You get confused from time to time what to select, your ordinary cleanser or a gentle cleanser while buying a face wash. You might think that there is no major difference in both as they both help in clearing the impurities from but they are not the same. They both work differently and are meant for different actions. One can strip the barrier and the other helps in protecting the skin barrier.
Regular cleansers are often formulated using harsh sulphate based surfactants and produce high foam and helps in lifting off the sebum, dirt and other impurities from the skin but it performs so harshly that it could strip the moisture barrier of the skin and make skin dry and tight after cleansing.
A gentle cleanser on the other hand is formulated using mild or low foaming surfactants which work gently on the skin to lift off the buildup of impurities from the face without stripping the moisture barrier of the skin. They don’t make skin dry or irritated post cleaning because it is formulated with gentle barrier supporting ingredients.
Now you need to understand the basic difference and choose the right one for your skin.
Surfactants in gentle cleanser vs regular cleanser
Surfactants are the main cleansing agents for a face wash and they have two parts, a hydrophilic head which binds to water and a lipophilic head which binds to oil based impurities and this allows cleansing off both water and oil based impurities from the face.
The major variation that could be between gentle and regular cleansers is among their surfactants.
Regular cleanser: Ideally formulated using anionic surfactants like harsh sulphates (SLS, SLES) to provide cleansing action. They are negatively charged so they pull out the lipids heavily from the skin. It generates high sudsy foam that works greatly to clear out heavy makeup, oil and dirt buildup from the face.
Gentle cleanser: Mostly use non-ionic or amphoteric surfactants (Coco-Glucoside, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine) like surfactants which do not have a charge or are dual charged micelles which do not penetrate deep skin or disrupt barrier. They help in cleansing the surface level impurities without damaging the skin barrier. It produces low or no foam and helps in cleansing the skin gently.
Other major differences among gentle and regular cleansers
| Features | Gentle cleanser | Regular cleanser |
|---|---|---|
| Foaming ability | Create very low or no foam while cleansing | Creates high airy foam, which is bubbly and spreads across the face |
| Texture | Mostly use cream, milk or lotion based formulations | Uses liquid or gel formulation which produce foam |
| Function | Help support the damaged skin barrier and reduces skin irritation | Help in clearing the heavy buildup of oil and dirt from the face |
| Skin barrier effect | Does not strip the skin barrier instead help in repairing the damaged skin barrier and soothes the skin | It might strip the skin barrier and cause skin dryness post cleanse. It does not help repair the skin barrier, instead it damages it |
| Active ingredients | Use ceramides, panthenol, allantoin like ingredients for gentle barrier supporting cleanse | Use salicylic acid, niacinamide, glycolic acid face wash for clearing oil and impurities from the skin |
| Post cleanse feel | Gives a soft and hydrated skin feel after cleansing. Makes skin soft and moisturized | Total matte cleanse, no oil texture but can also make the skin feel tight and dry post cleansing |
| Skin type consideration | Best for dry, normal, sensitive, damaged or combination skin | Best for oily, acne prone or combination skin |
| Make-up removal | Requires double cleansing and can only clear light makeup from the face | Requires one cleanse to properly clear the oil based heavy makeup from the face |
Benefits of using each cleanser
For gentle cleanser-
- Lifts of surface based impurities properly from the skin
- Help in repairing the damaged barrier by replenishing lost ceramides and fatty acids
- Helps in reducing the transepidermal loss of water from the skin
- Helps in protecting the moisture barrier of the face
- Reduces chances of breakouts
- Calms and soothes the skin
- Provide soft post cleanse skin
For regular cleanser-
- Helps in clearing out access oil from the face
- Helps in wiping heavy makeup from the skin
- Helps clear out the buildup of impurities that occur throughout the day
- Helps in clearing congestion from the pores and prevents acne breakouts
- give a matte finish after cleansing
- Helps in lifting pollutants from the face.
Routine incorporation
For morning routine:
Use a gentle cleanser to gently cleanse the face as there is no deposit of heavy impurities while sleeping, it makes your skin look fresh and soft in the morning.
- Wash your face with water
- Take some amount of gentle cleanser in your hand
- Apply it to the face by massaging for 30-60 seconds
- Rinse off with water
- Path dry the face with soft towel
- Apply light hydrating moisturizer
- Follow by applying a sunscreen on top to protect skin.
For evening routine
For evening use a regular foaming cleanser to wipe off the buildup of impurities throughout the day.
Final thoughts
Regular cleansers meant for oil cleansing rely on strong surfactants and help in clearing out the buildup of impurities effectively from the skin. Gentle cleansers formulated with mild surfactants lift surface impurities properly from the skin without causing any damage to the skin barrier. It depends on your requirements which one to select.