Skin Care
Cleansing is the most important first step in any skincare routine. Washing away oil, dirt and the day’s buildup (makeup, sweat and sunscreen) helps prevent breakouts and keeps your skin healthy. Plus, a clean face is the best base for other skincare products. Foaming cleansers are a popular choice — but what makes these light, bubbly formulas different from other cleansers? Read on to see if foam is the right texture for your skin.
Table of Contents
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What Are Foaming Facial Cleansers?
Benefits Of Foaming Cleansers
Types Of Foaming Cleansers
How To Use A Foaming Cleanser
Is Foaming Cleanser Right For You?
What Are Foaming Facial Cleansers?
Foaming facial cleansers start as a thin liquid and turn into a soft foam when pumped out. They remove excess oil just like gel cleansers, but the bubbles help lift oil, dirt and buildup from deeper in your pores. That makes them great for a thorough clean — especially if you like seeing a lather to feel refreshed.
What sets foaming cleansers apart is the lather. Cream and gel cleansers clean gently and help keep moisture in, but without bubbles they don’t pull oil out as deeply. Gel and cream formulas often suit dry and combination skin, while foaming cleansers generally work best for oilier skin types.
Want to learn more about other cleanser types? Watch our Lead Skin Care Trainer, Natalie Pergar, explain how different formulas suit different skin types. Often the best pick comes down to personal preference.
Benefits Of Foaming Cleansers
Foaming cleansers give a deep clean by lifting debris from pores and removing extra oil and sebum. If you enjoy lather, this may be your ideal cleanser. Gentle foaming cleansers also make a great second step in a double cleanse, removing any oil left by the first step. Many are pH-balanced to clean well without stripping your skin’s natural oils and moisture.
Types Of Foaming Cleansers
Acne-prone skin often benefits from a foaming cleanser because it removes excess oil and sebum. The Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam is a lightweight foam that helps prevent breakouts and clears clogged pores. It combines time-released salicylic acid with a calming herb blend to soothe and tone, leaving skin feeling clean and refreshed.
Another gentle option is the Kombucha Microbiome Foaming Cleanser. Good for all skin types, it removes impurities without over-drying. Kombucha, ginger, white tea and jasmine work with micellar technology to support the skin’s microbiome while keeping the moisture barrier balanced. The microbiome is the community of bacteria on your skin that helps protect it, so keeping it healthy supports a strong skin barrier. The right products help shield skin from environmental stress and keep it looking plump and firm.
One satisfied customer, Brenda, says: “I love the feeling of this foaming cleanser. My skin feels refreshed and clean. I’ve used it daily and my skin feels firmer and more supple, with no dryness — even on my sensitive skin.”
Product Picks
Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam
Unique liquid-to-foam cleanser
$49.00
Kombucha Microbiome Foaming Cleanser
With micellar technology
$46.00
How To Use A Foaming Cleanser
Follow the product instructions, as they can vary, but here’s a simple guide: The pump turns the liquid into a light foam that spreads easily. Wet your face with lukewarm water, pump the foam into your hands, and gently massage it onto face and neck in circular motions. Rinse well and pat dry with a soft towel. Your skin will be ready to absorb the rest of your routine.
Is Foaming Cleanser Right For You?
Foaming cleansers are ideal for oily or combination skin because the suds target oil and daily grime. They’re also good for removing SPF and sweat when you need a stronger clean. You can use them morning and night, though some people prefer a gentler cleanser in the morning and save the deeper foam cleanse for the evening.
Some foaming cleansers can leave dry skin feeling tight, often due to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), a strong foaming agent found in many products. All Eminence cleansers are SLS-free and use gentler, coconut-derived ingredients like Coco Glucoside and Alpha Olefin Sulfonate. These create bubbles that trap and rinse away debris without stripping or drying the skin.
What’s your favorite type of cleanser and why? Do you change cleansers depending on the time of day, climate or season? Share your thoughts in the comments or join the conversation on social media.