Our Cleanser Top Picks
Soap and water are sooooo last season. Prep your complexion with one of these targeted cleansers that can help with anything from acne to aging.
Click on a category to see comparisons of our top picks.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
It'll help downplay those fine lines, and it won't break the bank while doing so. | Works with all skin types to remove impurities. It's even been ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested for gentleness. | Don't use hot water to clean your face. It can strip your skin of its natural oils and leave it irritated. |
|
Besides being an anti-aging cleanser, it's raved about for its ability to reduce pores and also clear problem skin. | Glycolic and salicylic acids in the gel promise to brighten your skin to leave behind a youthful complexion. | If you have oily skin, choose a cleanser in a gel or foam formula. |
|
It contains these little orange beads that give your skin a fresh exfoliating tingle. | This cleanser also protects—its vitamin C formula neutralizes free radicals that can age skin and cause wrinkles. | It's not necessary to wash your face more than twice a day, says Howard Murad, M.D., the California-based dermatologist behind this skincare line. If you do, you'll dry out your skin. |
Exuviance
Buy NowAge Reverse Bioactiv Wash Reg. $35 |
It smells heavenly. Inhale botanical extracts of rose, chamomile, rosemary and cucumber with every scrub. Also, it's soap-free and not animal-tested. | This foaming cleanser contains maltobionic acid, a hydrating and exfoliating ingredient that stimulates cell renewal. Translation: It ups your odds for clear, smooth, fresh skin. | In addition to using good products to cleanse, make sure to get enough shut-eye each night. Lack of sleep will speed up the aging process. |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
It's specifically made with the mommas-to-be in mind, featuring safe ingredients that will wash away breakouts during pregnancy. It uses natural lactic acid to lift away dirt and oil, and exfoliates to leave skin clear and refined. | Not only can you use this on a daily basis to clean and exfoliate skin, but you can also apply it to wet skin and leave it on for five minutes as an intensive face mask. | Use warm water when washing your face to loosen dirt and clogged pores, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. |
|
It's gentle, but the foamy suds are also made up of salicylic acid to help clear skin. | Natural plant extracts leave your face feeling soothed and refreshed. | Be mindful that you're only using the tips of your fingers to wash your face. Scratching your skin with your fingernails can cause irritation. |
|
Botantical extracts of balm mint, eucalyptus, tea tree, burdock and camphor help calm irritated skin. No one likes an angry face. | This also contains salicylic acid to fight breakouts, and adds in chamomile to eliminate bacteria. | Never go to bed with your makeup on—not only will it leave a weird face print on your pillowcase, it'll also clog your pores and lead to more breakouts. |
|
It's a multi-tasker, helping to control blemishes while also returning your skin to a normal (read: not red) color. | This wash contains aloe to soothe your skin and avoid over-drying, which can also contribute to redness. | Washcloths provide a bit more exfoliation than just your fingers, but make sure to use a fresh one each time as they can hold onto bacteria. |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
This foamy cleanser will even remove mascara. | Infused with green tea extract to nourish your skin, it's gentle enough for even those with sensitive skin or rosacea. | Remove your eye makeup first with a cotton ball, and then cleanse the rest of your skin. |
|
It wipes off easily, and takes both grime and makeup with it. Plus, it has a relaxing mango-vanilla scent. | Soap-free, it won't dry out your skin as it cleans. | Cream cleansers are great for people with dry skin. |
|
It's 100% natural, so you don't have to worry about loading more impurities or chemicals onto your skin. | The ingredient list includes orange, lemon, grapefruit, rosemary and lime oils. If it wasn't soap, you might be tempted to drink it. | Let a cleanser penetrate your skin for one to two minutes before wiping off. |
|
Its gentle, simple formula cleanses and moisturizes without stripping away your face's natural oils. | Fragrance-free and noncomedogenic mean this cleanser doesn't include unnecessary ingredients that risk clogging your pores. | Washing with a circular motion helps promote circulation. |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Its unique combo of rice bran and rice extract exfoliates away dead skin cells. | It has a skin-brightening combination of ingredients: bearberry, aspergillus, grapefruit and licorice. | After exfoliating, blot skin dry with a clean towel; never scrub. |
|
Leaves skin feeling soft, looking brighter, and allowing it to better absorb moisturizer. | A trio of exfoliation comes together in this product: salicylic, lactic and glycolic acids. Jojoba beads are also added to polish the skin. | You don't need to exfoliate every day. Two to three times weekly is plenty. |
|
A little goes a long way with this cleanser, so you won't feel like you're going through the bottle at warp speed. | The nongritty lathering microbeads are a gentler way to exfoliate. | Don't use too much pressure when washing your face—you're not scrubbing the dinner dishes here. Too rough and you'll leave behind red, irritated skin. |
Miracle Worker All-Over Brightener and Dark Spot Corrector
Reg. $62
Age Smart Multivitamin Power Firm
Reg. $54
Environmental Shield Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum
Reg. $60
Plus Spa Hand and Nail Cream
Reg. $16
"Scrubbing your face won't get those darn spots off. But this silky skin corrector will. With nightly use, it improves the appearance of pesky dark patches and skin discoloration caused by acne scarring, aging or sun damage. The result: an even and bright complexion, no matter your skin tone or ethnicity."
—Kelly Aiglon, a freelance editor at DailyCandy.com, lifestyle reporter and copywriter
"There's nothing I love more about aging than fine lines that pop up around my eyes and are accentuated every time I smile. Yay for getting older! If you don't feel the same way, however, then Dermalogica's skin-rebuilding antioxidant vitamins, silicones and red seaweed will help reduce these lovely lines by smoothing and firming the skin."
—Amanda Kippert, a former health and lifestyles reporter, now freelance writer and blogger, based in Phoenix
"This blemish banisher is quite the overnight sensation. It works while you sleep to cool and calm active, acne-prone skin and reduce redness. Thanks to antioxidants, herbs and cooling agents, any inflammation will hit the road by morning."
—Brooke Showell, a skincare and makeup maven who's written for Self and Martha Stewart Weddings
"A lot deep diving went into this intensely moisturizing hand, nail and cuticle cream. The hydrating marine blend includes kelp fronds from the Sea of Japan, sea lettuce cultivated off the coast of Brittany, France, and fennel ribbons that grow along English sea cliffs. No scuba gear needed to apply!"
—Shelley Levitt, a beauty blogger, skincare geek and onetime chronicler of celeb glamour for People and Self
