The first step in everyone’s skincare routine is washing your face—or at least, it should be! It’s a crucial step in any skincare routine since it not only can help to remove the day’s makeup, residual oil, and dirt from the surface of your skin, but can also help to reveal a clean, healthy-looking complexion.
With so many different types of facial cleansers to choose from, you’re probably asking yourself which one is the best option for you and your skin type? The most important thing to consider when choosing a face wash is considering your skin type. Whether you have dry skin, acne-prone skin, or oily skin, understanding your skin type can help you to select the perfect face wash for you and help target your skin’s unique needs.
Ready to customize your skin routine? We’ll break down the characteristics and concerns of common skin types, then round up the best e.l.f.ing face washes for each skin type.
The Best Face Wash for Dry Skin
Dry skin is a common yet uncomfortable skin concern that can actually affect many different skin types—especially during the cold winter months, which bring along dry air and harsh winds that can cause moisture loss in the skin. Dry skin can often look and feel tight, dull, red, flakey and/or scaly.
The remedy? Adding a gentle, hydrating face wash to your skincare routine to help remove the day’s dirt, oil and impurities, all while helping the appearance of your skin to look more hydrated. Our Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser is a gentle daily face cleanser formulated with mild surfactants and skin friendly ingredients like glycerin plus hyaluronic acid and ceramides to gently cleanse without over drying or stripping the skin, helping to lock in moisture for a plump complexion.
The Best Face Wash for Acne-Prone Skin
If you’re one of many who suffer from breakouts, we get it—you’ll do anything to find the perfect acne-fighting cleanser to help soothe the appearance of your skin.
The best face wash for acne is one that not only helps fights stubborn breakouts, but also helps prevent new blackheads, clogged pores or pimples from popping up. Our acne-fighting gel cleanser is powered with 1% Salicylic Acid to help reduce current acne and promote healthy-looking skin post-breakout. This face cleanser is also gentle enough for daily use, and includes other skin-loving ingredients like Zinc PCA and glycerin to help balance oil and support skin hydration and moisture.
The Best Face Wash for Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, your skin may produce excess sebum (a naturally produced oily substance). An abundance of sebum can leave your complexion looking shiny, can cause unwanted breakouts, and may even make the appearance your pores appear larger. When choosing the best face wash for oily skin, a great option is to double cleanse your skin with two different types of cleansers—first with an oil-based cleanser, then followed by a gel, foaming or cream cleanser—to help remove and combat excess shine.
Start by gently massaging a dime-sized amount of cleansing balm onto your skin, which works to remove excess dirt, oil and makeup from the skin for a clean-looking complexion. After using a makeup removing cleansing balm, follow up by washing your face with our Blemish Breakthrough Acne Clarifying Cleanser, which is the ideal formula for oily skin—it can help to absorb excess oil, clarify pores and includes a acne-fighting ingredient like 1% Salicylic Acid, plus Zinc PCA, Niacinamide, and Tranexamic Acid to encourage your healthiest looking complexion.
The Best Face Wash for Normal Skin
If your skin type is somewhere between normal, you may experience skin that appears neither too oily nor too dry, but may experience the occasional blemish or dry patch.
The best face wash for normal skin is a gentle, yet hydrating cleanser that can help the appearance of skin look clean and hydrated for a well-balanced complexion. As part of your daily face washing routine, we recommend cleansing your skin with a gentle face cleanser in the morning and evening. Opt for a gel-based foaming formula that is gentle enough to use on the blemish-prone areas of your skin, yet delivers a burst of hydration to any dry patches that may appear for a refreshed, e.l.f.ing clean-looking complexion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Face Cleanser:
Q: What Are the Different Skin Types?
A: There are typically 4 main skin types recognized in skincare—normal skin, oily skin, dry skin, and sensitive skin. Each skin type can benefit from specific skincare approaches and product formulations designed to address its specific needs.
Q: How Do I Choose the Right Face Wash?
A: In order to choose the right face wash for your skin type, we recommend:
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Identifying your skin type and it’s unique needs
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Based on your skin type, choose a formulation that best fits your needs
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Look for key ingredients that may help with either hydrating the skin (for dry skin), exfoliating the skin (for oily skin), or soothing the skin (for sensitive skin).
Q: How Do I Know My Skin Type?
A: There are a couple common ways to help determine your skin type:
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The Bare-Face Method: The first approach is to cleanse your face with a mild cleanser. Pat dry and don’t apply any products after. Wait about 30 minutes and observe how your skin looks and feels. If your skin feels tight and appears flaky, you most likely have dry skin. If your skin appears oily, you may have oily skin. If your skin feels comfortable, not tight or oily, you probably have normal skin. And lastly, if you notice any redness or irritation, you possibly have sensitive skin.
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The Blotting Sheet Test: Wait at least two hours after washing your face. Press a blotting sheet against different areas of your face and hold the paper up to light to see any oil absorption. If there is a lot of face oil on the sheet, you may have oily skin. If there is little to no oil, you most likely have dry or normal skin.
Q: What Is a Cleansing Balm?
A: A cleansing balm is a type of facial cleanser that starts as a solid but melts to cleanse the skin as it is massaged in. Our Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm starts as a solid, but melts into a smooth makeup removing cleanser helping to support skin hydration.
Q: What’s the Difference between Makeup Remover & Face Wash?
A: The difference between makeup remover and face wash is that while makeup remover can help get rid of locked-in-makeup looks, it won’t necessarily deeply cleanse the skin. Makeup remover can leave your skin feeling oily and not totally clean. In this case, it’s best recommended to follow up with a face cleanser. Using a face wash after removing your makeup will ensure that your skin is clean and ready for skincare!
Q: What are the Best Methods for Washing My Face?
A: After using your go-to makeup remover, wet your face and then apply your face wash or facial cleanser with your fingers. Massage the product into the skin using circular motions. Don’t forget to cleanse those hard-to-reach areas like around your nose. Be gentle while cleansing since any harsh rubbing may irritate the skin. Wash off your cleanser with warm water and pat your face dry with a clean towel or paper towel before applying skincare.