We all know that fresh glowing skin is a high priority for most people and a deeply cleansed skin is a cornerstone of achieving this.
When it comes to choosing the best cleansers for your skin, it’s important to consider what your skin type is as this will influence the best cleansers to achieve your skincare goals.
It’s also worth noting any specific concerns, such as dryness, large pores, sensitivity, redness or similar.
Cleansers can come in many different forms, from facial washes and cleansing balms to soothing milks and textured cleansing pads. Depending on your skin type, you can pick which is the best cleanser for you based on how you want your skin to feel, the ingredients as well as the formula.
What kind of cleanser is best for me?
As a rule of thumb, typically combination or oily skins should opt for gel-based or foaming cleansers that help control oil without stripping your skin’s natural moisture. These formulas are also best for skin that is acne prone or if you are heading to a hotter country and want a more refreshing cleanse in the morning.
For those with more dry or dehydrated skin, it’s wise to opt for the best cleansers to add moisture back into your skin. The best cleansers for drier skins will hydrate and remove dirt and makeup without stripping the skin’s moisture.
Sensitive skin needs a mild, soap-free cleanser that causes zero irritation without it compromising on leaving your skin clean and comfortable.
If you have normal skin, you are in luck as you can use pretty much any kind of cleanser – from foaming gels to jelly cleansers. The choice is yours!
How to use cleansers
Cleansers are one of the most essential steps in any skincare routine because they help remove dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities from your skin, leaving it clean and prepared for the next steps that follow in your routine such as toner, face oils, serums and moisturisers).
It might be a no-brainer but a clean face starts with clean hands, so be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face. This ensures you’re not transferring dirt or bacteria from your hands to your skin.
If you are using a cleansing oil or balm, rub a small amount between your hands and smooth on to dry skin, massage in and apply a small amount of water to emulsify and then you can either wash off by splashing warm water on your face or with a warm, damp muslin cloth or face sponge.
For combination and oilier skin, splash your face with warm water first and then mix your facial wash or cleansing gel into your hands with some water, emulsify and foam it up then apply it to your skin.
Regardless of which of the best cleansers you add to your AM and PM skincare routine, make sure you massage the product with small sweeping circular motions. Focus on areas that tend to be oilier or where makeup accumulates (such as the T-zone, eyes, and chin).
Should I double cleanse?
In most instances, double cleansing is a fantastic way to keep your skin deeply cleansed. If you are wearing makeup, sunscreen or simply want to ‘wash the day off’, double cleansing is certainly worth taking a little bit of extra time to keep your skin sparkling clean and fresh.
Double cleansing is a skincare method that involves two steps: first using an oil-based cleanser, followed by a water-based cleanser. The first step, typically an oil or balm cleanser, effectively breaks down and removes oil-based products like makeup, sunscreen, and sebum. It’s then followed up by a water-based cleanser which ensures that any remaining dirt, sweat, or residual products are removed, leaving the skin thoroughly cleansed.
What are the best cleansers to use right now?
If the world of cleansers leaves your perfectly-cleansed head in a spin, fear not as Team Coco have rounded up the very best cleansers that should be in your bathroom cabinet right now!
Sculpted by Aimee Duo Cleanse
We talked about the benefits of double cleansing and this neat little product from Sculpted by Aimee does just that. It’s a two step cleansing system that comes in three different types – cleanse and brighten, cleanse and clarify and cleanse and exfoliate.
One of our favourites is the Cleanse & Brighten option which is a 2-step cleansing system that cleanses the skin with a gentle cleanser then brightens with a brightening cleanser which is powered by a high potency Vitamin C that works to improve skin texture, even skin tone and enhance luminosity.
£32
Bubble Skincare’s First Class Oil Cleanser
Bubble, bubble – freshly cleansed skin is no trouble! Bubble Skincare’s First Class Oil Cleanser quickly and easily breaks down oil-based products such as makeup and SPF as well as any excess oil buildup. This skin-smoothing lightweight oil formula soothes skin and transforms into a milky texture when rinsed away with water. The end result – luxuriously soft, smooth, and makeup-free skin.
Zelens Shiso Balm Radiance Cleanser
Japanese skincare remains huge still and this unique cleansing balm in liquid form has been formulated to thoroughly cleanse the skin and remove makeup effectively. Enriched with Shiso (Japanese mint), this daily cleanser transforms into a light milk when mixed with tepid water to purify the skin. Ingredients include amino acid rich olive oil, vitamin E and glycerin for its humectant properties.
