The best face wash

If you’re not someone who is into lengthy skincare routines, that’s okay. But taking steps to care for your skin will make all the difference in the future, and it doesn’t need to be costly or time-consuming. Our faces come into contact with a lot throughout the day: harsh elements, make-up, germs and bacteria. To help keep your pores unclogged, a good face wash is all you need and we’ve picked out some of the best face wash on the market that we’re sure can find a place in your skincare routine, no matter how minimal it may be.  

Face wash is a great way for both men and women to ward off bad skin, minimise pores and give you a healthy radiant glow. You can get all types of face wash including those that remove make-up at the end of the day, those that rejuvenate tired skin and those that work as a scrub to exfoliate your skin. Before you jump right in, it is important to know what skin type you have and find the right type of face wash for you. 

The trickiest of them all is sensitive skin. It can be incredibly difficult to find a face wash that agrees with you, and unfortunately it can often be a case of trial and error with products.  However, to guide you in the right direction, avoiding any products with alcohol in and leaning towards products with natural, soothing ingredients such as aloe and chamomile is a safe bet. The same goes for dry skin. Alcohol can dry out the face so opting for a face wash that is oil based or includes vitamin E, will help rehydrate and moisturise your skin. 

Combination and natural skin types are pretty much lucky enough to try out whatever they fancy and see what works for them. If you have acne-prone skin, you may want to look for a face wash that has antibacterial properties to help clear the skin and keep you looking fresh faced. 

1. Cerave Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser

A moisturising facial cleanser for sensitive skin

Specifications

Best for: Sensitive skin
Oil free: Yes
Type: Cleanser

Reasons to buy

+
Kind to skin
+
Provides healthy glow

Reasons to avoid

-
A little pricey 

For those who have extra sensitive skin, this facial cleanser is the best option for you. It is recommended by dermatologists as a gentle cleanser that does not irritate your skin and works to reduce shine and acne. Although pricey, it comes in an easy-to-use pump where a little bit goes a long way. 

2. St Ives Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub

Unclog your pores for a fresh face every morning

Specifications

Best for: Minimising pores
Oil free: Yes
Type: Scrub

Reasons to buy

+
Rejuvenating 
+
Contains salicylic acid

Reasons to avoid

-
A little harsh on the skin 

St Ives Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub is an invigorating face wash that will wake you up in the mornings and leave you feeling refreshed. Its key ingredients work to fight blemishes and leave you with clearer looking skin. If you have particularly bad acne, we would recommend using something a little gentler than a scrub, but for those who simply want to prevent and ward off spots, this is an excellent face wash that smells amazing, too! 

3. L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Charcoal Face Wash

Rid your face of blackheads with this natural charcoal face wash

Specifications

Best for: Blackheads
Oil free: No
Type: Charcoal wash

Reasons to buy

+
Removes stubborn dirt
+
A little goes a long way

Reasons to avoid

-
Can stain your clothes 

Charcoal is all the rage at the moment and has been praised by the masses for its healing properties. This men’s face wash uses activated charcoal to provide a deep clean of your pores and leave your face feeling fresh. Some love it, and some think it’s a fad, but for the price, we think it’s worth a shot. It’s great for guys who work outside all day and will leave you feeling extra fresh, just be careful though, as the charcoal can stain your clothing. 

4. This Works Light Time Cleanse and Glow

Keep your skin radiant with this vitamin-fuelled face wash

Specifications

Best for: Tired skin
Oil free: No
Type: Cleanser

Reasons to buy

+
Keeps skin looking young
+
Packed with vitamins

Reasons to avoid

-
 Expensive  

The harsh elements can take their toll on the skin, with the sun, wind and cold climate causing dryness and fatigue. If you feel your face needs perking up, the Light Time Cleanse and Glow from This Works is a great solution. It’s expensive, but if you take your skincare seriously, the vitamins packed into this face wash will work wonders as part of an anti-ageing routine. If you have sensitive skin, it is recommended to limit application of this product to 1 minute to avoid irritation. 

5. Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control Daily Scrub

Keep skin clear and prevent breakouts with this blemish-fighting formula

Specifications

Best for: Breakouts
Oil free: Yes
Type: Microbead scrub

Reasons to buy

+
Clears spots
+
Gentle scrub

Reasons to avoid

-
Not eco friendly 

If you want an exfoliator but think the St Ives one sounds too harsh for your skin, give the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Scrub a try. It contains microbeads which work to gently exfoliate your skin, which isn’t as harsh as other face scrubs on the market. Some think this face wash is more of a cream scrub and therefore not what they were looking for, but this will help to unclog pores and reduce redness in spots without drying out or damaging the skin. 

6. Simple Kind to Skin Facial Wash Moisturising

Rehydrate your skin with this moisturising foam

Specifications

Best for: Dry skin
Oil free: No
Type: Foam

Reasons to buy

+
100% soap free
+
Packed with multi-vitamins

Reasons to avoid

-
Not helpful for acne 

If you suffer badly from dry skin, Simple products will be your new best friend. This face wash is incredibly basic yet gentle and will give your skin all the hydration it needs. Some users found this product didn’t help with problematic skin, but if you’re hypersensitive or allergic to any soap, you can trust that Simple won’t cause any irritation. It’s also incredibly cheap and easy to use , so there is no excuse not to incorporate it into your skincare routine. 

7. Clinique Liquid Facial Soap

A cleanser to prep the skin morning and night

Specifications

Best for: Oily skin
Oil free: Yes
Type: Cleanser

Reasons to buy

+
Retains skins moisture
+
Convenient pump 

Reasons to avoid

-
On the pricier side 

Clinique is renowned for its skincare products and this Liquid Face Soap is praised by users for its ability to clear, hydrate and moisturise the skin. It’s a little expensive, but if you’re serious about your skincare routine and have had trouble finding a product to suit your skin type, this is a great option to try. They offer different types: mild and extra mild, so if you have particularly sensitive skin, go for the extra mild and for those who want to beat the shine, opt for the oily version to prep your skin before your beauty regime.