Facial Cleanser Information

Exfoliants and scrubs

Paula Begoun notes in "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" that alpha and beta hydroxy acids are excellent chemical exfoliators that are gentler on skin than scrubs that use granules. Beta hydroxy acid (i.e., salicylic acid) is lipid soluble; thus, it's able to penetrate oil in pores and exfoliate dead skin cells inside oil glands, making it the best choice for blackheads and blemishes. Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic, malic, citric and tartaric acids) are good at removing thickened skin from sun damage or on dry areas where breakouts don't occur.

Skin-care masks

Experts say that claylike ingredients in facial masks can be useful for absorbing oil and exfoliating to a lesser degree, but that many masks have other ingredients that can irritate skin or clog pores. If you use a mask, be sure to choose the right kind for your skin type: absorbent for oily skin, emollient for dry skin.

Pore strips, such as Biore Pore Perfect (*est. $9 for a 14-pack) are marketed as a way to remove blackheads, but skin-care experts say that at best they only remove the surface of the blackhead, leaving most of it in the pore. Paula Begoun notes that the sticky substance is a "hairspray-type ingredient."

We found the following sources particularly helpful when researching facial cleansers:

The book "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" by Paula Begoun, and its companion website, CosmeticsCop.com, are the two most comprehensive resources we found. A selection of reviews from the book can be found at CosmeticsCop.com, but all of Begoun's reviews can be found at Beautypedia.com, a subscription website (*est. $25 per year).

Environmental Working Group: Skin Deep -- A safety assessment of ingredients in personal care products lists safety assessment ratings for more than 1,500 facial cleansers based on carcinogenic ingredients, pregnancy concerns, safety violations, penetration enhancers, unstudied ingredients, harmful impurities and allergens. The details presented about products and their ingredients are impressive (and sometimes slightly overwhelming), with many links to further information.

Rona Berg outlines the different skin types and how to care for each in her book, "Beauty: the New Basics." She also explains how to cleanse the face without over-drying the skin. A list of top facial cleansers for each skin type is included.

"Facial Skin Basics," an article posted at iVillage.com, provides basic skin-care information plus a description of the different skin types and how to care for each of them.

About.com's beauty channel is filled with facial skin-care tips, including signs that you may be over-cleansing skin. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

The Green Guide lists the "Dirty Dozen Ingredients," 12 cosmetic ingredients that consumers should avoid for safety purposes.

GreenYour.com has an article on natural facial cleansers, which outlines what to look for in a natural cleanser and includes a list of recommended products.

Procter & Gamble's online reference, The World of Skin Care, describes the different facial cleanser formulas and includes a cosmetic ingredient dictionary that explains the function of various ingredients.

Learn how to "Avoid These Common Skin-care Mistakes" in this useful article from iVillage.com.

Manufacturers' websites also offer helpful information:

Cetaphil

Clinique

Olay

Proactiv

Biore

Aveeno

Neutrogena

Philosophy

The Body Shop