Cleansers are a foundational part of helping clear up your skin when you have acne. But with all the cleansers out there, how do you decide which one is going to work for you? Everyone’s skin is different, and the cleaners you use should be targeted to meet your specific needs. Often the cleaners you find on the store shelves are generalized, which works fine for some people, but for really acne-prone skin they might not help at all—or, in some cases, could even make your acne worse. Here are some ways to select the right cleaner for your skin.
1: Understand Your Acne
Acne is a very broad term to describe a disorder affecting the oil glands and hair follicles on your skin. Your pores connect to glands below your skin’s surface that produce an oil called sebum. This carries dead skin cells from inside the pore to the surface of your skin so your body can get rid of them as cells regenerate. Hair follicles also grow from these pores, and when they get clogged it can lead to swelling, bacteria, and other conditions that allow acne to form. This is most likely to happen in the pores on your face, neck, back, chest, arms, and shoulders.
However, not all acne is the same. There are also skin conditions that can cause bumps that look similar to acne, but must be treated in a different way. The key to finding the best facial cleanser with the right ingredients is to understand what type of acne you have:
- Comedonal (whiteheads and blackheads)
- Inflammatory (P. acnes bacteria that leads to white pus-filled bumps)
- Cystic (irritated red bumps under the skin)
- Hormonal (excess oil production from hormones)
- Skin conditions (such as rosacea)
2: Pay Attention to Ingredients
Cleansers use different ingredients to address skin concerns, including:
- Benzoyl Peroxide to unclog pores and encourage cell turnover
- Mandelic acid to reduce pigmentation and clear away dead skin cells
- Soothing ingredients like chamomile, allatonin, and panthenol to calm irritated skin
It’s important to choose the cleanser with the right ingredients based on your skin type and acne type.
3: Add Other Steps
Cleansers are a foundational part of skincare, but they shouldn’t be the only thing you use. Adding other steps, such as toners, serums, retinols, moisturizers, and sunscreen can also help clear up stubborn acne and improve the look and feel of your skin.
4: Get Expert Help
Sometimes you need assistance from a skincare expert to determine the type of acne you are experiencing and help you find the right facial cleanser to address the problem. A consultation with a skincare expert can help you choose the right products for your skin’s specific needs. Jil Goorman Beauty consultants offer virtual consultations to make it easy to get the advice of an expert.
Shop Today
Shop the full line of cleansers at Jil Goorman Beauty to address your acne and skincare needs. We offer a range of options for all different skin conditions that are gentle and effective at fighting your acne.