Q. Should I skip cleansing twice daily if my skin is dry? My skin always feels super dry and tight after washing my face, even more so now that it’s cold out.

It’s important to cleanse twice daily no matter your skin type and no matter the season—it’s just about finding the right face wash that suits your skin’s needs. So: if your skin feels dry, tight, or even sensitive after cleansing, it’s likely you’re not using the right kind of face wash.

Which leads us to…

Q. What’s the best face cleanser for dry, winter skin?

A. Mario Badescu aestheticians recommend using a cream or tissue-off cleanser. Both are gentle alternatives to bar soaps or foaming formulas: they get rid of the dirt, oil, and impurities, but leave your skin feeling soft and nourished.

Here’s how to find the best face wash that’ll keep your dry skin happy all winter long:

Got combo/dry skin and love a rejuvenating boost in your cleanser?

Try Orange Cleansing Soap, a comforting face wash infused with Orange Peel Extract that refreshes skin of light makeup, dirt, oil, and other surface impurities.

#MBSkinTip: If you love Enzyme Cleansing Gel in the warmer months but are looking for a winter alternative, you’ll love this face wash, too.

Got combination/dry skin that’s prone to uneven skin tone and texture?

You’ll love Seaweed Cleansing Soap, a fresh, creamy face wash formulated with marine botanicals. Surface impurities are washed away, but your complexion is left softer and smoother than before. Plus, there are real seaweed grains in there to gently buff away dulling dead skin cells.

Got dry, sensitive skin that looks dull?

Use Keratoplast Cream Soap, a unique cleanser that helps rid the skin of pore-clogging impurities without leaving skin feeling parched.

Got dry skin?

Start using Cucumber Cream Soap, a creamy, Cucumber-infused face wash that leaves skin feeling soft, fresh, and hydrated.

Got super sensitive and dry skin?

Try Cream Soap. It’s a simple, gentle formula that was created specifically for delicate skin. It’s an oil-free, fragrance-free, moisturizing formula that cleanses without overdrying skin.

Got super dry, parched, and/or mature skin? Or maybe you love wearing a full face of heavy makeup?

Your skin will love Cleansing Milk with Carnation & Rice Oil. Makeup and surface impurities are instantly wiped clean without stripping dry skin of essential moisture; instead, this oil-based cleansing milk ensures skin feels soft and nourished.

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Originally published as Q&A: Best Face Cleansers for Dry, Winter Skin from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Great skincare starts with clean skin. Removing sunscreen, makeup and impurities leaves the skin feeling fresh and prepped for the next steps of your skincare routine. Cleansing the skin improperly or entirely skipping this step limits the effects of the rest of the products in the regimen.

Whether your skin is dry or sensitive, oily or combination, acne- or redness-prone, there’s a cleanser for everyone out there. Our guide will help you pick the best cleanser with the most beneficial ingredients for your skin type and skin concerns.

What is the importance of a facial cleanser?

Using a gentle face wash suitable for your skin type and taking a few extra minutes to cleanse the skin from heavy makeup, dirts, oils and grime that may have built up throughout the day can make a world of difference and help maintain a healthy complexion. Cleansing allows the skin to renew while helping the rest of your skincare products absorb better and perform more efficiently. To get the full effect of the active ingredients in your facial cleanser, it is recommended to remove any makeup with a gentle remover before cleansing. This technique is known as “double cleansing” and essentially involves using a facial cleanser or makeup remover to remove excess product so your cleanser can deeply cleanse your skin. 

Our Best Facial Cleanser for Combination Skin

Does your T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) look shiny while your cheek area appears normal or dry? If the answer is yes, then you most likely have combination skin. In this case, the keyword is balance, so it is essential to regulate sebum production around the oilier areas without stripping the skin where it is drier. 

Try: Enzyme Cleansing Gel– This non-foaming gel cleanser is wildly popular and consistently tops our list of best-sellers. Skin will feel equally clean and refreshed. This deep cleansing but gentle face wash refreshes the skin and removes excess oil without feeling harsh or drying. The added Papaya Fruit Extract and Grapefruit Extract provide gentle exfoliation to leave the skin looking radiant and youthful.

Good cleanser for all skin types                                                                           Best cleanser for combination skin and oily skin types                                     Try pairing it with Seaweed Cleansing Lotion or Cucumber Cleansing Lotion

Our Best Face Cleanser for Oily Skin and Blemish-Prone Skin

Oily skin is characterized by a shiny appearance, enlarged pores and congestion. If your makeup and skincare tend to move around your face after application and you frequently get blemishes, your skin might produce excess sebum that can clog the pores. It is important to regulate the oil production and maintain clear and fresh skin without stripping of its natural oils. 

Try: Acne Facial Cleanser– Skin types prone to congestion and breakouts will love this non-foaming gel-based cleanser. The gentle, yet effective, formula employs Salicylic Acid and Thyme Extract to banish blemishes along with Aloe Vera and Chamomile to keep skin calm.

Our best cleanser for oily skin and blemish-prone types Try pairing it with Special Cleansing Lotion C for toning action. 

Our Best Face Wash for Dry Skin

If your skin is flaky, feels tight and lacks elasticity, there is a good chance it is dry. Another way to identify dryness is by applying a moisturizer and paying attention to the reaction of the skin. Dry skin will drink up the moisturizer almost instantly. 

Try: Cucumber Cream Soap – Anyone who has dry and/or sensitive skin understands how using the wrong facial cleanser can seriously throw your skin off balance. People with dry skin can benefit from using a rich and creamy facial cleanser. This non-foaming cleanser gently cleanses without stripping skin of essential moisture. The Cucumber Extract provides essential vitamins and minerals to the skin and leaves it feeling nourished and calm.

Good cleanser for all skin types Our best cleanser for dry skin

Try removing makeup prior to cleansing with Cucumber Makeup Remover Cream and toning with Aloe Vera Toner.

Our Best Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

Try: Cleansing Milk with Carnation and Rice Oil – Some skin is so dry and sensitive that even cleansing with a gentle rinse-off cleanser is irritating. For those with ultra-sensitive skin this oil-based milk cleanser is a must. It will completely dissolve makeup and impurities so that they can be wiped away with a soft cotton pad for a gentle cleansing experience. The result is cleansed and nourished skin without stripping its surface of essential moisture.

Good cleanser for dry, sensitive skin Our best cleanser for dry, sensitive skin

Our Best Brightening Face Wash

If you’re trying to achieve that gorgeous glowing look but you are too afraid of leave-on

treatments, you may want to give a cleanser with Glycolic Acid a try. Glycolic Acid is known to gently help with pore refining and texture resurfacing, ensuring a radiant complexion and youthful look. 

Try: Glycolic Foaming Cleanser – Your skin will be next-level clean with this supplemental, foaming, gel cleanser. Glycolic Acid works to gently dissolve dulling, pore-clogging dead skin cells and other impurities from the surface of the skin making this the perfect regimen booster.  If you are new to acids, start using the cleanser just a couple of times a week. For best results, let the cleanser sit for a few minutes before rinsing.

Use 1-2 times a week for Dry and Combination/Dry skin and 2-3 times a week for Combination Skin and Oily Skin types.

Good for all skin types Best cleanser for glowing skin Pairs well with any toner that suits your skin type!

Shop facial cleansers.

Originally published as Our Best Facial Cleansers for Your Skin Type: Oily, Dry, and Combination Skin from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.