Difference Between Facewash and Face Cleanser

Table of Contents

• What is a Face Wash?
• What is a Face Cleanser?
• Key Difference in Face Wash & Face Cleanser
• Which One is Best for Me?
• How to Include Face Wash and Cleansers in Daily Routine?
• How to Use Face Wash and Cleanser?
• To sum it up
• FAQ's

Staring at the long aisle of skincare products, you think “Does it have to be this complicated?”

Washing your face with a face wash or a face cleanser can be a tough call to make. The very first step in any skincare routine and you're stuck deciding which one is best for you.

No worries folks, read on to get to know what exactly is the difference between face wash & cleanser and which you should pick.

What is a Face wash?

Initially used bar soaps evolved into face washes formulated to better clean your face without causing any harshness to your skin. Face wash is a gel-like and foamy liquid that cleans the dirt, oil, sweat and other pollutants from deep within your skin.

What is a Face Cleanser?

Face cleansers are gentler on your skin than any face wash. They’re available in a variety of forms based on skin needs, cleansers also help in clearing out dirt, makeup, sweat and other impurities in a mild and hydrating way. 

Key Difference in Face Wash & Face Cleanser

Which One is Best for Me?

This is where we all lowkey lose it. The way to solve this question is to understand your skin concerns and needs. Face washes and Face cleansers have different levels of cleansing for different skin concerns.

Face wash is the right pick for you if you tend to sweat more and produce excess oil on your face. Ingredients like charcoal or salicylic acid in a face wash remove excess oil and dirt without drying your skin. Face wash is also perfect to use for a deep cleanse that will unclog your pores and refresh your skin after a day full of being exposed to the city’s pollution.

Face cleansers are ideal for sensitive and dry skin because they are hydrating and soothing to the skin. They contain glycerin and ceramides that lock in moisture and prevent dehydration. Face cleansers are best to take off heavy makeup and are formulated to be gentle and not make your face feel dry after a wash.

How to Include Face Wash and Cleansers in Daily Routine?

Both face wash and face cleanser can be incorporated into your skincare routine. It is ideal that you start off with a face wash in the morning that will get rid of overnight buildup of oil and give your skin a fresh start. 

Depending upon the environmental conditions or the activity you're carrying out, you can use a cleanser to give the surface of your skin a gentle cleanse.

If you're someone who uses makeup everyday or just likes to experiment new glam looks and need just enough cleaning to take off the makeup without stripping the skin off, then consider face cleansers your BFF. 

Double cleanse is quite trendy among skincare enthusiasts. Double cleansing is a two-step cleansing routine that ensures your skin is free of all impurities. When double cleansing, it is important you use products in the right order. For the first step, you should use an oil-cleanser that is gentle and will dissolve excess oil, makeup and other pollutants. After you have used a cleanser it's time to use a foaming face wash to remove remaining dirt or oil. With the first face cleanser you said goodbye to all impurities from the surface of your skin allowing the face wash to reach deeper into your skin to completely clean out your pores.

How to Use Face Wash and Cleanser?

The steps to using a face wash and face cleanser are pretty similar if you ask me.

Step 1: Start with washing your hands clean before you touch your face.

Step 2: Second, wet your face with water if you are using a face wash or keep your face dry if using a face cleanser.

Step 3: Take some amount of the product on your fingertips and start massaging it in circular motions on your face. Do this for about 1-2 minutes to ensure your face is thoroughly cleaned.

Step 4: After you are done, rinse it off with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry.

Step 5: Make sure to follow your cleansing process with a nourishing moisturiser.

To sum it up,

Face wash focuses on providing a deeper clean while face cleanser aims at providing a gentle cleanse and keeping the skin hydrated. In the end, they both help clean your face, though the extra benefits they provide depend on your skin's concerns. This blog has helped you understand the difference between face wash and face cleanser and how they are beneficial for different skin types and concerns.

So now you have an idea of which one to choose the next time you go skincare shopping.

FAQ's

Which is better: face wash or cleanser?

It depends on whether you have oily or dry skin and what level of cleaning you want. Face wash is for oily/acne-prone skin and to deeply clean your pores. Whereas face cleanser is for dry and sensitive skin and to clean impurities from the surface of your skin.

Do you use cleanser as a face wash?

Cleansers can be used to mildly cleanse your skin without stripping the moisture off but they do not lather or foam up like any face wash.

Is it better to wash your face with water or cleanser?

Simply washing your face with water is a thing of the stone age era. In these times, with so much environmental pollution, it is better we use a cleanser that addresses our skin's needs and keeps our skin rejuvenated.

Can I skip face wash and only use cleanser?

You don't necessarily need to double cleanse your skin. Skipping a face wash and using a cleanser that suits you instead is possible.

Which is first, cleanser or face wash?

The process of double cleansing is started with a face cleanser to clean surface pollutants followed by a face wash to clean deeper in your skin.

Is face wash and cleanser the same?

Although they both serve the need to clean off your skin, they both are different in their formulations and benefits they provide to specific skin types and concerns.