# Do you use a separate cleanser for your face than for your body? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-separate-cleanser-for-your-face-than-for-your-body/511928 "2009-09-29T00:34:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-separate-cleanser-for-your-face-than-for-your-body/511928/41 "2009-09-29T21:02:21Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > How do you keep clean if you don’t use soap, though? I remember learning in science class that soap binds to the oils on our body–otherwise with water it just slides around. I feel so oily if I skip a shower. Granted, I shower quite a lot, but I’m fastidious. Same with the hair washing. People always say that it’s “better” to wash it less often but whenever I’ve tried doing it only three or four times a week, it’s pretty gross–you can pretty much see the oil on my hair. Well, some people are oilier than others. 😉 Seriously, when I was younger (late teens-early 20’s), my hair was so oily I could wash it in the morning and it looked/felt dirty by bedtime! Now that I’m approaching my late 40’s, though, it’s a different story altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-separate-cleanser-for-your-face-than-for-your-body/511928/42 "2009-09-29T23:50:19Z")
I use Irish Spring for shoulders down and St. Ives Apricot Scrub for my face. The rough face wash makes my morning shave easier. ---
**Author:** ![inschos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b77776/32.png) [@inschos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inschos)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-separate-cleanser-for-your-face-than-for-your-body/511928/43 "2009-09-30T00:25:56Z")
It’s generally o.k. to use something formulated for your face on your body, but not the other way around. The skin on our face is much thinnner and more sensitive than the skin on our bodies. That being said, if using body soap or the equivalent on your face is working for you, no harm done. However, if you are using something for your body (on your face) and you are not happy with your facial skin (dryness, oiliness, acne, etc.), you may be surprised what a proper facial cleanser can do for you. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-separate-cleanser-for-your-face-than-for-your-body/511928/44 "2009-09-30T00:33:59Z")
I’m very oily anyway - I do like the original Neutrogena soap on my face (I love the smell) and Irish Spring body wash (‘manly, yes, but I like it, too!’). ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-separate-cleanser-for-your-face-than-for-your-body/511928/45 "2009-09-30T00:44:10Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > I don’t really wash my face, ever. I know, I know, but it works for me. > [@Athena](#): > > Same here, except I don’t wear makeup at all. Aw, I was all prepared to say, “So I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t ever wash her face,” and now I’ve been scooped. 😛 I shower (almost) every day, and whatever water runs over my face as I’m rinsing my hair is the only washing my face gets. I do have some occasional minor acne, but mostly my face has a very nice look and feel. I have had more serious acne outbreaks, but only on my chest and my back, where I do use soap (hmmm…maybe it’s time for a change). ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-separate-cleanser-for-your-face-than-for-your-body/511928/46 "2009-09-30T00:47:56Z")
Definitely different cleansers for face and body. Different needs, different products. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-separate-cleanser-for-your-face-than-for-your-body/511928/47 "2009-09-30T11:03:45Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > One of the very worst cases of acne I’ve ever had was after a facial that I received as a gift. They put all kinds of crap on my face, and I had horrible acne for 2 weeks afterward. Nice to see it happened to someone else … i absolutely can not wear makeup - even the wicked expensive hypoallergenic stuff. I react to goop badly enough that sunscreen and moisturizing lotion causes zits on me. Hats with shading brims are my friend… I should add that to the archaic clothing thread … lovely broadbrimmed hats with voluminous silky scarves. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-separate-cleanser-for-your-face-than-for-your-body/511928/48 "2009-09-30T20:09:05Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > [slight hijack]might I suggest Neutrogena? None of the fancy-schmancy new stuff Neutrogena has come out with (not that there’s anything wrong with them) but plain ol’ classic Neutrogena bar soap. I had the same problem as you when I was in my early 20’s. The Clearasil cleared up my zits, but dried out my skin so much that it was literally flaking off my face continually. Then I read some good reviews of Neutrogena soap in a women’s magazine, decided to try it, and loved it. I used it exclusively (on my face) until I got old enough to need a moisturizing routine.[/sh] I will take your suggestion and run with it :D. I haven’t gotten to the flaking point of dryness yet, but it just feels really _tight_. Like someone’s grabbing the skin on my face and forcing it back. Not a comfortable sensation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-a-separate-cleanser-for-your-face-than-for-your-body/511928.md?page=2)