Best Facial Cleansers

Cleansers for normal skin types

So what should you look for when choosing a facial cleanser? Skin-care experts say a good cleanser should be water-soluble, meaning it will rinse off easily without leaving the skin feeling greasy or clogging pores. It shouldn't dry or irritate the skin, burn the eyes or taste bad. Your skin should feel clean, with fewer breakouts, and makeup should be removed, including around the eyes, without the need for scrubbing. Facial cleansers with alpha or beta hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs) or topical disinfectants like benzoyl peroxide or triclosan aren't useful because they're rinsed down the drain before those products have a chance to work on the skin. Experts say that facial cleansers usually have a pH that renders those ingredients ineffective anyway.

Altogether, you're better off looking for other skin-care products, such as a moisturizer, with more scientific ingredients (see our accompanying report on facial moisturizers), and spending a little less money for a basic, gentle cleanser. That's because moisturizers stay on your skin all day, whereas cleansers are only in contact with skin for a minute or two.

Although many cosmetics companies would have you believe that you get what you pay for in terms of quality skin care, experts say that it's just not true. The self-proclaimed Makeup Diva, for example, explains on her website that there are many quality products available at the drugstore that are just as good or better than those at the department store. In fact, she says that some of them are practically identical and shares the example of Lancome and L'Oreal, which "are owned by the same company and have many similar skin-care products."

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (*Est. $12 for 16 oz.) is one example of a quality drugstore cleanser. It tops reviewers' recommendation lists because it is basic and gentle. Reviews say it's a good option for all skin types except oily skin and for those who don't wear much makeup; it's so gentle that it doesn't remove makeup very well. However, another Cetaphil cleanser, Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser (*est. $12 for 16 oz.) does remove makeup and can be used on normal to oily skin types. A few users at Amazon.com say that the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser formula leaves their skin feeling tight. They add that it is easy to confuse the two because the bottles are nearly identical.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser has been inducted into the Allure Best of Beauty Hall of Fame because it has been chosen nine times for a Best of Beauty yearly award. These awards are given to beauty products that withstand rigorous testing and live up to dermatologist standards. Both products make it into the top 10 facial cleansers based on consumer reviews at iVillage.com; respondents say Cetaphil leaves their skin soft and smooth and helps clear up blemishes and eczema, but they agree that the Gentle Skin Cleanser doesn't remove makeup as well as the Daily Facial Cleanser. Reviewers at TotalBeauty.com report that the Daily Facial Cleanser is a clear watery gel and contains masking fragrance, and the original Gentle Skin Cleanser is a thick white liquid with no fragrance.

Gentle yet effective cleansers abound at department stores as well, though some will cost you a pretty penny. La Prairie Foam Cleanser (*Est. $65 for 4.2 oz.) for example, is a standard but good water-soluble cleanser, according to experts. One review, however, found that it didn't work any better than drugstore brands. Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser (*Est. $20 for 8 oz.), on the other hand, costs far less and is also praised in user reviews. The water-soluble cleanser is among the highest-rated facial cleansers among users at MakeupAlley.com, TotalBeauty.com and Drugstore.com. Users love that it cleans gently without stripping the skin of its natural moisture, but it is strong enough to remove even the most stubborn eye makeup. Several also like the light fragrance but a few mention that the cleanser dried out their skin over time. This could be due to the rosewood and cinnamon oils, which Paula Begoun says make this cleanser too irritating for most skin.

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap (*Est. $16.50 for 6.7 oz.) is another popular department store cleanser. It is available in extra-mild, mild and oily skin variations. The extra-mild version is not water soluble because of its oil content, but experts still recommend it for those with dry to very dry or sensitive skin. The oil is supposed to help dissolve makeup, but some users say that it doesn't remove all of it. The mild formula is designed for normal to slightly dry or slightly oily skin, and the oily skin version is recommended for those with that problem. Paula Begoun highly recommends the first two formulas but frowns on the oily skin version because of its "senseless inclusion of menthol," which she says is an irritant that holds no benefits for the skin. Several users say that this formulation is a bit too drying but admit that this can be counteracted when used in conjunction with Clinique's moisturizers.

For those who want a cleanser that also exfoliates their skin, reviewers say that Olay Definity Pore Redefining Scrub (*Est. $10 for 5 oz.) is a great option. It gets high marks from Paula Begoun, even though she says it makes a better cleanser than a scrub. She says that the product does not contain enough polyethylene beads to be a very effective exfoliant. (Polyethylene is a plastic.) Although a handful of users at MakeupAlley.com and TotalBeauty.com agree, several love that Olay Definity Pore Redefining Scrub doesn't irritate their skin like most scrubs do and say it leaves their face looking smooth without drying out the skin. Still, most recommend using it sparingly, every other day or once a week, to keep from irritating the skin.

Reviewers also recommend Aveeno Positively Ageless Daily Exfoliating Cleanser (*Est. $10 for 5 oz.), though it is not reviewed as often. Its ingredients include natural shiitake mushroom extract and polyethylene beads for exfoliating. The manufacturer says that shiitake mushrooms will help your skin look and feel younger, but Begoun thinks that the claim may be exaggerated. Although it is a great product for all but very dry skin types, users shouldn't expect to look ageless because of it. Aveeno claims that this cleanser is gentle enough for daily use, even by those with sensitive skin.

Olay Daily Facials Cleansing Cloths (*Est. $6 for a 30-pack) are marketed with the claim of convenience. These single-use disposable towelettes come in multiple varieties for different skin types. They're designed to cleanse skin and remove makeup. All varieties receive positive reviews by experts and consumers alike. One reviewer especially liked the fragrance-free Soothing for Sensitive Skin cloths, calling them great for dry, sensitive skin.

Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure Detoxifying Wet Cleansing Towelettes (*Est. $6 for a 25-pack) is another brand of disposable cleansing cloths touted for their convenience. Beauty award judges at Health magazine say that they gently remove dirt and makeup and also rave that the cloths contain vitamin B5, which these judges describe as "a humectant that binds moisture to the skin, keeping it soft and hydrated." However, the most credible reviewer in this field, Paula Begoun, says that the cloths have only minimal cleaning ability and are likely to irritate the skin because of their high levels of peppermint, a known irritant. Users at MakeupAlley.com, on the other hand, are pleased with the cleansing ability and the convenience of these towelettes. Differing results and opinions just prove that everyone's skin is different, and if something isn't working for you, it's time to try another facial cleanser based on your skin type and condition.