how-to-choose-face-wash-cleanser-for-skin-type (2024)

Understanding Your Skin Type

Finding the right facial cleanser begins with understanding your skin type. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recognizes five primary types of skin: normal, oily, dry, sensitive, and combination.¹ Each skin type has its own set of unique characteristics, which are largely influenced by how much sebum (natural oils) your skin produces. Your skin type can change over time as you age or due to hormone fluctuations, stress, and your environment.

If you’re not sure what type of skin you have, keep reading for a brief explanation of each type:

Normal skin: This skin type is usually well-balanced and doesn’t experience excess dryness or oiliness. Normal skin is also generally free of skin concerns like visible pores, acne, and sensitivity.
Browse Facial Cleansers for Normal Skin

Dry skin: Because it lacks moisture, dry skin can feel tight, itchy, and uncomfortable. Those with dry skin may also experience rough texture, visible fine lines and wrinkles, and dullness.
Browse Facial Cleansers for Dry Skin

Oily skin: If you have oily skin, your skin overproduces sebum. This abundance of natural oils can leave oily skin susceptible to acne breakouts, enlarged pores, blackheads, and unwanted shine.
Browse Facial Cleansers for Oily Skin

Combination skin: This skin type is dry in some places but oily in others. People with combination skin often experience oiliness around their T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and dry patches on their cheeks.
Browse Facial Cleansers for Combination Skin

Sensitive skin: If you tend to experience stinging, burning, and redness after applying skincare products, you probably have sensitive skin. This skin type is measured by how reactive your skin is to the environment. Although it's classified as a skin type on its own, any of the above skin types can also experience sensitivity.
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Why Does Skin Type Matter When Choosing a Face Cleanser?

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends choosing a cleanser based on your skin type.¹ But why exactly is your skin type important when it comes to facial cleansing? As mentioned earlier, the right (or wrong) face cleanser can impact how your skin looks and feels. What works well for oily skin types can be too harsh for those with dry, sensitive skin, for example. It’s also possible that an ultra-mild cleanser may not provide a deep enough cleanse for individuals with oilier, acne-prone skin.

People with different skin types also tend to prefer cleansers with different textures. Many people with oily skin enjoy foaming facial gels and bar soaps whereas those with dry skin often prefer lightly foaming or non-foaming creams or balms.

Types of Facial Cleansers for Every Skin Type

Now that you’re all caught up on the basics, it’s time to learn how to choose a face cleanser based on your skin type. Keep reading for a deep dive into the types of face cleansers you can consider adding to your routine.

No matter which formula you choose, all of CeraVe’s facial cleansers are fragrance-free, gentle on your skin, and feature three essential ceramides to ensure effective cleansing without disrupting the skin’s protective barrier.

Gel facial cleansers

Gel cleansers effectively remove light makeup, dirt, and excess oil. These lightweight formulas generally produce a lather and leave your skin feeling refreshed, deeply cleansed, and comfortable. CeraVe’s gel cleansers also feature additional ingredients to support hydrated, healthy-looking skin—such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide—and exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid.

Ideal For: Normal, Oily, and Combination Skin
Try: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, our gentle exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid that smooths and softens your skin without disrupting its protective barrier.

Cream & lotion facial cleansers

Lotion- and cream-based cleansers often feature a rich, silky texture and tend to feel moisturizing and soothing on the skin. These face cleansers may create a lather, but this will depend on each specific product. CeraVe’s lotion and cream cleansers are excellent options for gently cleansing dry skin but also include targeted options for specific skin concerns—including a benzoyl peroxide formula for acne-prone skin.

Ideal For: Normal, Dry, and Sensitive Skin
Try: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, a gentle cream cleanser with hyaluronic acid and ceramides that cleanses and refreshes your skin without over-stripping it.

Foaming face washes

Foaming face washes can deliver different levels of lather, from mild bubbling to a full-on foaming texture. These cleansers begin as a gel or cream and transition into a foam when applied to the skin with water. They typically make good options for those with oily skin and a lot of pore congestion, as well as anyone who wants a deep clean feel when they wash their face.

Ideal For: Normal, Oily, Combination, and Acne-Prone Skin
Try: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, our non-drying gel-to-foam cleanser formula for normal to oily skin that deeply cleanses, removes excess oil, and refreshes your skin.

Oil-based cleansers

As the name suggests, oil-based face cleansers use moisturizing oils (such as jojoba oil) as their primary ingredients. They are usually formulated as cleansing oils or balms and leave skin with a nourishing, deeply hydrated feel, making them ideal for dry skin. Oil-based cleansers are also commonly used for makeup removal and as the first step in a double cleansing routine.

Ideal For: Normal, Dry, and Sensitive Skin
Try: CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm, a residue-free cleansing balm that helps remove long-wear makeup, dirt, and excess sebum—leaving your skin feeling clean, and hydrated after each use.

Bar cleansers

There’s a big difference between “bar soap” and a facial cleanser that’s available in a bar form. While traditional bar soaps have a reputation for being harsh and drying on the skin, CeraVe’s soap-free cleanser bars are a gentle cleanser option in a familiar, easy-to-use form. Our bar cleansers with three essential ceramides help remove dirt and excess oil while being gentle on the skin and helping to maintain the skin barrier.

Ideal For: Normal, Oily, and Combination Skin
Try: CeraVe Foaming Cleanser Bar, our non-drying, soap-free bar cleanser with kaolin clay that helps absorb excess oil while thoroughly cleansing normal to oily skin.

Micellar water

Micellar waters are liquid cleansing formulas that can help remove excess oil, dirt, and makeup without leaving the skin feeling stripped or disrupting the skin barrier. These no-rinse cleansers feature molecules called micelles that act like magnets to gently lift impurities off your skin’s surface. They make excellent options for cleansing on the go and can be used as the first step in a double cleansing routine.

Ideal For: Most Skin Types
Try: CeraVe Hydrating Micellar Water, an ultra-gentle, 3-in-1 cleansing water with ceramides and niacinamide that removes makeup, cleanses, and hydrates your skin.

Face wipes

Face wipes offer a quick and easy way to cleanse your skin and remove makeup—whether you’re at home or on the go. CeraVe’s rinse-free towelettes can be used by most skin types to remove makeup while being gentle on the skin. They’re great for packing in your gym bag or suitcase for quick cleansing when there isn’t a sink nearby.

Ideal For: Most Skin Types
Try: CeraVe Hydrating Makeup Remover Plant-Based Wipes, our easy-to-use, rinse-free cleansing towelettes that make taking off your makeup simple and convenient.

For help choosing the right products for your specific skin type and concerns, use our Find My Skincare Solution tool.