Beauty: The Lowdown on Cleansers

You can have the most sought-after serums or the most efficacious masks, but without a fresh, clean base, it’s all likely to go to waste. Make your hero products work harder with the right cleanser for your skin type and style – we break down our best contenders by category below.

Foaming cleansers have gotten a bad rap over the years for stripping skin of the essential oils that assist with skin immunity. Luckily, a new generation of sudsy face washes are proving gentle enough to remove makeup and dirt alike. For a pure foam, Dr Barbara Sturm’s Cleanser envelops the face in a heavenly cloud-like froth, while La Prairie’s Foam Cleanser is activated with water – emulsify it between your palms before applying.

In cities where air pollutants are significant skin aggressors, an oil-based wash is recommended as a first step to remove anything and everything that inevitably ends up on your face during the day or night. Don’t fret, even for oily skin types formulas like La Mer’s The Cleansing Oil rinse away easily, leaving no residue or greasy film. Follow up with a second cleanse to get right into the pores.

Though many dermatologists and experts don’t recommend exfoliating on a daily basis, Tatcha’s The Rice Wash is made up of microfine rice particles that won’t scratch or damage the skin barrier. Instead, they work to gently slough away impurities. It’s a cream cleanser, so expect some froth, but it’s a subtle and pH-neutral foam that won’t cause any sensitivity.

Purearth’s Qing Cleansing Oil isn’t just a wallet-friendly alternative, it’s a spa experience in a bottle. This product harnesses natural and ethical ingredients in line with Ayurvedic and Chinese TCM principles to draw out impurities and help soothe skin – vetiver, angelica, melissa and apricot add an element of aromatherapy to your cleansing routine.

The Fresh Kombucha Cleansing Treatment is perfect for lazy days. More powerful than a micellar water, it requires only a few swipes and treats the skin’s microbiota with prebiotic inulin at the same time. To incorporate it into your daily or nightly routine on a permanent basis, just be sure to use it as the primary cleanser or as the second step in a double cleanse. Alternatively, the Malin+Goetz classic Grapefruit Face Cleanser offers an easy three-in-one formula that cleans, tones and improves skin tone – that invigorating citrus scent is just the certified clean seal.