Few of us dwell for long on the unsung hero of our beauty regime, but when you find the best face wash for your skin and its specific needs, you quickly realise the powerful role it plays in every step of your skincare routine.
“Get cleansing wrong and it’s very hard to get skincare right,” says skincare expert Dr Sam Bunting. “And you can tell you’ve got it wrong by looking for one – or all – of three warning signs that will indicate your cleansing routine isn’t ideal.” If your skin is dehydrated (think, dry, tight and that tell-tale “squeaky clean” feeling), irritated (bumpy, sore and stingy), or you’re suffering from breakouts, then you might be using the wrong cleanser.
More and more, skincare brands are infusing cleansing formulas with active ingredients – think vitamin C, or blemish-busting salicylic acid – to supercharge your cleanse. But it can be more effective (and kinder to skin) to keep the face wash step relatively simple, leaving targeted treatment to the serums and lotions that follow. “There is really no need for lots of different styles of cleansers, as it’s very much a functional step that, when done right, sets you up for your leave-on active steps,” says Dr Bunting.
Now that staying at home is the norm, we have space to elevate the process of cleansing. Take your time over it and make working whichever formula you choose into your skin a daily ritual; whether you look to invigorating facial massage with a balmy cleanser (a great first port of call in the evening to lift the day’s dirt), or simply enjoy washing off your face wash with icy cold water in the morning, make it a time for you.
Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser
With three types of clay (including French green, bentonite and white kaolin), this skin friendly face wash helps fortify the skin barrier, while gently exfoliating and brightening.
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
If you’re after the best face wash for glowing skin, look no further than Oskia’s Renaissance Cleansing Gel which is packed to the brim with ingredients that leave skin fresh, smooth and radiant. Think pumpkin enzyme, which helps to lift gunk from pores, vitamins C and E to brighten and protect, and starflower oil and magnesium to boost firmness.
LIXIRSKIN Electrogel Cleanser
Within this millennial pink tube is a pore-declogging face wash wonder which works to attract positively charged toxins out of the pores and down the drain. It’s especially brilliant for city dwellers who come into contact with a lot of pollution.
Milk Vegan Milk Cleanser
Creamy and gentle, Milk’s vegan formula blends softening plant milks – fig, oat, and argan – to cleanse the skin without stripping it. You can expect your skin to feel nourished and supple afterwards.
Clinique 2-In-1 Cleansing & Exfoliating Jelly
The salicylic acid and bamboo beads in this two-in-one cleanser and exfoliator help not only to remove pollution and make-up from the skin, but also slough off dead skin cells too.