Cleansers vs Face Wash: Differences, Which Product Should You Use?

Within the wide range of products available for cleaning your face, people tend to fall into two categories: those who just use a cleaner without a second thought and those who only use what is known as a “face wash”. As both these terms have become very prevalent in recent years thanks to advertising, it is easy for one not knowledgeable about skincare to confuse the two- so let’s discuss the difference between cleansers and face wash along with their types!

What are cleansers?

Cleansers are essential to any skincare regimen for different reasons. They remove dirt, pollution, sweat & anything else that clings to your face. Also, they help you exfoliate the skin which eventually keeps it young and healthy-looking.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a cleanser is that it must suit your specific type of skin. For example, if you have oily or combination skin then you’ll want a milder cleanser with no oil since these types of ingredients can lead to further break-outs. If, on the other hand, you have dry skin, then choose one which has more oil in it as this will help moisturize the skin without making it feel heavy or greasy.

Here are the basic types of cleansers you’ll find on the market today:

Mild Cream Cleanser

Mild cream cleansers are perfect for people with sensitive skin since they contain very mild ingredients. They typically don’t foam up like other cleansers, but more importantly, they remove impurities without drying out your skin or leaving it feeling greasy. These types of cleansing creams are ideal for daytime use because of their light texture & herbal extracts that nourish your skin as you wash it.

Cleansing Milk

Milk cleansers do what their name implies, milks away impurities thoroughly while removing makeup. They are a staple in beauty regimens because they’re effective at cleansing the skin without leaving it feeling tight or dry. Milk cleansers are perfect for all skin types but particularly those with sensitive or combination skin.

Gentle Foaming Cleanser

Gentle foaming cleansers are generally lighter than their harsher counterparts and create an abundance of soft bubbles that gently cleanse your pores without irritating them. These cleansers should be used by people with oily or acne-prone skin since they can strip away too much oil, causing excess break-outs, instead of removing them.

Oil-Based Cleanser

Oil-based cleansers should only be used on dry & dehydrated skin types because they lock moisture into the cells, making your face feel supple and soft. These cleansers also contain ingredients like glycerin & mineral oil which means they are perfect for wintertime use since they can help stave off dry, flaky skin without over-drying your face.

Oil-Free Cleanser

If you have oily, acne-prone, or combination skin, then you should only use an oil-free cleanser to wash away the dirt and impurities that clog up your pores. This type of cleanser is very mild, yet it’s still powerful enough to remove surface oils that cause break-outs. Oil-free cleansers don’t strip away much moisture making them ideal for sensitive or normal skin types.

What are face washes?

Face washes are a home remedy for acne. They are used to prevent blackheads, whiteheads, and oily skin. Most of the time, people use these facial cleansers with an honest hope to obtain clear, smooth, and radiant-looking skin, which is free from any zits or blemishes. There is a long list of commercially available face washes in the market, which can be bought at a low price. A few years back, they were just used by females, but now men also have started using them.

There are many types of face washes available in the market that when combined together perform almost all functions related to cleaning pores & removing dirt, oil & other impurities from your skin or face pores. One can even use a facial scrub or face pack to improve the overall look and feel of your skin.

All face washes work differently depending upon their ingredients for different skin types. So before using any face wash, you should be well aware of its usage and benefits of the face wash. Here are some skin type face washes to help you choose best products:

Face wash for Dry Skin

For dry skin, it is best suitable as an overnight moisturizing mask that works by hydrating the skin and deep cleaning pores making them free from all impurities, dirt, and dust particles. It also helps in the regeneration of new cells, making your skin glowing & vibrant looking without any blemishes, scars, or marks on it. However, if used daily then it might cause breakouts as excess oil will be removed, which causes the skin to release excess oil immediately.

Face Wash for Oily Skin

If you are suffering from oily skin, then it is very effective as a moisturizing pack overnight or for 5-6 hours. It helps in controlling the production of sebum by your skin, hydrating it & at the same time deep cleansing pores to remove all impurities, dirt, and grime that clogs your face pores thus giving you shine-free glowing looking skin without any blemishes or scars. If used daily then use light face wash rather than using this pack daily as overtime excess oil will be removed leading to increased sebum production by your skin making it oily forcing you to use face wash again.