11 best facial soaps - gentle cleansing and care

Proper facial skin care involves proper cleansing. One of the best ways to rid your face of dirt and makeup residue is to wash your face with special soap. In addition, this procedure will prepare the skin for the application of care products. After preliminary cleansing, the active ingredients of cosmetics will better penetrate the skin, having a beneficial effect on the epidermis.

What distinguishes facial soap from body cleansing composition is its “soft” composition. In some cases, manufacturers even enrich their products with nutritional components. Thus, in modern conditions it becomes possible to combine the procedure of cleansing and skin care.

Today, there are the following types of soap compositions for cleansing the face, depending on the consistency:

• Helium.
• Cream.
• Solid.
• Oily.

When choosing soap for cleansing your face, you should consider your skin type. So, they distinguish:

• Soap for dry skin.
  Basically, these are compositions with a creamy consistency. Such a product will contain mild moisturizing ingredients, such as petroleum jelly or glycerin.
• Soap for oily skin.
  These formulas are designed to help the epidermis regulate sebum production. Manufacturers often enrich these types of formulations with tea tree oil, calendula extract and other useful natural ingredients.
• Soap for all skin types.
  These, as a rule, are distinguished by a balanced composition and a gentle effect on the skin.

We present the rating of facial soaps 2022. The best 11 products that were selected by our experts based on user reviews and ratings.

Kinds

There are several types of detergents that, one way or another, are used in matters of facial care.

Economic

Laundry soap is used to effectively remove stains from fabrics and to disinfect surfaces and premises. Many people are convinced that you can wash your face with laundry soap. Dermatologists do not agree with them.

Medical use of the drug is considered justified only in certain situations, for example, as a primary treatment of an animal bite site before vaccination with a rabies antidote, that is, as first aid.

Experts do not recommend washing your face with a household bar, since the product contains fats of animal origin. It also contains calcium chloride, which can be very drying.

Degtyarnoe

Tar soap is so called due to the presence of birch tar in an amount of at least 10%. Unlike laundry soap, this type of soap contains components that have a beneficial effect on facial skin and, first of all, problematic skin. These include:

• phytoncides;
• xylene
• phenol;
• resins;
• toluene;
• organic acids;

“Tar” foams well, contains oils, nourishes and moisturizes. It can be a budget alternative to expensive peeling in a beauty salon.

In addition to the fact that the product perfectly cleanses, it stimulates blood supply to the upper layers of the skin of the face. This improves color, improves health, and prevents premature aging.

You should think about buying tar soap if you have wounds and injuries, eczema, dermatological diseases, areas of increased pigmentation, and burns.

In people with dry skin, tar can cause cracks and thinning of the lipid membrane, followed by peeling. Not recommended for those whose skin is very sensitive and prone to contact allergies. Dermatologists often ban the use of the product by pregnant and lactating women.

Systematic use is recommended for people with oily epidermis.

Children's

Face soap "Children's" is traditionally considered useful and harmless. It does not contain parabens, there are no perfumes or emulsifiers. This composition is optimal for sensitive baby skin.

However, experts see the benefit for adults as rather dubious.

The children's remedy does not have any special therapeutic effects. But its undoubted advantage lies in the ability to obtain soft and abundant foam. If you need to rid your face of a layer of makeup and dust, “Baby” liquid soap or a solid bar are quite suitable, but, alas, it is useless for improving health and solving dermatological problems.

Neutral Ph is a plus, but the abundance of glycerin is a relative minus. Therefore, people with oily skin on their face should not frequently wash their face with soap intended for children's hygiene.

For peeling

Washing your face with soap is a controversial concept. This includes both regular washing and some cosmetic procedures at home. One of these types of procedures is soap peeling. It does not injure the epidermis, does not cause irritation or redness. Obviously, deep cleaning will not occur, but superficial cleaning will be carried out.

Soap peeling activates local metabolic processes, exfoliates dead cells, and tidies up the functioning of the sebaceous glands. The procedure is not suitable for daily washing. The frequency is again determined by the type of skin on the face.

For oily skin, it is permissible to carry out 2-3 peels per week, for normal skin - 1-2, for combination skin - once, and for sensitive skin - individually, usually no more than once a week.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline soap is considered a beauty novelty that came to us from Asian countries. There, such facial soap has been used for a long time and has proven itself to be excellent. Black or brown tourmaline soap foam is included in skin care masks. This product is also widely used for hair and skin care.

Factory or handmade tourmaline products always contain tiny crystals of tourmaline, a natural mineral. It is believed to be of volcanic origin.

The product is recommended for washing for owners of all types of epidermis. The soap does not have a distinct odor, the composition is as natural as possible, and therefore the product is suitable even for allergy sufferers and those with sensitive skin.

