CLEANSERS + FACE WASHES
Which iS Clinical Cleanser Is Right for You?
Four cleansers, four different skins. Gel, cream, warming balm or polish: this guide sets out who each one is for, so you can choose in minutes rather than guess for months.
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Four cleansers, four different skins
The best cleanser is not the strongest one; it is the one matched to your skin and to the job you need done. iS Clinical takes four distinct routes to clean skin. Cleansing Complex is a clear gel with mild resurfacing ingredients that deep-cleans pores without stripping natural oils. Cream Cleanser swaps foam for a soothing, moisture-preserving texture built for dry, sensitive and compromised skin. Warming Honey Cleanser turns the evening cleanse into a treatment, pairing honey and royal jelly with papaya enzymes for gentle exfoliation. And Cleansing Complex Polish adds cellulose and jojoba microparticles for a physical polish two to three times a week. Below, each one is set against the others so the choice becomes obvious.
Match the cleanser to the skin in the mirror
Every formula cleanses thoroughly; the difference is what else it does while it works.
Best for Oily, combination and blemish-prone skin
The everyday default. A clear, lightweight gel with mild resurfacing ingredients that cleans deep into pores without stripping, and doubles as a make-up remover. If congestion is your main complaint, start here.
Best for Dry, sensitive or compromised skin
Choose this over the gel if cleansing ever leaves your skin tight. The soothing cream texture cleanses surface and pores while comforting dry areas, and is gentle enough for the most compromised skin.
Best for Evening cleanses and make-up removal
The sensory option. Honey, royal jelly and propolis cleanse while green tea and papaya enzymes boost gentle exfoliation. Pick it as an evening treatment cleanse alongside a simpler morning wash.
Best for Dull texture, two to three times a week
Not a daily cleanser but the exfoliating complement to one. Cellulose and jojoba microparticles polish while botanical extracts work biochemically, for skin that feels instantly smoother.
SIDE BY SIDE
The cleanser table, settled
Cleansing ComplexThe all-rounder |
Cream Cleanser |
Warming Honey Cleanser |
Cleansing Complex Polish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Gel cleanser | Cream cleanser | Warming cleanser | Exfoliating polish |
| Texture | Lightweight gel | Rich cream | Self-warming balm-to-milk | Gentle granular |
| Best for | All skin types incl. sensitive | Dry or mature skin | Makeup removal + comfort | Dull or congested skin |
| Use | AM + PM | AM + PM | PM | 2–3x per week |
| Hero ingredients | Salicylic acid, chamomile | Aloe, willow bark | Honey, antioxidants | Bamboo, mandelic acid |
WHY TEXTURE MATTERS
Texture is the real decision
Most cleansers remove oil and grime perfectly well. What separates them is everything else that happens in those sixty seconds: whether pores are decongested or left alone, whether the skin barrier is respected or scrubbed, whether make-up dissolves or clings. Gel suits skin with oil to spare. Cream protects skin that has none to lose. A warming balm turns cleansing into treatment, and a polish resets texture without daily wear. Choose for the skin you have today, not the skin type you were assigned years ago.
BUILDING THE HABIT
One minute, morning and night
1. Massage your chosen cleanser into damp skin for a full minute, then rinse.
2. In the evening, start with Warming Honey Cleanser if you wear make-up or SPF, then follow with your daily cleanser.
3. Swap in Cleansing Complex Polish two to three times a week in place of your evening cleanse.
Choosing a cleanser: your questions
Which iS Clinical cleanser is best for blemish-prone skin?
Cleansing Complex. Its lightweight gel cleanses deep into pores and helps with blemish-prone skin, without the stripping that pushes oily skin to produce even more oil.
Which is the most gentle cleanser in the range?
Cream Cleanser. It was formulated for dry, sensitive skin and is effective even for the most compromised skin conditions, cleansing while it soothes.
Can I use Cleansing Complex Polish every day?
It is designed as a two to three times a week step rather than a daily cleanser. On the other days, cleanse with Cleansing Complex or Cream Cleanser.
Do any of these remove make-up properly?
Yes. Cleansing Complex is very effective for removing make-up, and Warming Honey Cleanser is a rich evening cleanse that dissolves make-up while gently exfoliating.
Which cleanser should mature skin choose?
Usually Cream Cleanser, which comforts drier skin while it cleanses. If congestion is still a concern, alternate it with Cleansing Complex.
Do I need more than one cleanser?
Many routines pair a daily cleanser with a treatment step: a gel or cream every day, plus the Polish or Warming Honey Cleanser a few evenings a week.
Are these cleansers suitable for sensitive skin?
Cleansing Complex is powerful yet gentle enough for sensitive skin, and Cream Cleanser goes further still. Patch test first if your skin reacts easily.
Start where every routine starts
The right cleanse sets up everything that follows. Choose yours, then build the rest around it.