Acne-Control Cleansers

Cleansers for oily or acne-prone skin

A good facial cleanser is especially important for people who are prone to acne. Many skin-care products marketed for blemish-prone skin contain alcohol, witch hazel, menthol, camphor or peppermint, but these have no effect on skin bacteria and are exceptionally drying and irritating to the skin, causing it to become more inflamed. Again, Paula Begoun points out the obvious by questioning how further irritation can possibly help acne -- yet those very ingredients cause a tingling sensation that makes the user think the product is doing something beneficial.

Still, some consumers prefer these types of ingredients for their oily, acne-prone skin because it makes their skin feel squeaky clean. Reviewers point to Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser (*Est. $8 for 6.7 oz.) for blemish management and to control shine. Allure Magazine chose it as a 2008 Best of Beauty Award Winner. Though some consumers really like the product, it contains menthol, which can irritate some people's skin. But testers at Real Simple magazine say that the lavender contained in this product actually helps to soothe skin that is irritated by the drying acne ingredients.

Reviewers at InStyle, CosmoGirl and Shape praise Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash (*Est. $7 for 6 oz.) for including a high level of acne-fighting salicylic acid, but Paula Begoun says that it uses a drying detergent cleansing agent, namely sodium C14-16 olefin sulfomate. Users at MakeupAlley, TotalBeauty and Drugstore.com agree that the cleanser can be drying and some say that it made their acne worse. Begoun points out that the grapefruit version is no better. In fact it is exactly the same as the original version but with added grapefruit extract and grapefruit fragrance. It gets slightly higher ratings, though not as many reviews, at both MakeupAlley.com and Drugstore.com.

A recent trend in skin-care is self-warming cleansers. Products like Biore Warming Anti-Blackhead Cream Cleanser (*Est. $8 for 6.25 oz.) and Olay Warming Deep Purifying Cleanser (*Est. $10 for 4.2 oz.), heat up when applied to wet skin because of the inclusion of minerals from volcanic rock and ash. The claim is that the heat opens up pores and allows the product to penetrate the skin. Begoun, however, is skeptical, saying, "The sensation of warmth won't eliminate blackheads any more than planting roses instead of carnations will keep bees at bay." She describes the heat as a tactile sensation that really has no benefit to the skin other than personal preference. She does say that it can be a problem for blemished skin, though.

Experts also advise against using any kind of bar soap for acne-prone skin, because the ingredients that keep bar soap in its solid form can clog pores.

Gentle, water-soluble cleansers like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser work just fine for acne-prone skin, as long as they come in a liquid or gel format.