Is a face cleanser better than bar soap?

If you're new to skincare, it may be a surprise to learn that there’s actually a correct way to wash your face — and it involves multiple steps. Simply splashing water on your face and rubbing a cleanser or soap on your skin isn’t enough to clean your face thoroughly. And, depending on your skin type, you may need specific products and routines to ensure you get it right.

But, with so many skincare products available, it can be difficult to know what will work best for you. To try and keep things simple, many people stick to bar soaps and facial cleansers, but there are a few differences between the two that may not be obvious. We spoke with dermatologists and other skincare experts to gather all the details on face cleansers versus bar soap, as well as the best products for each skin type.

Before delving into the similarities and differences between bar soap and face cleansers, it’s important to establish the basics of proper face washing.

Our experts suggest you wash your face twice daily with a step-by-step skincare routine using your hands. Ian Michael Crumm, celebrity esthetician and co-host of the BeautyCurious Podcast, explains, "Using hands is generally recommended as it is gentler on the skin. Washcloths can be too harsh and may irritate the skin."

Prior to washing your face, however, it’s important to wash your hands with soap — your hands carry bacteria that can be easily spread by touching your face. Once that’s done, it’s recommended that you wet your face with lukewarm water and apply a non-alcoholic facial cleanser using your fingertips. Then, rinse your face with lukewarm water and pat it dry with a small towel; rubbing your face with a towel instead of patting can lead to irritation.

It's also important to remember that different skin types may require different ingredients to work effectively. Dr. Christopher Chu, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist, and the co-founder of Pure Dermatology, explains the variations of facial cleansers. “Cleansers can help address specific skin concerns like acne,” Dr. Chu says. “Cleansers can come in various forms including gels, creams, foams, and oils, and most facial cleansers are designed to be gentler because facial skin is more sensitive and delicate than body skin.”

It’s essential to thoroughly cleanse your skin at night to remove dirt, oil, and makeup. This can help prevent clogged pores and breakouts, allowing for proper skin repair and regeneration while you sleep.

There's some overlap between cleansers and bar soaps, but the formulation is where they start to differ. According to Dr. Chu, cleansers are often formulated to be more hydrating and moisturizing for the skin with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides, whereas bar soaps are designed to cleanse the skin of oil, debris, and pollutants — and bar soaps generally don’t have the same moisturizing ingredients as cleansers.

“Bar soap can be harsh and strip the skin of natural oil,” explains Andrei Gherghina, a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, cosmetic injector, and cofounder of Oceans Dermatology. “It's not ideal to use regular bar soap on the face as it can be too harsh and drying for the delicate facial skin.”

Compared to bar soaps, facial cleansers are softer and designed to clean the skin without stripping it of its natural moisture. These facial cleansers are often pH-balanced to prevent potential skin barrier damage and can contain beneficial ingredients for specific skin concerns, such as acne, dryness, or aging. Remember, your skin is constantly exposed to external contaminants and stressors (like dirt, sweat, and UV rays); therefore, appropriate cleansing is essential to properly remove any unwanted debris or excess oils and maintain skin health.

Your body naturally produces sebum, an oily substance of fat molecules and squalene. Sebum moisturizes your skin by locking in moisture and protecting it from harmful UV radiation. However, sebum is mainly concentrated on your face and scalp. While it can benefit your skin, maintaining a healthy balance of sebum is important — having too much can result in oily skin or acne, but having too little can result in dry, itchy, flaky, or irritated skin. The need for a proper balance of sebum is where buying products for your specific skin type becomes of particular importance (and we’ll cover those in the following section).

“Facial cleansers often contain ingredients meant to moisturize, nourish, and gently remove dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping the skin of its natural oils,” Crumm explains. “Bar soaps may contain harsh detergents that are effective for cleansing the body but are too harsh for the face. Bar soap can be drying and disrupting to the skin's natural pH balance, leading to irritation and other skin issues.”

The experts we spoke with suggest looking for certain ingredients in facial cleansers to benefit your skin. These ingredients include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid. Let's take a closer look at these ingredients and how they can improve skin health.

While these ingredients can offer benefits to your skin, there are others that can harm your skin — and these outcomes depend on your specific skin type. Here’s a quick rundown on what those with various skin types should avoid or limit in facial cleansers and other skincare products.

Dr. Michael I Jacobs, board-certified dermatologist and Associate Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College, suggests that those just starting out with their skincare routine look for facial cleansers with ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid. “For the best results, opt for a gentle cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type,” Dr. Jacobs says. “While all cleansers may clean your skin, ensure to use one specifically formulated for your skin type to see the best results.”

To help you figure out your skin type, the chart below provides insights into their unique characteristics and details the ideal cleanser for each type.

Dermatologists advise starting your skincare routine with a cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen every morning. Sunscreens (of at least SPF 30) can benefit your skin by protecting it from UVA and UVB rays. These rays can cause skin cancer, wrinkles, dark spots, and sunburns. So, apply sunscreen every morning to keep your skin healthy and protected, and reapply every two hours.

To take care of your skin at night, removing any dirt or product buildup that accumulates on your skin during the day is important. Additionally, it’s recommended that you moisturize your skin to keep it hydrated throughout the night. You can use products similar to your morning routine and incorporate a toner, face oil, and acne treatment for additional effects on your skin, depending on your goals. For example, a vitamin C serum stimulates collagen production and promotes cell turnover, which can help reduce signs of aging.