The Only Facial Cleanser You Should Be Using This Winter
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If you have oily or acne-prone skin, cleansing creams may feel like a beauty product that belongs to another world, a world that is not your own. For you, a good twice-daily face washing involves lather, and lots of it—after all, a satisfying foam is the only way to guarantee a face well-cleansed, or at least it feels like it. But even the oily-skinned among us know just how drying winter weather can be. There’s nothing quite like having breakouts and flaky dry patches, too. The best of both worlds, no?
We’re not shading foaming cleansers. They’re not evil, and they certainly serve their purpose, which is to clean deep within the skin and curb excess oil production. The problem is that even—and perhaps especially—for the acne-prone, lathering cleansers can zap the moisture from skin. While most blemish-prone types could certainly benefit from a reduction in oil, the idea is not to remove moisture from the skin. In fact, dryness and irritation will often lead to increased oil production and more breakouts as your skin produces even more oil to compensate.
Ask any dermatologist for their cleanser recommendation, and they’re almost guaranteed to point you in the direction of a non-foaming cream facial cleanser like Cetaphil or CeraVe. These cleansers use super gentle emollients and oils that cleanse the skin without overdrying or clogging pores. They help to maintain the moisture balance, which is absolutely key to your skin’s overall health and appearance. This is especially important in the winter, when everything from the bitter winds outside to the artificial heat sources inside are conspiring against your ability to maintain healthy, balanced skin.
If there’s one product to commit to in the dead of winter, it’s a cream cleanser. Spare yourself the flaky skin—and reactionary breakouts—and try one of our favorites instead.
REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk ($28, renskincare.com)
Like “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” every skin type will find its perfect fit in this well-rounded cleanser. It’s perfect for the dry and sensitive and the oily alike, as it works beautifully to soothe skin as well as give a real deep cleansing sans irritation. You can rinse it off with a splash of water, or even use a hot, damp cloth to gently exfoliate.
First Aid Beauty Milk Oil Conditioning Cleanser ($26, sephora.com)
We know—”milk oil” sounds like something we kind of want nothing to do with, but we know better than to judge a product by name alone. If soft, hydrated skin is what you’re after (and of course it is), this gentle, lightweight cleanser will get the job done while swiftly removing makeup.
Tata Harper Refreshing Cleanser ($67.50, tataharperskincare.com)
With a gentle cleansing formula that helps to minimize the appearance of pores, detoxify, and gently exfoliate, this one works overtime, that’s for sure. Free of soaps, alcohols, and detergents, the all-natural ingredients in this cleanser play nicely with all skin types, and guarantee a smooth, balanced complexion.
Korres Greek Yoghurt 3 in 1 Cleansing, Toning, and Eye Make-Up Removing Emulsion ($24, sephora.com)
Slathering one’s face with yoghurt does sound vaguely unpleasant, but this silky cleanser is everything but. The formula, which is packed with antioxidant oils and nourishing extracts, isn’t too heavy or too light, and it can be tissued off or washed away with warm water without leaving any residue behind.
