Natural face cleanser: how to choose one for your skin type

A good natural face cleanser lifts away dirt, oil, sunscreen and makeup and leaves your skin comfortable, not tight or squeaky. The right one depends mostly on your skin type: oil cleansers and cleansing balms for dry or very dry skin and for taking off makeup, cream cleansers and cleansing milks for sensitive skin, and gentle foaming cleansers or gels for oily and combination skin. This guide is for anyone switching to natural skincare who wants to know which kind of face wash to pick, how to use it, and which ones we stock.

What does a cleanser do for your face?

A cleanser removes the oil, sweat, pollution, sunscreen and makeup that build up on your skin during the day, along with some of the dead skin cells on the surface. Clean skin feels fresher and takes the rest of your routine, like a serum or moisturizer, more evenly. The goal is clean without stripping skin of the natural oils that keep it soft and comfortable. If your face feels tight after washing, your cleanser is working too hard.

What makes a face cleanser natural?

"Natural" can mean very different things on a skincare label, so read the ingredients rather than the front of the bottle. The natural face cleansers we carry share a few traits:

• Gentle, plant-derived cleansing agents. Coconut-based surfactants like coco-glucoside, decyl glucoside and lauryl glucoside, or saponified plant oils, instead of harsh sulfates that can leave skin dry.
• Natural oils and butters. Sunflower, jojoba, safflower, olive, coconut and other oils dissolve makeup and sunscreen, because oil lifts oil.
• Soothing botanicals. Aloe vera, chamomile, calendula, oat and green tea are common in cleansers for sensitive skin.
• A skin-friendly pH. Healthy skin is slightly acidic. A pH balanced cleanser, around pH 5, works with your skin's natural pH instead of against it.
• Short, honest ingredient lists. Fewer ingredients make it easier to spot anything your skin doesn't like. If you have super sensitive skin, look for a fragrance-free cleanser without essential oils.

Natural face cleansers by skin type

Oil cleansers and cleansing balms

Oil cleansing sounds backwards, but it's one of the gentlest ways to clean your face. You massage the oil onto dry skin, where it dissolves makeup, sunscreen and excess oil, then add warm water or wipe it off with a warm, damp cloth. Many oil cleansers contain a mild emulsifier, so they turn milky with water and rinse clean. They're a natural fit for dry skin and for removing makeup, and a non-comedogenic oil cleanser suits most skin types.

The Cure Skincare started in Nova Scotia and is now handmade in small batches in Hamilton, Ontario. Its Oil Cleanser is built on MCT oil with raspberry seed and perilla oils and Irish sea moss gel, and it turns into a light milk with water. OM Organics Tahiti Lime + Babassu Radiant Cleansing Balm is a soap-free balm of coconut, marula and babassu oils with cupuaçu butter that melts away makeup and sunscreen. Kinvara Absolute Cleansing Oil is a waterless, hot-cloth cleanser of organic sunflower, sesame and safflower oils that also takes off eye makeup, and Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil blends safflower, rosehip and pumpkin seed oils with squalane.

Cream cleansers and cleansing milks

Cream cleansers and cleansing milks are the softest option: they clean with very little foam and leave a little moisture behind. They're ideal for dry or sensitive skin, for mornings when your face doesn't need much, and for anyone who finds foaming cleansers too drying.

Skin Essence makes certified organic skincare in small batches in Canada. Its Pure Facial Cleanser is made for dry and sensitive skin with vegetable glycerin, saponified organic sunflower and coconut oils, comfrey root, jojoba oil and blue chamomile. Mad Hippie Cream Cleanser is mildly acidic, with jojoba, macadamia, shea butter and hyaluronic acid, and evanhealy Blue Lavender Cleansing Milk pairs a creamy plant milk with aloe vera, kaolin clay and rose geranium hydrosol. Derma E Hydrating Cleanser adds hyaluronic acid, chamomile and papaya for skin that feels dry after washing.

Gel and foaming cleansers for oily skin

If your skin makes a lot of oil, or you just like the feel of a lather, a gel or gentle foaming cleanser lifts excess oil without the tight feeling of an old-fashioned soap. Look for mild, coconut-derived cleansing agents and skip anything that leaves your face squeaky.

• evanhealy Tea Tree Gel Cleanser is a lightly lathering, non-detergent gel for oily or congested skin, with sea buckthorn, calendula and chamomile and steam-distilled tea tree oil and lavender.
• OM Organics White Willow Purifying Gel Cleanser lathers up silky and sudsy. White willow bark, a natural source of salicylic acid, helps gently exfoliate and clear pore build-up.
• Carina Organics Daily Face Wash is unscented and made by hand on the North Shore of Vancouver, with organic plant extracts and a splash of apple cider vinegar to bring skin back to its natural pH.
• Skin Essence Fresh Facial Cleanser adds witch hazel, lemongrass and peppermint for a bright, fresh feel.

