Choosing a Facial Cleanser

The variety of facial cleansers displayed on store shelves today can be slightly overwhelming. From fragrance-free to deep pore scrubs, there truly seems to a different type of facial cleanser for just about everyone. However, as each brand boasts that its products are superior to all others, it can somewhat difficult to choose a new facial cleanser; after all, how is one to know which one really works the "best?" For this reason, it is often easier to choose certain characteristics that you wish to find in a facial cleanser, and then do your shopping accordingly. Here are some different aspects you should consider when picking out a new facial cleanser.

1) One step versus multiple steps: Some facial cleansers are designed to be an all-in-one type product; their primary purpose is usually to get deep into your pores. These one-step cleansers are meant to be used on their own, with no additional products being added to your daily face washing routine. On the other hand, some products are designed to be purchased as a group; often one product will boast of being a deep cleanser facial scrub, while the next product will be an anti-aging facial lotion. If you desire only to invest in a good facial cleanser, then you will most likely only wish to purchase the first type of product; if you are interested in investing in a multi-step face care package, then look for a brand that offers a package with the second type of product.

2) Active Ingredients: These are the chemicals that the products contain that are usually used for preventing acne. The most common ingredient for most anti-acne products in salicylic acid, but this overuse of this chemical can easily cause skin to become overly dry. Check for promises of "won't dry out skin" or similar statements on a facial cleanser before purchasing it. Additionally, carefully read the directions on how often the product should be used; some may recommend usage twice a day, while others may only have a suggested use of fours times per week. Make your purchase according to how often you wish to use your product, but remember daily usage products will have to be re-purchased more often than the every-other-day products.

3) To Exfoliate or Not to Exfoliate: Again, here is an area where not all facial cleansers are created equally. Some products are designed with the purpose of aiding exfoliation of your facial skin, while others are designed as more of a gentle facial wash. Neither product is necessarily superior to the other, but each will definitely work in a different way. If you enjoy a more gritty feeling facial scrub, then you may want an exfoliating product; if not, go with a non-exfoliating facial wash.