How to Choose Your Perfect Cleanser Depending on How Lazy You Are

Sometimes, I just CBF with my skincare. 

Yep, I said it. (Sorry to the chorus of products in my skincare cabinet right now. It’s not you, it’s me.)

But no matter how tantalisingly close I get to recklessly abandoning my skincare routine altogether, there is one rule I try very, very hard not to break. And that’s to always take my makeup before I go to bed.

Break this rule and your skin won’t thank you. Your bedding won’t thank you. And you sure as hell won’t thank yourself when you sleepily look in the mirror the next morning and get the fright of your life thanks to the mascara/eyeliner/glitter/lipstick smeared all over your face.

To avoid all of the above, keep reading to find the very best face cleanser to suit your level of CBF-ness.

A facial cleanser is part of the most bare-minimum skincare regimen, and should be done by all ages and all skin types.

Even if you don’t wear makeup, you still need something to take the dirt, sweat, SPF, and general day off.

You’ve likely seen the meme about your partner going missing, and after a night of searching, you come home... and still do your skincare regimen. The takeaway? When it comes to cleansing, there’s (practically) no excuse.

And now, even more so. Because I’m about to recommend the best facial cleanser in Australia for you, no matter where you are sitting on the CBF scale of face washing.

See said very scientific CBF scale below:

Now, onto the products.

MAJOR CBF - Paul Mescal from Normal People could knock on my door and I wouldn’t get up to answer.

I’ve tried many and this is THE best micellar water. A step up from makeup wipes (for which we abide by Caroline Hirons’ rule: only for fannies, flights and festivals!) but still super quick at getting off what you need to, the micelles in micellar water act like little tiny magnets to draw out oil, dirt and impurities from your skin.

This is your no-reason-not-to, made-for-low-energy-days cleanser. No water required either! This one is great for dehydrated and sensitive skin, doesn’t irritate the eyes, and doesn’t leave a film on skin like others can.

Let’s be frank: if you’re wearing lots of makeup, micellar is not going to get it all off properly on its own. With a full face, you’ll need to follow up with another cleanser - or else use up half the bottle. But at the CBF level, we’ll take what we can.

KINDA CBF - It’ll take me another two Netflix episodes to work up the energy to wash my face, but I’ll do it.

A gel-like texture that melts into an oil, this best-selling facial cleanser is a serious all-rounder.

Its texture puts it amongst the best facial cleansers for oily skin and the best facial cleansers for dry skin. You’ll find it on lists of best facial cleansers for acne, too. (I did say best-selling all-rounder for a reason!)

Gentle and hydrating, it removes makeup and other stubborn build up without leaving skin tight. If your skin is the type that reacts to other cleansers - and not in a good way - this is a great option. Why? Because squalane is hydrating, anti-inflammatory and helps to balance and protect the skin barrier. Warm it on your hands, massage into dry skin, then rinse with warm water.

FEELING IT - I’ll ghost drinks early on a Friday night to do my skincare, put on my PJs and eat (hot) chips.

This is one of the best oil cleansers I’ve tried in a while, as well as one of the best cleansers for glowing skin. It turns removing makeup into an enjoyable, luxurious experience, leaving skin super soft and hydrated. 

Suitable for sensitive skin and oilier skin types (despite the common misconception oily skin and oil don't mix), Pai’s cleansing oil really does make light work of getting rid of your makeup. Containing omega and antioxidant-packed rosehip oil and organic olive oil, it nourishes skin while protecting your skin barrier. Apply a few pumps to dry skin, massage in and watch makeup start to dissolve. Then emulsify with water, and rinse off. 

If you want to ensure you’re getting every single little scrap of makeup off, a double cleanse is recommended. Then, go and enjoy those hot chips.

SKINFLUENCER - Pretending to be a skinfluencer by talking through each product in my 12-step routine to myself in the mirror.

Got the energy to put into your skincare routine? More effort means better results with this double cleansing combo.

The Dermalogica PreCleanse Balm will remove even the most stubborn (read: waterproof) makeup, dirt, oil and environmental pollutants to get skin ready for the second cleanse. When activated with water, the balm turns to an oil and is best applied with its accompanying mitt. Fancy.

Now you’ve taken all your makeup and product build up off your skin, you can treat it. Murad’s Exfoliating Cleanser contains a dynamic combination of salicylic, lactic and glycolic acids to remove dead skin cells, clear pores, and reveal bright, smooth skin. Bonus points, you can also use it on your body, too.

All that's left to do now is to channel that CAN be stuffed energy into the rest of your skincare regimen...