Foaming cleansers are especially beneficial for oily skin because they effectively remove excess oil, makeup, and impurities that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. The foaming action creates a lather that helps to deeply cleanse the skin, providing a "squeaky clean" feel that many with oily skin prefer.

Removing heavy Halloween or stage makeup can be challenging, but foaming cleansers can be highly effective when used as part of a double-cleansing routine. Start with an oil-based cleanser to dissolve the thick, oil-based pigments and waterproof formulas common in costume makeup. Follow up with a foaming cleanser to remove any lingering residue and deeply cleanse the skin, ensuring all makeup, sunscreen, and environmental impurities are gone. Look for foaming cleansers with gentle yet powerful surfactants like the Pavise Amino Acid Power Wash or Obagi CLENZIderm MD Daily Care Foaming Cleanser or SkinCeuticals Replenishing Cream Cleanser.

Using foaming cleansers more than once a day can be too harsh for most skin types, unless you have extremely oily skin. Overuse of vigorously
foaming cleansers can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, and sensitivity such as stinging, redness or rashes.  For this reason, it's recommended to use a foaming cleanser only once a day, typically at night, to remove the day’s buildup of makeup, sunscreen, and environmental pollutants.

Most skin types should use two different cleansers in your skin care routine. For oily skin types, a salicylic acid-based cleanser in the
morning helps control oil production and prevents clogged pores. Salicylic acid penetrates pores, clearing excess oil and reducing inflammation. At night, a foaming cleanser works to clean away sunscreen, sebum, dirt, pollution, and makeup. Incorporating these two types of cleansers in your routine is important for most oily skin
types.

Foaming cleansers can sometimes be too harsh for dry, sensitive skin types and rosacea-prone skin. Never use foaming cleansers on areas of skin
where you have eczema. If you have rosacea, opt for a soothing cleanser with mild surfactants. If you have dry skin, choose a nonfoaming cleanser such as a creamy cleanser or cleansing oil.

If you have dry skin and prefer a foaming cleanser- look in our collection on nonfoaming cleansers for products that say they are foaming. That collection has much more gentle cleansers. Some have a weak foam like the Revision Gentle Foaming Cleanser which has mild foaming and is good for dry skin types that want a foaming face wash.