Cleansers your face will love

The rules of good cleansing

✢ NO SOAP – the pH level of traditional hand soap bars is so high, it can dry out your skin and damage the moisture barrier, leaving you with a tight, uncomfortable feeling.

✢ COOL DOWN – as tempting as it is to cleanse with a steaming washcloth, it will strip the skin’s natural oils and damage the moisture barrier, leaving your skin dry and irritable. Stick with lukewarm water to cleanse your skin.

✢ AVOID WIPES – there’s no denying the convenience of a face wipe, but they are bad for the environment and can drag your skin. If you need to use them, choose Simple Kind to Skin Biodegradable Face Wipes, £3.65, which break down naturally. Even the outer packaging is recyclable.

✢ DO THE DOUBLE – when you wear sunscreen and make-up, double cleanse. Once clean, your skin can absorb the creams you apply after better, making it more receptive to anti-ageing ingredients. For your first cleanse, use an oil-based cleanser or micellar water to remove make-up, followed by a second cleanse with a gentle cream cleanser.

But if your skin is sensitive, one pass with a gentle cleanser will be enough.

Best for dry skin

Cleansing balms will blast through make-up while also conditioning skin. Revolution Skincare x Sali Hughes Butterclean Makeup Meltdown Cleansing Balm, £15, revolutionbeauty.com, is a silky butter, enriched with skin-softening ingredients like jojoba oil, squalane and hyaluronic acid. Massage across skin, then add a few drops of water to transform it into a milk that removes make-up and impurities, leaving a feeling of softness.

Best for oily skin

Foaming cleansers are designed to lift excess oil, make-up and dirt from your skin. Witch Purifying Foaming Cleanser, £4, amazon.co.uk, is a light and airy foam that benefits from added witch hazel, revered for its abilities to balance oil production and shrink the look of pores.

Best for make-up wearers

Applied to a cotton