized brushes) and anti-aging ingredients to consider, there’s a lot more to it than soap and water, clearly, an old-school splash and scrub won’t do.
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Which is better , A facial wash or cream cleansers , for everyday use?

It matters on your skin type first and foremost. If you have dry skin, go for a cream cleanser because they put moisture back into your skin. Go for a gel cleanser or foam cleanser if you have oily/combo skin. Only use this product to wash your face twice a day, once in the morning when you wake up, and in the evening when your home to take your makeup off and all the dirt and oil that has built up on your face throughout the day.

If you have oily skin, just buy blotting papers and take them with you to school and blot your face throughout the day to remove excessive oil, don’t wash your face in school. It’s a bad messy idea. Blotting papers won’t remove your makeup, like if you buy the Clean and Clear ones. Don’t use your cleanser more than those two times a day, overusing a product can do bad for your skin more than good. And just don’t wash your face more than twice a day, no matter what skin type you have, it isn’t good, you will over dry it.

Yes, a toner is good. It balances the pH level in your skin, it will reduce pores over time, and it gets rid of any residue your cleanser didn’t get. Definitely include a toner in your skin care routine, it is to be used after your cleanser and before your moisturizer. Get one that doesn’t contain alcohol, can’t stress this enough!! DON’T get one with alcohol in it, it will dry out your skin like no other!! And it will burn immensely if you have sensitive skin. Check the ingredients on the back or read the labels carefully before purchasing to make sure alcohol isn’t in it.

Oh yeah, going back to the cleansers, don’t use your cleanser daily if it is too harsh to use daily, like it has an exfoliant type consistency or if it says on the bottle don’t use daily.

If you are combination (oily in t-zone) or oily (all over), a wash may be better. They will foam and suds up, leaving you squeaky clean. If you are normal to dry, you may like a cream cleanser. Most don’t tend to foam as much as a regular face wash, but will melt away makeup and dirt, and leave your skin cushy and soft. Totally a texture preference.

Toners aren’t necessary, as a lot of cleansers tone while cleaning. They are nice, esp with summer coming up, to make skin feel refreshed and remove any excess oil or makeup your cleanser didn’t get. If you are dry, stick to one that is alcohol free. My favorite toner is pure witch hazel. Leaves the skin refreshed but not tight and is clarifying…best part, you can find it in the first aid aisle for only a dollar or two!

It all really depends on your skin type… I for example use a cream cleanser with salicylic acid in the shower in the morning and a facial wash a night. I break out easily and tend to have oily skin.

as long as it says something like “daily cleanser” or “safe for daily use” then that is what is important. I have daily scrubs, daily cleansers and daily serums. It just depends on how concentrated it is. Just please make sure that you wash it all off because if you don’t, (especially in crevices between your nose or under your lip) the chemicals can do more harm then good.
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Cleanser vs. Face wash vs. Scrub

cleansers and face washes are the same thing – each is simply a liquid used to wash the face. Scrubs, on the other hand, have grit to them, often beads or bits of plant matter to try to improve exfoliation.” While cleansers and face washes are meant to remove dirt, scrubs remove a layer of skin from your face.
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Face Cleansing Myths

Myth 1: WASH AND GO
It’s more of a two-step process. Remove your makeup before you wash your face, Many cleansers can’t take off concealer or foundation completely, especially around the eyes and nose. Use an oil-based cream, an emollient wipe, or a cleansing oil to dissolve stubborn sunscreen and makeup. Follow with lukewarm water and a dime-size amount of cleanser (look for the ingredients cocamidopropyl betaine or caprylic triglyceride, which are sulfate-free surfactants) on your fingers or a clean, damp washcloth. Rinse and dry with a soft paper towel if you’re acne-prone.

Myth 2: WASH TWICE A DAY
While the jury is still out on how often to cleanse (every a.m. and p.m. or just once at night), all dermatologists agree that over-washing can lead to irritation and a lack of moisture. The rule is to use common sense: Always wash your face after a workout to prevent breakouts, and wash excessively oily skin morning and night. For very dry or sensitive skin, stick to cleansing once daily in the evening.

Myth 3: CLOSE YOUR PORES
Sorry, folks, but you can skip rituals like massaging your face to increase circulation or splashing with cold water to “close” your pores. Pores don’t open and close. In fact, extreme hot or cold can exacerbate problems like rosacea and redness. That said, mild steam can help soften hardened oil in pores, so it’s never a bad idea to cleanse in the shower. And while it feels nice, massage doesn’t do much. Exercise is what boosts your circulation.

Myth 4: BUY CLEANSER ACCORDING TO SKIN TYPE
No matter what kind of skin you have, make sure the ingredients list doesn’t contain fragrance, which can be irritating; parabens (potentially toxic preservatives); or harsh soap (it’s drying). If a cleanser fits that bill, the formula itself [cream, lotion, foaming, etc.] is more a matter of personal preference,. Of course, people with dry skin may prefer formulas with added moisturizers, like glycerin or shea butter. And if you have oily skin, you might want a foaming wash that leaves skin feeling super clean.

Myth 5: SCRUB TO EXFOLIATE AND SMOOTH
salicylic- or glycolic-acid cleanser is gentler and more effective than grainy scrubs, and both offer anti-aging benefits and help prevent breakouts. Alternate with your regular wash (start with three times a week), and adjust depending on how your skin is looking and feeling.

Myth 6: USE TONER
An alcohol-based toner strips off natural oils, Not good. Gentle toners calm the skin and balance pH levels, but with the right cleanser, you don’t really need this step. Love the feeling anyway? Choose gentle, alcohol-free versions.

Myth 7: BRUSH YOUR SKIN TO A GLOW EVERY DAY
A brush removes oil, dirt, and dead skin better than your hands can, and it’s less aggressive than most exfoliating cleansers or scrubs. But it’s not something you have to use every night, especially if you’re also applying ingredients like retinoids or acids. Too much exfoliation can cause inflammation. Basically: Use, but use sparingly. To keep your brush bacteria-free, rinse and air-dry after use. Oh, and hey, clean freak, like you do with your Brita, replace the brush head every three months.

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