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Looking for the right face wash for your skin is not easy. People can recommend great products, but if you’re still struggling to tame acne in your 30s and their only concern is, say, trying to get a brighter complexion, their recommendations won’t be of much help.

With that in mind, as well as the effects we can probably all expect from the upcoming cold weather months, I spoke with a dermatologist about the type of ingredients that are good for specific skin types when shopping for moisturizing face washes. Shari Sperling, DO. of Sperling Dermatology in New Jersey, shared a lot of insight.

To start, she explained that some harmful ingredients to avoid in cleansers, no matter your skin type, are a couple of the most common.

“Alcohol and fragrance can be good for when in a rush and good for a quick cleanse, but they can be irritating to skin,” she shared.

Nourishing cleansers are a must though, especially for individuals with dry skin. Dr. Sperling recommends ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides” to hydrate the skin. She also encourages those with parched skin to reach for thick, rich washes.

“Cream or milky cleansers are good for soothing the skin,” she said. “The lactic acid removes dead skin cells and the proteins and fat will plump the skin.”

As for those with oily skin, she says oil-free cleansers are your best bet, as well as alcohol-free toners and scrubs. However, you should only exfoliate with the latter product once a week. If you use a scrub more than once, you risk doing more damage than good.

“They will strip the face of too much oil and will irritate skin otherwise. This is true for all skin types,” she said. “I tell my patients that sometimes doing too much can be harmful to your skin and sometimes less is better.”

Have sensitive skin? Soothing products are the way to go. According to Dr. Sperling, you should seek out washes that have “calming ingredients like aloe or chamomile and green tea.”

As for those with skin that’s vulnerable to blemishes, salicylic acid can help you to see the changes your face has been yearning for.

“It helps clean out pores, and helps treat and prevent acne,” she said.

Now that you’ve been made aware of what some of your options are, you know what to look for on the back of the products you pick up at the store. And while it often takes some time and consistent use to see improvements in your skin when you try a new face wash, which can lead to slight irritation for some, Dr. Sperling says if your skin becomes highly aggravated by anything you try, chuck it.

“If your skin becomes red, itchy, scaly, or dry from using a face wash, that might not be the one for you,” she said.

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