Natural

Natural soap is suitable for everyone, with the exception of individual intolerance to certain components contained in soap. Most often, manufacturers add olive, coconut, palm or ricin oils to such products. You can use this product every day without the risk of injury to the outer lipid layer.

Natural soap rarely has a bright color; usually the shades are close to pastel. It does not have a pungent odor. The oil content is at the level of 2-3%. To wash your face, you can use both natural factory soap and homemade handmade soap.

It is recommended to apply the product to the initially cleansed epidermis with light massage movements. Experts advise washing your face with soap as often as usual, but not more than once a day. The cost of such a product is higher, but natural Aleppo or Turkish olive soap will bring much more benefits.

Which soap is better to buy

The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing soap is its composition. The less artificial substances it contains, the better. Synthetic components are added to improve consumer properties, but can have a negative effect on the skin: dry, cause irritation or allergies.

The smell of soap should not be too strong, and the color should not be bright. This indicates a large number of synthetic dyes and flavors in the composition.

It is also better to avoid cheap animal fats. Choose soaps with pure plant ingredients such as coconut, olive or other oils. For example:

• Tea tree oil soap has an antibacterial effect and is ideal for those with oily skin.
• Almond and argan oils moisturize the dermis.
• Sea buckthorn improves epithelial regeneration.

Surfactants of petroleum origin have good cleaning properties and provide abundant foam when lathering. However, they shift the acid-base balance of soap to the acidic side, which leads to a negative skin reaction. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) damage the upper layers of the epithelium and weaken their natural protective barrier.

The synthetic antibacterial component triclosan destroys not only harmful but also beneficial bacteria. It is better to choose formulations with natural antiseptics.

Contraindications

Any person should not wash his face with soap too often, and some people should not use it at all. Contraindications for use are:

• too sensitive and dry skin;
• presence of a ban from a dermatologist or cosmetologist;
• peeling, microcracks, jams and other wounds;
• rosacea;
• numerous wrinkles;
• extensive inflammation;
• narrowed pores;
• rehabilitation period after serious cosmetic procedures.

Selection rules

There are the following rules for choosing soap for oily skin:

1. Good soap should not contain artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
2. It is best to give preference to trusted manufacturers of cosmetic soap, or prepare it yourself from natural ingredients.
3. Soap for washing should not contain alkali, as it leads to dry skin and its early aging.

4. If after washing with soap your skin feels tight, this means it is drying it out. It is better to refuse such a remedy.

5. A good soap for washing should moisturize the skin, cleanse pores, relieve inflammation and soften the epidermis. It should be gentle and not damage the skin.

Cosmetologists' opinion

Most cosmetologists have a positive attitude towards the use of soap for oily skin, but only if it does not contain harmful additives.

At the same time, experts still advise not to use only soap, because by its nature it damages the skin in one way or another.

Instead, you can use “softer” products in the form of a gel for washing.

Oily skin is a disadvantage, but not a death sentence, since with the help of modern cosmetics every woman can achieve the desired skin condition. Despite this, it is recommended to consult a cosmetologist before trying different types of soap on yourself.

Rating of the best

If a long search for the optimal facial product is not part of your plans, pay attention to the rating of the best skin care products with the safest composition and high efficiency.

Table 2. Best soap suitable for washing your face.

The list can be supplemented with other natural remedies, for example, “Aleppo extra” and Turkish. This soap will be an excellent choice for those who suffer from hyperfunction of the sebaceous glands.

If acne appears, what should you wash your face with?

Soap is a cosmetic product that contains about 10% active ingredient. The remaining components are oils, scrubbing particles (if it is intended for peeling), moisturizing and softening substances. The most popular types of soap for acne-prone skin:

• Degtyarnoe. It contains birch tar (about 10%), which contains many useful components (phenols, guaiacol, cresol, etc.). Tar soap has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antioxidant effects, so it is often recommended for use by people with problem skin. It penetrates deeply into the pores and helps cleanse them and remove sebaceous plugs. But it is not suitable for very dry, thin and sensitive skin, as it can cause severe irritation.119
• Salicylic. This cosmetic soap contains salicylic acid, which has a number of beneficial properties. It helps cleanse pores of impurities and sebaceous plugs, and remove dead epidermal cells. Salicylic soap, unlike aggressive cleansers, is gentle on the skin. It also helps to destroy pathogenic microflora, which reduces inflammation and reduces the amount of acne.141
• Bornoe. Soap with boric acid helps relieve skin irritation and redness and speed up healing. It also helps reduce sebum production and kill bacteria that cause inflammation. After washing with boron soap, there is no feeling of tightness, since it does not dry it out (due to the moisturizing components included in the composition).142
• Sernoye. Due to the presence of sulfuric acid in the composition, such soap has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic effects. It dissolves sebum well and removes impurities from pores. Soap with 3% sulfuric acid is usually recommended for deep cleansing of pores, reducing inflammation, and smoothing the epidermis. A more concentrated composition (10%) can be used to improve the condition of the skin with fungal diseases, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne.143

Sometimes manufacturers use a special coloring pigment to give color to a cosmetic product. If you are hypersensitive to these components, as well as to perfume fragrances, you should avoid such products.