For a pH balanced everyday wash, Beauty From Bees, a family company in Alberta, makes a Vitamin C Face Cleanser at pH 5 with coco-glucoside, glycerin and olive squalane. Read more about the brand in our Beauty From Bees guide.

Beauty From BeesVitamin C Face CleanserpH 5, with coco-glucoside and olive squalane.Shop →

How to use a natural face cleanser

1. Start with warm water. Splash your face with lukewarm water, not hot. For an oil cleanser or balm, start on dry skin instead.
2. Use just a small amount. A pea-to-quarter-sized amount is plenty. Work it between your palms first.
3. Massage for 30 to 60 seconds. Use your fingertips in small circles, including along the hairline and jaw.
4. Rinse well or use a warm cloth. Rinse with warm water, or lay a warm, damp washcloth over your face and gently wipe. A splash of cold water at the end feels refreshing.
5. Pat dry. Use a clean towel and pat, don't rub. Follow with a toner, serum or moisturizer while your skin is still a little damp.

Our guides to face serums and toners and natural face moisturizers cover the next steps.

Double cleansing: when it helps

Double cleansing means an oil cleanser or cleansing balm first to remove makeup and sunscreen, followed by a water-based cleanser to wash away what's left. It's worth doing in the evening if you wear makeup or a water-resistant sunscreen. If you don't, one gentle cleanse is usually enough.

What is the 4-2-4 rule in skincare?

The 4-2-4 method is a long-form double cleanse: four minutes massaging an oil cleanser into dry skin, two minutes with a water-based cleanser, then four minutes rinsing, alternating warm and cold water. It's more time than most people need on a weeknight, but the idea behind it is sound: take your time, massage gently, and rinse thoroughly. A minute of each step works well.

How often should I cleanse my face?

For most people, twice a day is plenty: a thorough cleanse in the evening and a quick one, or just a splash of water, in the morning. Wash after a workout too. Over-cleansing can leave skin dry and irritated, so if your face feels tight, cut back to once a day or switch to a gentler cream or oil cleanser.

What is the best homemade face wash?

The simplest homemade cleanser is a natural oil. Massage a few drops of jojoba, sunflower or olive oil into dry skin, then press a warm, damp washcloth over your face and wipe it away. Raw or organic honey also makes a gentle cleanser on damp skin; massage a thin layer in and rinse with warm water. Skip lemon juice and undiluted apple cider vinegar on your face: they're very acidic and can irritate. If you'd rather not make your own products, a ready-made cleanser with a short ingredient list gives you the same simplicity with a reliable texture.

Masks and gentle exfoliation

A cleanser handles the daily work. Once or twice a week, a clay mask or a gentle exfoliant can help clear away dead cells and leave skin feeling smooth. Clay draws up excess oil as it dries, so it suits oily and combination skin best. Redmond Bentonite Clay is 100% bentonite clay powder: mix a spoonful with water and apply a thin layer. evanhealy French Rose Clay blends pink kaolin clay and Moroccan rhassoul clay into a gentle, polishing mask suitable for all skin types.

Face cleanser questions we hear in the store

Is bar soap OK for your face?

A gentle, well-made natural soap can be, especially for normal or oily skin, but many bars are too alkaline for dry or sensitive faces. If a bar leaves your face tight, keep it for the body and switch to a cream or oil cleanser. Our natural bar soap guide covers the soaps we carry.

Can I use coconut oil as a face cleanser?

You can, and some people love it, especially for removing makeup. Coconut oil is heavy, though, and can feel too rich on oily skin. Lighter oils like jojoba, sunflower or grapeseed oil, or a finished oil cleanser that rinses clean, suit more skin types.

Do natural cleansers remove waterproof makeup?

Oil cleansers and cleansing balms do it best, because oil dissolves waterproof mascara and long-wear foundation. Massage gently around the eyes, then wipe away with a warm cloth.

Should I use cold water or warm water to wash my face?

Lukewarm water is best for cleansing: hot water can dry skin out, and cold water doesn't dissolve oil well. A splash of cold water at the end is fine and feels refreshing.

Shopping for face cleansers at Luminate

Our natural face cleansers are in the skin care aisle at both stores, and online in our skin care collection. They ship across Atlantic Canada in 1 to 3 business days, with free shipping in Canada on orders over $80, or come the same day across Halifax, Bedford and Dartmouth with Luminate Express when you order by 11 am. For a gentle, multi-purpose wash, see our castile soap guide.

Product details come from our own product listings and brand pages. Patch test any new product on a small area of skin first. This article is general information, not medical advice.