HOW TO CHOOSE A FACIAL CLEANSER
Healthy looking skin starts with a great cleanser. Whether you’re looking for a face wash for oily skin or a gentle cleanser that won’t exacerbate sensitivity, you should know that facial cleansers can serve vastly different purposes depending on formulas and ingredients. For example, a cleanser might be perfect for your oily complexion, but the same product might be too harsh for someone with a dry skin type..
Read our guide to the Kiehl’s range of nature inspired facial cleansers and learn how to choose a cleanser based on your individual skin type.

What does cleanser and face wash do?
A quality cleanser well suited to your skin type is the foundation of any daily skincare routine. Your complexion is bombarded with pollutants and impurities from your makeup and the environment around you. To put things simply, the rest of your skincare routine is pointless if you don’t start with a clean, blank canvas. The other benefits of cleanser include minimising the occurrence of blemishes and boosting skin radiance.
Your best facial cleanser according to your skin type
Once you find the best face wash for your skin, you’ll never look back. Here’s our breakdown of how different cleanser formulas benefit each skin type, along with some tips for use.
Cleanser for oily skin
If you have an oily skin type, you may also struggle with clogged pores or a complexion prone to blackheads, whiteheads and blemishes. Cleansing is one of the most important steps in a skincare routine for oily skin, because getting rid of excess sebum (skin oil) is essential for minimising blemishes and clogged pores.
There are two contenders for the best face wash for acne-prone skin from the Kiehl’s range of cleansers. Our Blue Herbal Gel Cleanser is an oil free medicated cleanser formula featuring salicylic acid to deeply penetrate and clean your pores. This highly efficacious oily skin cleanser is still gentle enough to use morning and night.
Alternatively, our Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser cleans your pores and regulates sebum levels without the need for a chemical exfoliant. Enriched with Amazonian white clay and aloe barbadensis, this daily cleanser purifies and detoxifies oily, blemish-prone skin. White clay gently draws impurities out of your pores to stop blemishes from forming. Use once each day for optimal results.
Cleanser for combination skin
Combination skin is characterised by a mix of dry areas (often on the cheeks) and oily areas (often on your T-zone). If you have combination skin, you’ll want to opt for a cleanser with a formula that’s robust enough for your oily areas without being too harsh or drying.
Our Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash uses the power of botanicals to gently lift away dirt, impurities and excess oil to refresh and revitalise your complexion. Calendula is a Mediterranean flower used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for its comforting properties. Use this formula twice daily and enjoy the benefits of this skin softening cleanser.
Some people with combination skin may find that an oil-free formula is what suits them best. If this sounds like you, our Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser is a quick lathering and highly refreshing option. This nature inspired formula utilises lemon extract for an astringent quality and cylindrica root to hydrate. This cleanser is kind on your skin, so you can use it twice a day.
Cleanser for normal skin
If you have a normal skin type, first of all, lucky you! You’ve got your pick of cleansers, which is why we recommend you go with a Kiehl’s classic. Our Ultra Facial Cleanser has a mild ingredients list that moisturises your skin as it washes away the day. This cleanser is enriched with an impressive list of natural nourishing ingredients, including apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, vitamin E and squalane.
Use our Ultra Facial Cleanser as part of your morning and night routine daily.
Cleanser for sensitive skin
Sensitive skin can react to certain ingredients or intense formulas, so it’s important to seek out a cleanser designed specifically for your skin type. Look for nourishing ingredients and simple formulas.
Our Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil is designed with a lightweight oil texture to comfort sensitive skin as it removes makeup and impurities. Evening primrose oil aids skin elasticity and hydration, while lavender oil provides comfort. This cleanser also features squalane, an ingredient known to help strengthen the skin’s natural barrier.
This cleanser is suitable to use twice a day, even for those of you with sensitive skin.
Cleanser for dry skin
A well-designed face wash for dry skin should have an ultra-gentle formula. Picture impurities being softly melted away with ingredients that protect your skin rather than stripping away your natural oils.
Our Cucumber Herbal Cleanser was made for those of you with delicate, dry skin. The unique texture of this cleanser transforms from gel to a light oil to help comfort and purify dry, sensitive skin. Cucumber extract provides comforting properties, complemented by intensely hydrating plant derived glycerin.
Use this extra gentle formula morning and night and be sure to avoid scrubbing and pat your skin dry rather than rubbing.
Now you’ve sorted out your cleanser situation, upgrade your skincare game by reading our guide to the Truth About Vitamin C Skincare.
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