Cleansers v washing face with soap and water.

[Shamazing]

I washed my make up off at night for years with a fragrance free soap and water, followed by toner and moisturiser. I do the same in the morning.

I was given a fancy cleanser and eye make up remover in a set at Christmas and have been using them since then. I don't see any difference in my skin whatsoever in this time - it's pretty good anyway but certainly no better since using 'proper' cleanser etc. So my question is why it seems to be deemed bad for your skin to just wash make up off your face?

The cleanser did come with some re-useable cotton pads that you wash but even after a short time they are falling apart and would need replacing so I'm not sure that they're much use so there's the waste issue too of using cleansers (for me).

Anyone else find that just soap and water cuts the mustard for them? Is my skin going to just fall off one morning when I'm 70?

I think soap is suppost to be too harsh. However i have slightly oily skin and started using dove on my face. My friend said my skin looked nice

Watching with interest. I use an oil based cleanser but thinking of going back to soap and water and seeing what that does to it

I have extremely dry skin, so cleansing balms are noticeably more comfortable to me than soap or foaming cleansers. If you don't notice a change don't bother!

I went for the Dove hype advert a couple of years ago when they said to use just Dove and see the difference.
Now I know Dove isn't soap exactly, but yes, I saw the difference. Tight drawn skin, spots (am 54) rosacea.

Give me my Liz Earle anyday.

Skin is sooo fickle. If you can get away with soap and water I'd stick to that. I have eczema and combination skin. Soap would be the worst thing for me.

Depends on your skin. If I used any detergent based soaps, my face would be tight and dry as the sahara. I can't strip all the oils away or it will suffer.

I’m currently trying out soap for facial cleansing, having switched to soap from shower gel last year. First triedLush Fresh Farmacy which my skin didn’t get on with, felt right after washing and there were bits in it that irritated my skin on occasion. Now using body shop Himalayan charcoal and skin no longer feels tight and is doing a good job so far, but it’s only been a couple of days. Next one to try will by Avene cold cream soap.

My regular soap is Nivea- maybe will actually try that on my face and see how it goes since it’s pretty mild and not overly fragranced.

It's just box standard fragrance free soap that I've always used. If I didn't moisturise afterwards my skin would feel tight and uncomfortable but it's fine after I slap some moisturiser on. Since I've been using cleanser my face has always felt as if it's not quite clean but I think that might just because I'm so used to soap and water.

I find soap too drying and think that if you have to put moisturiser on straight afterwards to counteract the tightness, it's probably not ideal for you either.

I use an oily makeup remover at night followed by a rinse with a warm flannel, and then another warm water rinse in the morning. That seems to do the job on my middle aged, combination skin.

I use Neutrogena hypoallergenic face bar - it's made for faces. Don't use anything else. Moisturise in the morning with Neutrogena moisturiser for sensitive skin. In recent years had to go from one pump to two - oh the horror! Will rarely moisturise after a shower, only if skin feels dry or I've had a big day in the sun (always use sunscreen).

I find other cleansers leave my skin feeling icky - like there's a film on my face. It feels dirty and not clean.

I've used the Neutrogena face bar for about 30 years, so it's standing up to the test of time.

www.neutrogena.com.au/face/washes-cleansers-and-scrubs/hypoallergenic-cleanser-bar

I’ve always heard from dermatologists that your face shouldn’t be ‘squeaky clean’. I.e. if your face feels tight immediately after washing (before you apply moisturiser) the cleanser you are using is probably too harsh for your skin type.

I find the more I "care for" my skin the worse it gets with breakouts.

Best for me is washing with (very cheap) aqueous cream and water. Soap makes my skin feel tight and sore, fancy cleansers seem to give me spots.

I have dry combination skin and love soap on my body in the shower. This has really improved the condition of my skin with a nice body lotion. I love using soap so I am tempted. I have a bar of korres facial soap in my amazon basket while I um and ar but I do like the creamy cleansers and a hot flannel as well.

I've started to use a Marseille 72% olive soap bar on my face (and body) and it's proving fantastic for my skin. I always follow with a toner and then a moisturiser on an evening and just moisturiser on a morning.

I’m not sure that soap by itself would remove foundation (as opposed to, say, a tinted moisturiser), lipstick, eyeshadow and mascara effectively. Like a pp, I use aqueous cream (SLS free) and water - but all I need to remove is tinted moisturiser and a smudge of eyeshadow.
If I need to remove heavier makeup, I use micellar water (currently Avene) and toner.

I used Clinique soap with water for years without any problems. Removes make-up and isn’t at all drying. I have tried cleansers which were also fine (Avene or Bioderma) but to be honest the plastic/environment issues are taking me back to the Clinique product. The soaps are in a cardboard box and wrapped in paper.

I find other cleansers leave my skin feeling icky - like there's a film on my face. It feels dirty and not clean.

That's how I feel.

I’m not sure that soap by itself would remove foundation

It does if you're using warm water and wash your face properly. When I put toner on afterwards, there's never a trace of anything on the pad afterwards but there often was with the cleanser.

...lipstick, eyeshadow and mascara?

Yes, it all comes off. I don't wear loads of makeup anyway and not waterproof mascara. My lipstick has usually worn off long before bedtime anyway. 😂

cleanser make my skin break out.
I take off eye make up with moisturiser and then wash off make up with soap & water.

I have eczema too and have always thought of soap to be a no no. I use Liz Earle cleanse and polish but am wondering whether or not to go back to use emollient wash like E45 but wonder if it will remove my foundation OK. Does anyone else use this?

I experienced a huge difference between using random skincare from boots then switching to a dedicated routine.

My skin used to be dry and sensitive, eg flaking skin, sore red patches around nose/cheeks etc. Not only did I move my skin to a normal type (completely eradicated dryness and redness flares), my pores are virtually invisible and my complexion is more even, brighter and glowy. I get compliments on my skin all the time, inc from medical professionals.

I think you need to find skincare products that actually suit you/your needs vs products that are trendy. You also need to be consistent with it, eg AM & PM for 6 months. I reckon using soap on your face for an extended period of time will eventually give you tight skin.

@citygirl1961 try lush ultrabland, it’s more waxy and will definitely remove makeup. Ask them for a sample.

I wear a lot of make up so I double cleanse at night. I use a balm to take the make up off and a hot cloth cleanser to clean my face. Every morning I shower and usually use a face wash or hot cloth cleanser in the shower. However a few times lately I've used dove and it's been fine. I'm not sure I would use anything just a cheap soap on my face tho as I'm very dry and I think a lot of face products are designed to be more sensitive around eyes etc. But tbh if its working for you go for it. X

mnthrowaway, do you remove Ultrabland with cotton wool or cloths? Is it OK for sensitive skin too as Lush is a very perfumed shop.