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[ Comparison · cleansers ]
Which cleanser is right for your skin type?
Short version: pick the format first, the brand second. Dry and reactive skin wants a cream or milk. Oily and combination skin wants a low-foam gel, not a soap. Anyone wearing sunscreen or makeup wants a balm or oil as the first evening step. The right cleanser leaves skin comfortable, not squeaky.
Every format has one honest drawback, and knowing it in advance stops you blaming your skin for a texture preference.
Which format suits which skin?
| Skin | Format | The trade-off buyers report |
|---|---|---|
| Dry, tight after washing | cream or milk cleanser | does not foam, can leave a film, weak on makeup |
| Reactive, easily red | fragrance-free cream cleanser | "feels like rubbing water on my face", pads still come away dirty |
| Oily, shiny by midday | low-foam gel | the T-zone can get drier after a week, so watch it |
| Combination | gel in the evening, water in the morning | the classic error is treating the whole face like the T-zone |
| Wears sunscreen or makeup | balm or oil first | waterproof mascara often needs a second pass |
| Prone to congestion | gel, plus a BHA 2 to 3x a week | a rich balm is the usual culprit when things get worse |
Those trade-offs are not invented for balance. They come from the product notes behind our own catalogue, where a line only gets written if several independent buyers say the same thing.
What do the complaints look like in practice?
- Cream cleansers: the two most repeated criticisms are "it does not foam, it feels like washing with lotion" and "it does not remove makeup reliably". Both are true and both are the price of mildness.
- Foaming gels sold for oily skin: the most repeated praise is "thorough without a greasy finish", the most repeated criticism is "dry, itchy and irritated on sensitive skin, sometimes after one day".
- Low-pH Korean gels: praised as mild enough for congestion-prone skin, criticised for a T-zone that gets drier after about a week.
- Cleansing balms: praised for not stinging the eyes and rinsing off without a film, criticised for needing a second pass on waterproof products.
- Very mild cleansers in general: the single most common complaint is that they feel like they are not cleaning, which is a feeling rather than a result.
How do I know my cleanser is wrong?
The clearest signal there is. Tightness after washing means the formula took too much.
A surface that has been stripped reacts to things it handled last month.
Classic over-cleansing loop, explained on the midday shine page.
Either a film left behind, or flaking from a surface that is too dry. Both point at the cleanser.
Does the cleanser need actives in it?
Mostly no. A cleanser is on your face for under a minute and then goes down the drain, so anything expensive in it is largely wasted. The exception is a salicylic acid wash, which is genuinely useful for congestion-prone skin two or three times a week, precisely because it does not need to stay on.
How does Baselit choose one?
The app treats the cleanser as part of the routine, with two versions, a cream one and a gel one, both free of soap and sulfate bases. Which one you get follows how your skin behaves rather than a label chosen once: skin that is sensitive or currently irritated always gets the milder side, even when "oily" was also selected. The evening always includes an oil-based removal step, because every routine the app builds has daily sunscreen in it and something has to take that off.
Frequently asked questions
Which cleanser is right for your skin type?
What is the best cleanser for dry skin?
What is the best cleanser for oily skin?
Should a cleanser foam?
How do I know my cleanser is too harsh?
Do I need a cleanser with active ingredients?
Is a cleansing balm suitable for oily skin?
How many times a day should I cleanse?
Baselit is a cosmetic skin-analysis app, not medical advice. This guide describes how ingredients and routines change the look and feel of skin. It is not a diagnosis or a treatment, and it is no substitute for a doctor or dermatologist.