Combination skin care

This type is quite common. The skin condition is characterized by the presence of areas of thickening with dilated openings of the sebaceous glands and increased secretion of sebum. But in people with combination skin, manifestations are observed mainly in the central part of the face and the T-zone. While on the side surfaces of the face and skin of the neck, the areas are dry.

Against the background of this type of skin, there is a risk of developing dermatoses. The basic rule for using cosmetics for combination skin is to reduce oiliness (not forgetting dry areas), to ensure the prevention of infection and inflammatory processes.

The algorithm of action for care is similar to that which should be followed for oily skin. But in this case, you will have to have two sets of products - to care for dry skin in the summer you will need separate cosmetics. Or you can use formulations labeled “for combination skin,” but they are less effective.

Regardless of the type of skin, makeup removal is a mandatory ritual before bed. Under no circumstances should you leave decorative cosmetics on your face overnight!

How to use

Soap can be used not only for washing, but also for creating other cosmetic products. For example, if you dilute it with a herbal decoction, you will get a full-fledged facial gel. Another way to use it is to beat a small piece with a little water into a foam. It is added to homemade masks, scrubs, peelings. When the product is combined with medicinal ointments, an antiseptic is obtained. They can be used to locally treat problem areas (pimples, blackheads) and leave overnight.

It is not recommended to use any soap constantly. It is best to apply two to five times a week, depending on your skin type. If it is oily or mixed, then you can wash it often. This will help dry out rashes and get rid of oily sheen. Those with dry sensitive skin should use soap extremely carefully and rarely. It should contain many natural ingredients and a minimum of alkali.

As a rule, soap is used periodically, twice a day: morning and evening. After washing your face, it is highly recommended to apply moisturizer to your face. Under no circumstances should you use it to remove eye makeup; this can cause serious harm. It is better to store the product in a closed container. If it is left in the open air, it may lose its beneficial properties.

Is there an alternative

Today, the world of cosmetology offers women and men who want to get rid of oily skin a wide range of cleansers.

As a good alternative to soap, you can use all kinds of gels that will deeply cleanse the skin and give it the desired matte finish.

For oily but at the same time sensitive skin, you can use milk for washing. It will enrich the skin with vitamins and help gently remove makeup residue.

In addition, all kinds of scrubs and tonics can be used as additional cleansing. The main thing is to choose the right ones according to their composition and age (some scrubs and masks can be successfully made at home).

What is facial soap

This is a special cleanser for washing. Compared to ordinary, it contains significantly less alkali (or none at all) and aggressive components. The composition must contain sufficient quantities of moisturizing, gently cleansing, caring substances that have a beneficial effect on the epidermis. Face wash soap performs the following functions:

1. Fights inflammation. Tar soap, household soap, and antibacterial soap help especially well against acne on the face. Washing is recommended only during exacerbations.
2. Moisturizes. This effect is exerted only by varieties made using exclusive formulas with the addition of lanolin, glycerin, and plant extracts.
3. Dries it out. This effect is necessary for those with oily skin. The soap will eliminate shine, help get rid of blackheads, rashes, and tighten pores.
4. Whitens. Some varieties have a lightening effect.

Soap intended for washing the face should not remove the natural protective covering. On the contrary, the product is intended to protect against the possible negative effects of tap water. It is based not on alkali, but on plant-based detergent ingredients, for example, coconut or palm oil. Products for oily skin should contain ingredients with antibacterial properties. Sandalwood essential oil, chamomile extract, and calendula are suitable. If the skin is dry, add softening ingredients: cocoa, almond, and shea butter.

Which soap to choose for problem skin?

Natural sulfur soap is used in the fight against acne, increased oiliness, and various irritations. The sulfur, salicylic acid and beta acids contained in it, when used regularly, have an effect on 143:

• inflammatory processes;
• redness;
• peeling;
• clogged pores.

Tar soap also improves the condition of skin with rashes, and salicylic soap has an exfoliating effect. Boric acid, which contains mink oil and a small amount of boric acid, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. You can find these products at the pharmacy142,143.