Every organic face cleanser here was chosen on that basis. What it removes matters less than what it leaves behind.

The selection covers gels, foams, creams, oils and balms, because skin that suits one rarely suits all five. What you need depends on what you are removing.

Cleansers by Skin Type

Dry to very dry. The PCA Creamy Cleanser is formulated for skin that tightens the moment it meets water. Cream cleansers clean by dissolving rather than lifting, which is why they suit skin with little oil to spare.

Normal to combination. The Skin Skulpt Pure Prep Cleanser, a gentle foaming cleanser, and the Orgaid Gentle Cleanser. The Starseed Purifying Foam Cleanser covers the same ground if you prefer a foam.

Oily and congested. The DNA Skin Citrus Burst Gel Cleanser. Gels remove more surface oil without the stripping a foaming sulphate would cause.

Acne-prone. The PCA BPO 5% Cleanser contains benzoyl peroxide at five per cent. Use it on alternate days to begin, and expect it to bleach towels and pillowcases, because it will.

Wants exfoliation built in. The PCA Facial Wash exfoliates gently with lactic acid, and Osmosis Purify is a gentle resurfacing cleanser. The DNA Skin MediClear Natural Cleansing Pads and Phyto-Lipid Hydrating Scrub cover the same job in different formats.

Is a cleanser the same as a face wash? Broadly yes, though the terms carry a habit. "Face wash" usually implies a foaming product you rinse. "Cleanser" covers everything, including creams, oils and balms that may not foam at all. The word tells you less than the texture does.

How to use one. Lukewarm water, never hot. Thirty to sixty seconds of massage rather than a quick pass, because contact time is what actually does the work. Pat dry, and apply the rest of your routine while skin is still slightly damp.

Oils, Balms and Double Cleansing

Orgaid Cleansing Oil is the organic cleansing oil here. PCA Daily Cleansing Oil removes makeup and hydrates as it works. Osmosis Lift Away is the cleansing balm.

Oil or balm? An oil is liquid in the bottle and spreads faster, which suits daily use and larger areas. A balm is solid until it meets skin, melts on contact, and gives more control around the eyes. Balms travel better. Oils are quicker. Neither is more effective than the other.

Should you double cleanse? If you wear sunscreen or makeup, yes, in the evening only. Oil or balm first to dissolve what is oil-based, then a water-based cleanser to remove what is left. Morning needs one cleanse at most, and for very dry skin, water alone.

Double cleansing every morning and evening is a common way to end up with a compromised barrier while believing you are being thorough.

Choose this if: You wear sunscreen daily, makeup regularly, or both.

Look at this instead: If you wear neither, a single gentle cleanser is enough and the second step adds nothing.

Toners

PCA Hydrating Toner. Removes residual dirt and oil while adding water back. The closest thing to what most people mean when they say toner.

Orgaid Balancing Toner. An organic face toner, hydrating and balancing, for skin that runs oily in some places and dry in others.

PCA Nutrient Toner. An enzymatic exfoliating toner that refines pores and works on complexion clarity. This is the one to reach for if dullness is the concern.

Do you need a toner if you use a serum? Not strictly. A serum will deliver actives more effectively than a toner will. What a toner adds is a hydrated surface for that serum to land on, and actives absorb measurably better into damp skin than dry. It is an amplifier rather than a requirement.

Heather has written in more detail about when to use toner and where it belongs in a routine. That post is worth reading if you are still deciding whether the step earns its place.

FAQ

What does a toner do for your face?

It removes what your cleanser left behind and leaves the skin hydrated, so whatever you apply next absorbs better. Modern toners are not the astringents they once were. Depending on formula, they can hydrate, balance oil, or exfoliate gently.

Do you rinse off toner?

No. Toner is left on the skin and absorbs. Apply it to a cotton pad or clean hands, press into damp skin, then follow with serum and moisturizer while it is still slightly wet. Rinsing removes the point of using it.

Is a cleanser the same as a face wash?

Broadly yes, though the terms carry a habit. "Face wash" usually implies a foaming product you rinse. "Cleanser" covers everything, including creams, oils and balms that may not foam at all. The texture tells you more than the name.

How do you use a cleanser properly?

Lukewarm water, never hot. Massage for thirty to sixty seconds rather than a quick pass, because contact time does the work. Pat dry rather than rubbing, and apply the next step while skin is still slightly damp.

What is the difference between a cleansing oil and a cleansing balm?

Texture and control. An oil is liquid and spreads faster, suiting daily use over larger areas. A balm is solid until it meets skin, melts on contact, and gives more control around the eyes. Balms travel better, oils are quicker.

Should you double cleanse?

If you wear sunscreen or makeup, yes, in the evening only. Oil or balm first to dissolve what is oil-based, then a water-based cleanser for the rest. Mornings need one cleanse at most. Double cleansing twice daily compromises the barrier.

Do you need a toner if you use a serum?

Not strictly. A serum delivers actives more effectively than a toner will. What a toner adds is a hydrated surface for that serum to land on, and actives absorb measurably better into damp skin. It amplifies rather than replaces.