They’re the foundation of a good routine, but which face wash does our beauty expert rate for oily, dry, or normal skin?
• How to build the perfect skincare routine
Choosing a cleanser can feel like Goldilocks’ task of searching for the perfect bowl of porridge – finding one that’s just right is rarely straightforward. Add in that our skin is constantly changing, due to hormones, the seasons and environmental stressors, and it’s easy to see why finding the ideal formula can be challenging.
Cleansers are often overlooked, but the right one is the basis of a good skincare routine. To understand what we should be looking for, I spoke with Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, GP and founder of the Aesthetics Doctor, who explained that the ideal formula depends entirely on skin type. “If someone is acne-prone or oily, I would usually recommend something more gel-based, because it helps break through excess oil more effectively,” he says. “Ingredients such as salicylic acid and niacinamide can also be helpful for those skin types.”
Best overall and best budget cleanser:
Cetaphil gentle exfoliating salicylic acid cleanser
Best cleanser if you can afford it:
Sarah Chapman Skinesis Ultimate Cleanse