Bar Soap and Liquid Cleansers
Most bar soaps are too harsh to use on your face because they contain ingredients that may irritate and dry the skin. Liquid facial cleansers or foaming products are less harsh. Some even moisturize your face as they clean.
Aesthetic dermatologist Amy Derick, MD, advises women to use a liquid facial cleanser containing ceramides, lipids that help skin retain moisture.
If you insist on bar soap, avoid soaps with sodium lauryl sulfate which can dry skin. Instead, look for moisturizing soaps with ingredients such as glycerin and plant-based oils.
If you have oily skin or acne, use a cleanser containing salicylic acid, which removes dead cells from skin, or benzoyl peroxide, which helps unclog pores. This may prevent further breakouts too.