FaceTheory ClariCleanse+ AHA & BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
With 4% Glycolic acid and 2% Salicylic acid, this sulfate-free cleanser exfoliates and cleanses your skin for a more clarified and refined look. Ideally suited for skins that err more on the combination and oily spectrum, This FaceTheory cleanser targets an uneven skin tone, blemishes and blackheads.
£19
Temple Spa IN THE BEGINNING Deep Cleansing Melt
It’s giving us seriously luxe vibes! We all hanker after that ‘‘just had a facial’ feeling and this sumptuous cleansing melt from Temple Spa achieves this every time. Its unique buttery-crystalline texture melts as you massage, delivering rich vitamin E straight to your skin. Formulated with Mediterranean ingredients of olive, calendula, basil, clary and lavender to ensure a nutritious, intense cleanse, leaving skin feeling dewy and glowing with health and vitality. The result… deeply cleansed and brighter skin!
£35
Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser
Love a bit of avo on toast? This cleanser is most definitely for you! Not just for smashing on sourdough toast, make the Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser (150ml) the first step in supporting, cleansing and rebalancing your skin.
Offering up a buffet of good-for-you fats that replenish your complexion, this fruit-fuelled formula takes on dirt and dryness with a soothing approach. Starting off your daily rituals with a proprietary blend of skin-supporting ceramides and pre- and post-biotics, expect a nourishing feel that won’t wash down the drain.
What’s more, hydrating colloidal oatmeal helps to reduce the appearance of redness and avocado oil works to gently dissolve makeup to leave your face and neck sporting a clean, clear and happy glow.
£18.98
https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/
LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam
This gentle foam cleanser enriched with blue hyaluronic acid, designed to refresh and hydrate the skin. Enriched with microbeads and papain enzymes, the formula buffs dead skin cells to help visibly reduce uneven texture for a smooth finish. Low-molecular hyaluronic acid is fermented with deep-sea algae to help hydrate and nourish the skin. Encourage a soft, dewy appearance with this gentle cleanser.
£22
UpCircle Double Cleansing Bundle
Double cleansing double can be useful in effectively removing all the impurities from the skin whilst leaving your complexion brighter and more clarified. This extra step can go a long way to improving your skin, particularly if you are acne-prone. As a rule of thumb, the first cleanse works to remove make-up, while the second offers more of a deep cleanse to your skin.
We love the Upcircle double cleansing bundle that consists of the brand’s multi award-winning cleansing face balm with Vitamin E and a soothing cleansing face milk with Oat Powder. The balm gently removes any makeup (including mascara), pollution and impurities in a matter of seconds leaving your skin feeling deeply cleansed, soothed and hydrated. You can then use the gentle cleansing face milk for the second cleanse which helps hydrate, nourish as well as restoring the skin’s moisture barrier.
£40.99
https://upcirclebeauty.com/
ThisWorks Deep Sleep Overnight Cleanser
Ideal for your nighttime skin routine, this sleep-inducing cleanser is 99% natural and contains oat Amino Acids and hyaluronic acid and a powerful blend of exfoliating Amino Acids and Copper PCA to help balance the skin. A gentle but effective nightly treatment, it is infused with the Deep Sleep functional fragrance to help calm the mind and has been clinically proven to reduce redness and increase skin hydration.
£16
https://www.thisworks.com/
Omnilux Enzyme Powder Cleanser
Powdered skincare is most definitely having a moment! All you have to do is to just add water. This powder cleanser from Omnilux works with their fantastic LED mask range and fuses together green tea, rice powder and papaya extract for a double exfoliating whammy, acting both physically and enzymatically so the LED doesn’t have to work its way through a layer of dead skin cells.
Despite all this skincare wizardry, this formula is still gentle enough to use daily and will quickly improve the tone and texture of any skin type.
£37
https://www.dermacaredirect.co.uk
Lush Buche De Noel (festive edition)
It’s beginning to be a lot like….Christmas! The festive season is renowned for eating hot roasted nuts and this deeply hydrating cleanser has nuts in abundance. It contains almonds, an excellent source of vitamin E, known for their protective properties, which help soothe skin in arctic conditions. Meanwhile, brightening, antioxidant-rich dried cranberries and softening Fair Trade organic cocoa butter leave your skin feeling pampered and good enough to eat!
£12
