BEST CLEANSERS FOR OILY + ACNE-PRONE SKIN
It should come as no surprise to those of you that have been longtime readers here, or that follow on social media, that I am a huge skincare enthusiast. People often message me asking for recommendations and as much as I love talking about this topic it is very much such an individual experience. A product I may love you may not even though we have similar skin types. Finding the right products that deliver results and address your specific skin concerns is all trial and error. So I decided to put my love of all things beauty into a dedicated week of skin care products to better serve you all.
Over the course of the next 5 days there will be a new post here at 5pm EST dedicated to some of my favorite skincare products that I have used, still use, swear by, etc. I hope that through these posts you will be inspired to discover new products to try and see how they work for you. Always be sure to do your own research and keep in mind your skin type. Today we kick off with cleansers. Below is a mix of drugstore cleansers and some “higher end” options to hit all price points. Because I have oily acne-prone skin much of what I share is geared towards that skin type but there are also products mentioned that can be used for normal skin, dry skin, or combo skin.
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
The CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is my absolute favorite drugstore cleanser! On days when I have very little makeup on I also use it to remove my makeup. Just apply it on your face dry and massage it in. It does a great job of breaking up the makeup! This formula is gentle, non-drying and is amazing for oily skin.Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash
Another drugstore fave that is also super affordable is Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash! This one is also great at breaking up makeup as well. I discovered Purpose when I first went to Los Angeles over 15 years ago and have been hooked! If I can’t find CeraVe this is what I get. This cleanser is also extremely gentle and does not over-dry your skin.African Black Soap
For years I have had people tell me about African Black Soap and I did not listen soon enough. True African Black soap is not, wait for it….black. Shocker! Seriously though, the one I get from Amazon (which is unfortunately not available) I have been really enjoying. It is raw and 100% natural and requires a very small amount to get the job done. African Black soap helps fight acne and hyperpigmentation, contains antibacterial properties, exfoliates and cleanses the skin among many others. Here is another option for raw organic African Black soap.Urban Skin Rx LacticGlow Micropolish Gentle Cleansing Gel
This light gel cleanser contains microbeads that remove dead skin cells without irritating the skin. I love how it polishes the skin helping to make it appear brighter and healthier. The Urban Skin Rx LacticGlow Micropolish Gentle Cleansing Gel is safe to use for all skin types!UrbanSkinRx - Even Tone Cleansing Bar & Clear Skin Cleansing Bar
This duo I have been loving lately! The Clear Skin Cleansing Bar helps to combat acne and control oil. It is ideal for acne-prone, oily skin types. It is a clear formula but lathers up quite nicely! When my skin is freaking out I use this cleanser at night. During the daytime I use the Even Tone Cleansing Bar to help with hyperpigmentation. It has a light tea tree and licorice scent. Both are multi-purpose acting like a cleanser, mask and exfoliator. If using the Even Tone Cleansing Bar as a mask I personally would not leave it on for more than 3 minutes. But as with anything, test it out on a small patch of skin and see how you react.Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Acne Face Wash (with salicylic acid)
Now this is an OG fave that has survived my teenage years into adulthood. I admittedly don’t use the Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Acne Face Wash like I used to but am including it because it is a great cleanser for those of us that are blemish prone. It contains vitamin c and salicylic acid to help treat and prevent acne, and dark spots too. Plus, it smells like grapefruit and who doesn’t like grapefruit? (don’t answer that, just roll with me here).Laneige Multi Deep-Clean Cleanser
A little goes a long way with this cleanser. I used too much the first time and was surprised at how foamy it got. The Laneige Multi Deep-Clean Cleanser is also the first (I think) Korean Beauty product I have tried, along with the Laneige Hydration To-Go kit for combination to oily skin. This thick cleanser contains cellulose beads that gently removes dead skin cells as well as blueberry extract and papain enzyme to remove built up sebum and other pore clogging elements.