Cleansers vs Face Washes: What Is the difference?

With numerous beauty products entering the ever-growing beauty industry, we are introduced to new and exciting products like elixirs, serums, nose patches, oils, tools, and so much more! It gets hard to keep track of what products deliver what for your skin. Many times, products tend to share similarities with each like the face wash and cleanser. We get confused because, at face value, these products look exactly the same and claim to do the same thing: keep the pores clean & tidy! But, there are a lot of noteworthy differences between the two. We’re going to take you through what exactly makes each one special and what exactly your skin needs!
 

So Cleanser vs Face Wash: Here we go!
 

CLEANSERS

A cleanser's job simply is to slough off the dirt, oil and residue along with other impurities on the face. It is the first step you take in your daily cleansing-toning-moisturizing routine. This will be followed up with a toner & moisturizer. If compared to a bar of soap, cleansers are only designed to be used on your face. These miracle formulas also help keep acne out of your life in addition to unclogging pores!
 

Although powerful, cleansers are not universally effective. To get the most out of cleansers, you need to understand your skin type first. If you use the wrong type of cleaner for your skin, it could cause your skin to dry out & cause acne! Bad move, sister. So make sure you’re picking out the correct formulas for your precious skin! If you have combination or oily skin, look out for clay-based or gel-based cleansers. If you have dry skin, stick to creamy cleansers. If your skin is sensitive then you might want to invest in a powder, micellar or creamy cleaners! So buck up! Make sure your skin is getting only what it needs.

We recommend:

1. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser For All Skin Types 

Explore Cetaphil Cleansers.

2. Good Vibes Orange Blossom Makeup Cleansing Lotion 

Explore Good Vibes Cleansers.

FACE WASHES

A face wash as its name suggests is especially meant for your face. Since your facial skin is more sensitive than the rest of your body, you need a specially formulated formula for it. Something that deep cleans your pores and washes away all the makeup residue and bacteria. It will leave your skin feeling smooth, radiant and clean.

Apart from simply cleansing your face, a face wash will also promote blood circulation and exfoliate your skin by scrubbing off dead skin cells. To get the most out of your face wash, use it once at night and once in the morning. A face wash will not only make your pores squeaky clean but also give your skin a chance to breathe.

We recommend:

1. Good Vibes Papaya Brightening Face Wash

Explore Good Vibes Face Washes.

2. WOW Skin Science Vitamin C Foaming Face Wash

Explore WOW Face Washes.

So can you use Cleansers and Face Washes together?

The differences between cleanser and face washes are not stark but worth understanding. The 2 simply vary according to how you are looking to cleanse your skin. Sometimes, cleansers can be a more powerful formula to remove excess makeup while face washes can be used as regular, everyday cleansers. If you’re someone who’s regularly exposed to air pollutants, you should consider using cleansers first and then using face washes afterwards to remove particles from the skin. You can also use a cleansing lotion at night to hydrate and nourish your face. 

A few decades ago, people were only washing faces with soap bottles! But now, people are ever so mindful of what truly goes on their skin. We use different modes of oils and creams to cleanse and nourish our skin. Deciding between a face wash and a cleanser is a more personal choice depending on your skin type. The cleansers will usually squeaky clean and hydrate pores while using face washes will deeply purify and clean it of all its gunk. The two can also be paired together!

Read More:
- How Many Times Should You Actually Wash Your Face? 
- 10 Best Face Washes for Oily Skin in India
- 10 Best Face Wash For Pimples
- Top 10 Best Cleansers for Dry Skin